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After four (or more) years of classes, college students graduate into a new reality: employment and student loan payments. Navigating repayment may require planning and diligent budgeting, but with the right foundation, you can find a repayment plan that works for your personal needs.

As a general rule of thumb, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends limiting the total borrowed to no more than your expected starting annual salary when you leave school. But, when young students are selecting colleges and evaluating costs, it can be tough to understand or predict how much they’ll earn after graduating.

Here are some potential strategies for student loan repayment so you can determine what percentage of your income should go to paying student loans.

Calculate How Much Your Loan Costs Each Month

You’ll want to understand how much your loan costs each month. If you only have one student loan, this may be easy — the total would be your monthly loan payment.

If you have multiple loans with different lenders, you may have to do a bit more math to sum up the total amount you are spending on your loan payments monthly.

If, after calculating your monthly loan payments, you find you are spending a much higher percentage of your income on debt payments than you have outlined, you may want to adjust your budget, or see if you can adjust how much you are paying each month to your student loans.

Keep in mind that lengthening the loan term on your student loans may result in lower monthly payments, but may cost more in interest over the life of the loan.

💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Determining Your Student Loan Payment as a Percentage of Income

When it comes to repaying your student loans, your first goal might be to make, at the very least, the minimum monthly payment on each of your student loans. Failing to do so means your loan could become delinquent, and after 90 days of delinquency, your loan servicer can report the late or missed payments to the credit bureaus and your credit score may be affected.

If you don’t know what your monthly payments are, you can use our student loan calculator to get an estimate. It can give you a good idea of what you’ll pay each month.

To calculate the percentage of your income, divide your total monthly loan payment by your income. For example, if your monthly loan payment was $400 and your monthly income was $5,000, your loan payment would be 8% of your monthly income.

Consider the 50/30/20 Rule and Tweak it for Debt

The 50/30/20 budgeting rule outlines spending in the following categories:

•   50% of your income is budgeted toward needs

•   30% of your income is budgeted toward wants and discretionary expenses

•   20% of your income is allocated for savings and paying off debt

Using the general framework can help borrowers create a budget that makes sense for their lifestyle and needs, without being overly prescriptive. If you have a lot of student loan debt that you are focusing on repaying, you can adjust the percentage allocation so that you are funneling more money toward your debt.

Because on-time payments account for 35% of your FICO® score, setting up a budget that helps you make on-time payments each month is one of the best tips for building credit.

Income-Driven Repayment

If you have federal student loans and are struggling to make payments on the standard 10-year repayment plan, one alternative you could consider is income-driven repayment (IDR). On an income-driven repayment plan, your monthly payments are determined as a percentage of your income.

There are four options for income-driven repayment. Depending on the plan you enroll in, the repayment term is extended to 20-25 years and payments are capped at 10% to 20% of your income. More precisely, the payment amount is calculated as a percentage of your discretionary income — the income that is left after subtracting taxes and other mandatory living expenses.

The most recent addition to IDR options is the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program, which replaces the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) program. SAVE caps payments to 10% of discretionary income (that threshold will drop to 5% for undergraduates starting in July 2024) and shields more income from the payment calculation. Additionally, if your payments are too low to cover accrued interest charges, the government subsidizes the difference so that your balance doesn’t balloon over time.

While income-driven repayment plans might help make monthly payments more manageable, extending the length of the loan means you could end up paying more interest than you would on the standard repayment plan. The good news is that if you still have a balance at the end of the repayment term, your remaining debt is discharged (although it may be taxed).

Making Extra Payments Based on Your Monthly Income

If you want to accelerate your student loan repayment, consider paying an additional percentage of your income toward student loans. If you are using a 50/30/20 budget, but want to make monthly overpayments, you may instead choose to do a 50/25/25 budget, where you reduce your discretionary spending by 5% each month and apply those funds as an additional student loan payment instead.

Only you can determine where you want to focus your financial energy. An online student loan payoff calculator could help determine how much your overpayment could accelerate your loan payoff and save you in interest.

Recommended: 7 Tips to Lower Your Student Loan Payments

Additional Options for Accelerating Your Student Loan Repayment

If your budget is already lean and you don’t have the room to contribute extra income toward student loans every month, there are alternatives that could help you speed up your repayment plan.

