SoFi

One of the biggest student loan myths out there is that borrowers can’t combine federal student loans and private student loans into one refinanced loan.

It’s understandable why people may think that, since this wasn’t always an option. And consolidation through the Department of Education is only available for federal student loans.

But now you can choose to combine federal and private loans. So it’s important to understand whether combining federal student loans and private student loans is right for you.

Can I Consolidate Federal and Private Student