Part-Time Job or Side Hustle

One idea is to pick up a part-time job or find a side hustle that allows you to bring in a little bit of extra cash. Then you could focus all of your side hustle income toward student loan repayment. It’s money you didn’t have before, so your budget won’t have to make any sacrifices.

Another option is to focus any unexpected or windfall money toward student loan repayment. When you receive a bonus at work or a birthday check from Aunt Edna, you could contribute that money to your student loans instead of spending it on a splurge expense for yourself.

Student Loan Refinancing

Finally, you can also improve your existing federal or private student loan situation. Student loan refinancing could help you secure a lower interest rate, which could mean spending less money over the life of the loan.

Recommended: Should You Refinance Your Student Loans?

As part of the refinancing process, you’ll be able to select a new repayment term. Shortening the repayment term could also mean you pay less in interest over the life of the loan. You also have the option to lengthen the loan term. If you do, you’ll spend more money in interest over that longer term, but it could mean a lower monthly payment if you need to free up some cash.

When you apply to refinance a student loan, lenders will review your credit history and employment history, among other factors. Refinancing student loans with bad credit, while possible, may be more challenging. Those with a low credit score or limited credit history may want to consider establishing credit before they apply for refinancing.

Another option for borrowers with a less-than-stellar credit score may be adding a cosigner to strengthen the application. A cosigner agrees to repay the loan if the primary borrower fails to do so. Refinancing without a cosigner may make sense for borrowers who have had time to establish credit. For more detailed information, visit SoFi’s student loan refinancing guide.

It is important to note that if you refinance your federal loans with a private lender, you will lose access to federal benefits such as loan forgiveness or income-driven repayment plans.

To find out how student loan refinancing could help improve your student loan repayment prospects, use SoFi’s student loan refinance calculator.

The Takeaway

There is no single answer for what percentage of your income should be allocated to paying off student loan debt. It’s important to make your monthly minimum payments to avoid delinquency or default. Beyond that, you may consider making overpayments to accelerate your student loan payoff.

When you refinance with SoFi, there are no origination fees or prepayment penalties and you’ll gain access community events. You can start the application online and find out what interest rate you pre-qualify for in just minutes.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.

If you’re having trouble paying your student loans, you’re not alone. More than 43 million borrowers have federal student loan debt.

In fact, 20% of all American adults with undergraduate degrees have outstanding student debt and 24% of postgraduate degree holders report outstanding student loans, according to Educationdata.org. More than 7% of students use student loans from a private source, such as a bank or a credit union. The average federal student loan debt balance is $37,718, while the total average balance (including private loan debt) may be as high as $40,499.

If you’re among these borrowers, you may find it challenging to afford the payments on your loans—especially if you have other debt and financial obligations. Student loan debt is now the second-highest consumer debt category after mortgages.

If you are delinquent on your student loan for a certain period of time, your loan will go into what’s called default. One out of every ten Americans has defaulted on a student loan, and 5% of all student loan debt is currently in default. Another way to look at it is that roughly 4 million student loans enter default each year.

The consequences to student loan default can be serious–and if the student loan in question is private (rather than federal) there are particular factors to be aware of. We’ll look at what can happen if you don’t pay your private student loans, what your options are, and how best to avoid a default happening in the first place.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Private Student Loans?

Each private student loan lender will likely be a little different, but generally, missing a student loan payment can put your loan into delinquency, and may incur late fees and/or penalties.

In addition, depending on the loan, interest can accrue on those penalties and on the unpaid principal loan amount, which then can get added to how much you owe. If you miss too many consecutive payments, you may be at risk of defaulting on the loan.

Each private lender has their own terms that trigger student loan default. That typically means multiple missed payments. Even if you declare bankruptcy, it’s unlikely your student loan debt goes away. It’s important to check the terms of your private student loans, since they vary by lender.

Once a student loan goes into delinquency or default, it will likely affect your credit score. That can possibly affect your ability to take out loans in the future or achieve other financial goals, like buying a house.

In addition, once a private student loan goes into default, the lender can send it to collections.
If you can’t pay your private student loans, you could ultimately face a judgment that could result in a garnishment of your wages. (There are, however, some protections and rights you have when it comes to debt collection on student loans.)

Ideally, if your student loan payments are too high, you might consider other options before risking delinquency or default.

💡 Quick Tip: Ready to refinance your student loan? With SoFi’s no-fee loans, you could save thousands.

What If You Can’t Pay Your Federal Student Loans?

The penalties and provisions attached to federal student loans are quite different than those for private student loans. If you have both federal and private loans it’s important to consider them separately when coming up with a plan to grapple with default.

Federal loans often come with more protections and options for repayment plans. One option is to pursue an income-driven repayment plan (IDR), which allows for more manageable payments based on your income and family size. Generally, your payment amount under an income-driven repayment plan is a percentage of your discretionary income. The percentage is different depending on the plan.

One such IDR plan is the SAVE Plan, which President Joe Biden announced in June 2023. According to the White House, the SAVE plan “forgives remaining balances after a certain number of years. The SAVE plan will cut many borrowers’ monthly payments to zero, will save other borrowers around $1,000 per year, will prevent balances from growing because of unpaid interest, and will get more borrowers closer to forgiveness faster.” Borrowers can sign up today by visiting StudentAid.gov.

Federal student loan payments were paused in March 2020, but the Debt Ceiling bill mandated that payments resume in October 2023. The Department of Education is instituting the “Fresh Start” program for people whose federal student loans are in default.

As part of the Fresh Start program, eligible defaulted loans will get the following collections relief:

•  Tax refunds (and child tax credits) will not be withheld.

•  Wages will not be garnished.

•  Social Security payments (including disability benefits) will not be withheld.

•  No collection calls will be placed.

•  Billing statements will not be sent out (until the borrower gets out of default).

Even though federal student loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized) are government-backed and originated by the U.S. Department of Education, they’re administered by a student loan servicer, which is a private company in charge of the loan. This does not make these loans “private” student loans.

It means you might be making your payments to a private loan company, but it’s still a federal student loan and it comes with federal student loan protections.

Options If You Can’t Pay Your Private Student Loans

If your private student loan repayment seems too high, however, the options are different. You can’t apply for an IDR or Fresh Start program. Every private loan lender sets its own terms and conditions. Getting private student loan help varies with each lender.

While there are fewer options if you can’t make your private student loan payments, there are still some things you can consider.

1. Talking to Your Lender

If your private student loan payments are too high, then it might be worth talking to your lender. You could start by getting a copy of your promissory note so that you know all the terms and conditions of your specific loan.

Each private lender sets out its own repayment and deferment options, so your loan may differ from your friends’ loans.

Lenders, however, want to get paid, and it’s not in their interest for you to default. Once you have the terms of your loan in hand, then you can try talking to your private lender about potential alternative student loan repayment plans to see if they’ll work with you on what you can afford or even if you might be able to put your loan payments on hold if you need to.

2. Exploring Deferment and Forbearance Options

In certain circumstances, deferment and forbearance are available to temporarily put payments for federal loans on hold. However, for private student loans, the forbearance and deferment options will be laid by your lender.

Private lenders may offer forbearance and/or deferment in certain circumstances, such as returning to grad school or entering active military duty. If you can’t pay your private student loans, then you may want to see if your lender offers these options.

It’s important to know, though, that in most cases, interest continues to accrue and compound during forbearance or deferment on private student loans. That means the interest on the amount you owe builds up and gets added to the loan principal (which then accrues its own interest), and could end up costing you more in the long run.

3. Making a Student Loan Repayment Budget

This may sound obvious, but it can be important to create a plan and budget for repaying your student loans. Cutting back on some expenses or looking for additional income to allocate towards student loan payments could pay off in the long run.

Because student loan interest accrues and compounds over time, every little bit paid off now can save more money later.

In addition, if a borrower makes as many payments as possible on time, it could save late fees or additional penalties.

There are a few principles for how to tackle student loan payment.

You could start with the loans that have the smallest balances and build momentum (Snowball Method), or start with the highest interest loans to save yourself the most money (Avalanche Method).

You can also benefit from prepaying more than the minimum monthly payment. If you allocate additional payment towards your loan principal, then you won’t accrue interest on that principal you paid down, and you could save yourself money.

4. Refinancing your Student Loans

If your private student loan payments are too high, one way to potentially lower your monthly payments could be to refinance your student loans by extending your term.

If you need lower monthly payments right away, extending your loan term is one way to accomplish this. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.)

Once you’re on more solid financial footing, refinancing could qualify you for a lower interest rate, which could save you money in the long run (since interest adds up and compounds over time).

5. Declaring Bankruptcy

It is possible to declare bankruptcy when the majority of your debt is made up of student loans. However, the legal bar for having your student debt discharged is high.

You may have your federal student loan discharged in bankruptcy only if you file a separate action, known as an “adversary proceeding,” requesting the bankruptcy court find that repayment would impose undue hardship on you and your dependents in the future.

Private student loans can also be discharged in bankruptcy. Note that private student loans are exempt from bankruptcy discharge (similar to taxes and child support) without a separate application. In that application, you would have to prove in court that you are unable to pay the loan and make a case that it will be extremely difficult to do so in the foreseeable future.

However, if you can make a case for it financially, the court may rule to discharge the loan. “Some private loans for educational purposes can be discharged in a normal bankruptcy proceeding, just like most other consumer debts,” according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

It’s important to take into consideration the serious impact a bankruptcy will have on your credit rating and ability to borrow money in the future.

Recommended: Bankruptcy and Student Loans, Explained

Lowering Your Student Loan Payments

If you’re struggling to make your payments and need private student loan help, then refinancing your private student loans with a longer-term loan could lower your monthly payments—which could free up money you may need for bills and other necessities. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.)

If your credit score or financial outlook have improved since you first took out student loans, however, then you might be able to qualify for a new loan with better terms and a lower interest rate.

Consolidating federal loans with private loans, even at a new interest rate, however, does turn the federal loans into private loans. That means you would lose access to federal benefits, such as deferment, forbearance, or income-driven repayment plans.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.

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As you’re exploring the job market and reading up on expected qualifications, you may be at a crossroads, wondering whether a master’s would be beneficial in increasing your salary potential. If you’re already actively job-hunting, you may wonder if a master’s could make you more competitive in the job market.

But there is another option that may make sense depending on what industry you’re in — a certificate program. Not as long (or as expensive) as a master’s program, a certificate can prove highly-specialized competency in certain areas. This could open doors to further professional opportunities.

But a certificate program, which typically requires the completion of three and five graduate-level courses, can still cost thousands of dollars. It may also require significant study time, which can be hard to balance if you’re also working full time. In a job market where companies are fighting for top talent, however, you may find that your company might pay for a certificate program, rather than you going out and paying for it yourself. Read on for more information on post-grad certificate programs so you can assess whether one fits with your financial goals.

What Is The Value Of A Post-Grad Certificate Program?

A post-grad certificate program is a program that provides specialization in a field. While the program may not take as long to complete as a master’s degree and may be less expensive, it can also be intense, requiring a significant amount of time set aside to study.

Post-grad certificate programs can be found in all fields, from medicine to economics to marketing. These programs may cost anywhere from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. People may complete these certificates because they may be quicker and less expensive than a degree, and may either boost income or boost your competitive value as a job candidate. Post-grad certificate courses may be done online, in-person, or a combination of both, and often, people balance managing a certificate program with working full time.

Because a post-grad certificate can be beneficial, you may find that employers may potentially be willing to subsidize the cost of training. It may be worth it to ask your manager or your HR department. It can also be beneficial to talk to people who have done the certificate program to hear about any pros and cons. It can also be helpful to understand the level of commitment required in the program, and how people have managed to set aside time to study to prepare for any testing.


💡 Quick Tip: SoFi offers low fixed- or variable-interest rates. So you can get a private student loan that fits your budget.

Graduate Certificate Versus Master’s Degree

If you’re right out of college, you may be wondering what the next step is, professionally. While that depends on your career goals, many post-grads find it helpful to explore the professional lay of the land by getting some work experience right after their bachelor’s degree. Also, if the labor market is tight when you get out of college, there can be advantages to looking for a job immediately after graduation, before you get any higher degrees or pursue certification. In some cases, employers may subsidize or help pay for higher education.

A certificate program tends to be in a niche area, so it may be good to explore your field and decide whether that certification is right for you. A master’s program may be more intense, but of course, can be a requirement if you want to pursue a job in a certain field, such as law.

Bottom line: No certificate or graduate degree can “guarantee” that you’ll make a certain amount of money or get a certain kind of job. Every career path is different. That’s why it can be helpful to speak to alums of certain programs or people who have received certain certifications, to hear their experience and advice.

Recommended: How to Pay for Grad School

Is a Graduate Certificate Equal to a Master’s Degree?

Is a graduate certificate equal to a master’s degree? That depends on how you define “equality.” The two are different paths that help you achieve certain goals. In general:

•   A certificate is less expensive than a graduate degree.

•   A certificate takes less time to complete than a graduate degree.

•   A certificate provides targeted knowledge and a specific skill set about a certain subject area. Generally, a certificate may be about 10 to 15 hours of coursework compared to the 30+ required for graduate programs. Requirements vary based on school and program.

•   A certificate generally requires a less comprehensive application process.

•   A graduate certificate may or may not be affiliated with an accredited degree program. In some cases, certificate coursework can count toward degree hours for a higher-ed degree.

•   Not all graduate certificate programs qualify for federal student loans. You may be able to use a private graduate student loan for a certificate program, or could also explore a personal loan to cover a certificate program.

Is a Graduate Certificate Worth It?

A graduate certificate can be worth it, especially if you’re passionate about the field. It can be helpful to get some “real world” knowledge under your belt and understand exactly how the certificate will benefit you and your career goals.

Because a graduate certificate can be a lot of work, it’s also important to make sure you carve out time to be able to do coursework, study, and complete the certificate exam. Asking any questions prior to applying for the certificate program, or asking to speak to people who have completed the program, can be helpful.

Because graduate certificates can be expensive, and may not be covered by federal aid, you may be wondering how to pay for it. Some financing options include:

•   Subsidization through your current employer

•   Saving up to pay for the program

•   Applying for scholarships or financial aid through the certifying organization

•   Exploring other scholarship programs that may be available for you (such as graduate scholarships for military veterans)

•   Considering federal or private student loans for a certification program

Some certification programs may be eligible for federal student aid, including federal student loans and work-study. If this is the case, students can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what types of aid they qualify for.

Private student loans may be another option for students to consider. These loans don’t always offer the same borrower protections (such as deferment or forbearance options) that come with federal loans. But some private lenders do offer student loans for graduate certificate programs.

Recommended: FAFSA 101: How to Complete the FAFSA

Estimating the Value of a Certificate Program

You may wonder how much a certificate will increase your market value as an employee. And of course, that answer depends on your field and the certificate program you are pursuing. To estimate the value of a certificate program, it can be helpful to:

•   Read review sites and salary ranges on employers you’re interested in.

•   Talk to people who have done the certificate program.

•   Talk about your career trajectory with your current manager or HR department.

•   Speak with the career development office at your alma mater for their perspectives on potential certificate programs.

But in addition to financial value, there’s also the educational value. Is this a topic you find interesting and feel you can lean into? Does the material inspire you and excite you? Because you’ll be spending a significant amount of time working on the material, it can be important to have some motivation to do so.

Costs Associated with a Certificate Program

It can also be important to carve out associated costs with the degree program. In addition to the certificate program itself, you also may need to pay:

•   Application fee

•   Exam fee

•   Certification fee, which may be several hundred dollars and may be required that you renew your certification annually

•   Fee for any materials, including text books

Making sure you know exactly what is required of you financially before you enroll can be helpful in planning how you’ll cover the degree.

Recommended: How to Pay for a Grad Certificate Program

How to Decide on a Certificate or Post-Grad Studies

So how do you know which path to take? The answer depends on, you guessed it, your individual goals. But answering these questions may help you decide:

•   What do I want out of my studies?

•   What do I want my work-life balance to look like as I study?

•   What do I hope to gain out of my degree/certificate? What would be the best/worst-case scenario?

•   What are my short-term professional goals?

•   What are my long-term professional goals?

•   What do I like about my work right now? Is there anything I want to dive into more deeply?

•   What is the lack of a degree holding me back from?

•   How will I pay for it? Am I already juggling student loans from undergrad and how comfortable would I feel adding to my debt?

These can be some big questions, and it can be helpful to get perspective by speaking with a mentor, career coach, or someone from your school’s career development office.

You could also consider a certificate program that could go toward credits for a master’s degree. This can be helpful in allowing you to lean into the material and have a head start if you do decide you’d like to pursue a full master’s degree.


💡 Quick Tip: It’s a good idea to understand the pros and cons of private student loans and federal student loans before committing to them.

The Takeaway

A certificate isn’t taking the easy road — the courses can be intense, and it can be challenging to balance coursework with career obligations. But a certificate can potentially set you up on the path to success and can help you further define your career goals.

Because certificates can be expensive, consider having a discussion with your employer and see if they would be amenable to paying for part or all of your certificate, or discuss the path in which to do so. A certificate can be a way to further your education without stopping your career, and it can be a good in-between step for you to decide whether or not to pursue a master’s degree in your chosen field.

Depending on the certificate program, students may potentially qualify for federal aid, including federal student loans. If that aid isn’t enough, however, some students may look into private student loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Photo credit: iStock/PeopleImages

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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If you’ve taken out a Parent PLUS loan to help your child through college, you may be wondering if it’s possible to transfer the loan into your child’s name now that they have an income. While there are no federal loan programs that allow for this, there are other options that allow your child to take over the debt.

How to Transfer a Parent PLUS Loan to a Student

In order to transfer a Parent PLUS loan to a child or student, the student can apply for student loan refinancing through a private lender. With a student loan refinance, the child takes out a refinanced student loan and uses it to pay off the Parent PLUS loan. The student is then responsible for making the monthly payments and paying off the loan.

To get a student loan refinance and use the funds to pay off a Parent PLUS loan, simply have your child fill out a student loan refinancing application. Make sure to include the Parent PLUS loan information in the application.
If approved, the student can pay off the Parent PLUS loan with their new loan and begin making payments on the new loan.

Advantages of Refinancing a Parent PLUS Loan

The main advantage of refinancing a Parent PLUS loan is to get the loan out of the parent’s name and into the student’s. However, there are other potential advantages to refinancing student loans, including:

•   Lowering your interest rate

•   Reducing your monthly payments

•   Paying off your loan quicker

•   Allowing the student to build a credit history

💡 Quick Tip: Ready to refinance your student loan? With SoFi’s no-fee loans, you could save thousands.

Disadvantages of Refinancing a Parent PLUS Loan

While it may be beneficial to get the loan out of the parent’s name and into the student’s, there are some disadvantages that should be considered, such as:

•   Losing federal student loan benefits, including income-driven repayment, deferment options, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness

•   Possibly getting a higher interest rate, especially if the student has poor credit

•   The student is now responsible for the monthly payment, which might become a hardship if their income is low

If you do choose to refinance your Parent PLUS loan by means of a student loan refinance, you should note that this process is not reversible. Once your child signs on the dotted line and pays off the Parent PLUS loan, the debt is now theirs.

Parent PLUS Loan Overview

The Department of Education provides Parent PLUS loans that can be taken out by a parent to fund their child’s education. Before applying, the student and parent must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Then the parent can apply directly for a Parent PLUS loan, also known as a Direct PLUS Loan.

The purpose of a Parent PLUS loan is to fund the education of the borrower’s child. The loan is made in the parent’s name, and the parent is ultimately responsible for repaying the loan. Parent PLUS loans come with higher interest rates and origination fees than federal student loans made to students. Further, these loans are not subsidized, which means interest accrues on the principal balance from day one of fund disbursement.

Parents are eligible to take out a maximum of the cost of attendance for their child’s school, minus any financial aid the student is receiving. Payments are due immediately from the time the loan is disbursed, unless you request a deferment to delay payment. You can also opt to make interest-only payments on the loan until your child has graduated.

💡 Quick Tip: Federal parent PLUS loans might be a good candidate for refinancing to a lower rate.

Pros and Cons of Parent PLUS Loans

Parent PLUS loans allow you to help your child attend college without their accruing debt.

Pros of Parent PLUS loans include:

You can pay for college in its entirety. Parent PLUS loans can cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, books, room and board, and other fees. Any money left over after expenses is paid to you, unless you request the funds be given directly to your child.

Multiple repayment plans available. As a parent borrower, you can choose from three types of repayment plans: standard, graduated, or extended. With all three, interest will start accruing immediately.

Interest rates are fixed. Interest rates on Parent PLUS loans are fixed for the life of the loan. This allows you to plan your budget and monthly expenses around this additional debt.

They are relatively easy to get. To qualify for a Parent PLUS loan, you must be the biological or adoptive parent of the child, meet the general requirements for receiving financial aid, and not have an adverse credit history. If you do have an adverse credit history, you may still be able to qualify by applying with an endorser or proving that you have extenuating circumstances, as well as undergoing credit counseling. Your debt-to-income ratio and credit score are not factored into approval.

Cons of Parent PLUS loans include:

Large borrowing amounts. Because there isn’t a limit on the amount that can be borrowed as long as it doesn’t exceed college attendance costs, it can be easy to take on significant amounts of debt.

Interest accrues immediately. You may be able to defer payments until after your child has graduated, but interest starts accruing from the moment you take out the loan. Subsidized loans, which are available to students with financial need, do not accrue interest until the first loan payment is due.

Can a Child Make the Parent PLUS Loan Payments?

Yes, your child can make the monthly payments on your Parent PLUS loan. If you want to avoid having your child apply for student loan refinance, you can simply have them make the Parent PLUS loan payment each month. However, it’s important to note that the loan will still be in your name. If your child misses a payment, it will affect your credit score, not theirs. Your child also will not be building their own credit history since the debt is not in their name.

Parent PLUS Loan Refinancing

As a parent, you may also be interested in refinancing your Parent PLUS loan. Refinancing results in the Parent PLUS loan being transferred to another lender. By transferring your loan, you may be able to qualify for a lower interest rate. Securing a lower interest rate allows you to pay less interest over the life of the loan — and if you also shorten your loan term, you can pay off the loan more quickly.

When you refinance Parent PLUS loans, you do lose borrower protections provided by the federal government. These include income-driven repayment plans, forbearance, deferment, and federal loan forgiveness programs. If you are currently taking advantage of one of these opportunities, it may not be in your best interest to refinance.

At SoFi, you can refinance federal Parent PLUS loans and qualified private student loans into one new loan with one convenient payment. You can do this on your own and keep the Parent PLUS loan in your name, or you can have your child apply for student loan refinancing and use that money to pay off your Parent PLUS loan. With SoFi, there are no application fees, no origination fees, and no prepayment fees.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

FAQ

What if I can’t pay my Parent PLUS loans?

If you are struggling to pay your Parent PLUS loan, we recommend getting in touch with your lender and asking for a deferment or forbearance to temporarily suspend your payments. Keep in mind, though, that interest will continue to accrue on your loan even if payments are postponed. You could also consider switching the repayment plan you are enrolled in to an extended repayment plan, or refinancing your loan in order to get a lower interest rate. If you’re able to consolidate your Parent PLUS loan with a federal Direct Consolidation loan, you can also make it eligible for the Income-Contingent Repayment plan. This plan adjusts your monthly payment to 20% of your discretionary income while extending your repayment terms to 25 years.

Can you refinance a Parent PLUS loan?

Yes, it is possible to refinance a Parent PLUS loan through a private lender. Doing so will make the loan ineligible for any federal borrower protections, but it might allow you to secure a more competitive interest rate or have the refinanced loan taken out in your child’s name instead of your own.

Is there loan forgiveness for parents PLUS loans?

It is possible to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) with a Parent PLUS loan. To do so, the loan will first need to be consolidated into a Direct Consolidation loan and then enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan. Then, you’ll have to meet the requirements for PSLF, including 120 qualifying payments while working for an eligible employer (such as a qualifying not-for-profit or government organization). Note that eligibility for PSLF depends on your job as the parent borrower, not your child’s job.

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Between school, homework, and extracurriculars, you likely have a packed schedule. Now, you also need to find time to work on your college applications. The question is, how many should you fill out?

You don’t want to apply to too many schools, since each application takes time and money (thanks to steep application fees). At the same time, you don’t want to apply to too few, and risk not getting into college at all.

There’s no one ideal number but, as a general guideline, the College Board recommends applying to five to eight colleges, and to include a mix of reach, target, and safety schools. However, the perfect number for you will depend on your personal circumstances.

Read on for a closer look at how to pick the right number — and the right mix — of applications to set yourself up for college success.

How to Decide How Many Colleges You’re Going to Apply to

Like many things in life, there isn’t one simple answer. However, a common rule of thumb is to apply to between five and eight colleges. As you make your list, it can be a good idea to include one to two schools in each of these three categories: safety, target, and reach schools.

A reach school is one where acceptance may be a stretch based on your academic profile, but it also shouldn’t be entirely unrealistic. A target school is one where you stand a relatively good chance of admission.

A safety school is one that you are fairly confident that you’ll be accepted to. This way, you can create a balance of dream schools that you’d be thrilled to attend and schools that would be a good fit if some of the other, loftier options don’t work out.

💡 Quick Tip: You can fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.

Determining Reach, Target, and Safety Schools

To determine which schools are a reach, target, and safety, you’ll want to compare your grades, GPA, and SAT or ACT scores to the average academic profile of recently admitted students at each school. This should give you an idea of how you line up when compared to students currently enrolled at the school.

Most colleges and universities have admissions profiles where they include information like the average GPA, SAT, and/or ACT scores of current classes. Another option is to take a look at the College Board’s Big
Future , where you can create a profile and compare yourself to the academic profile of the schools you’re interested in attending. This isn’t a guarantee, but it can give you a good idea of what types of schools you can realistically expect to get into.

Recommended: Do Your SAT Scores Really Matter for College?

Is More Better?

If you are extremely passionate about attending a highly selective college, you may have to increase the number of applications you submit. Generally, the more selective a school is, the greater the chance you won’t be accepted. So it could be worth sending out a few extra applications to be sure you get admitted into a school that you are excited about attending.

Is Less Best?

Applying to colleges requires both time and money. While some students may qualify for fee waivers, students can generally expect to pay an application fee for each application. College application fees currently average $56 and, in some cases, run significantly higher. It could be worth setting up an application budget so you have an idea of how many schools you can reasonably afford to apply to.

Each college application will also require your time and attention. Students may not realistically have the time to fill out 20 applications. Another reason some students may consider applying to fewer colleges is if they have specific needs or are interested in a particular major or field of study that is only offered at a few schools.

Planning Your Applications

With that in mind, you’ll want to take some time to review which schools you are actively interested in applying to. Before applying to a school, try to get a good sense of the types of programs offered and what life on campus may be like.

You can take this time to think honestly about what you want out of your college experience and craft a list of schools that could fit the bill. Try to avoid applying to any schools you wouldn’t realistically want to attend. As you compare schools, it can be a good idea to rank your choices. This can help you determine when you may want to apply early decision or early action to a top school.

Both early action and early decision are application routes that allow students to indicate that a specific school is their top choice. If a student applies early decision, they are committing to attending that school should they be admitted. Early action usually allows students to receive a decision earlier than traditional applications, but admission is not binding.

Note that some schools may only offer either early action or early decision, or may not offer either.

The college applications process can be a lot to handle. If you are ever feeling overwhelmed by the scope of it all, consider talking to your guidance counselor or another confidante who has experience with college applications. They can help you navigate the ins and outs of the process and may be able to provide some insightful advice.

Recommended: Ultimate College Application Checklist

Planning for the Future

Part of the college planning process also involves figuring out how you’ll pay for your education. So in addition to your college applications, you’ll want to be sure you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This provides access to federal financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans.

If you find that savings and federal aid, including federal student loans, aren’t enough to pay for school, you might then explore getting a private student loan. These are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Loan limits vary from lender to lender, but you can often get up to the total cost of attendance (which is more than you can borrow from the federal government). Interest rates vary depending on the lender. Generally, borrowers (or cosigners) who have strong credit qualify for the lowest rates.

Keep in mind, though, that private loans may not offer the borrower protections — like income-based repayment plans and deferment or forbearance — that automatically come with federal student loans.

💡 Quick Tip: Would-be borrowers will want to understand the different types of student loans that are available: private student loans, federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, Direct PLUS loans, and more.

The Takeaway

The college application process will look slightly different for everyone. But a general guidelines to apply to five to eight schools and to include a mix of reach, safety, and target schools. To come with a balanced list, it’s a good idea to compare your academic profile to that of the average accepted student at your desired schools.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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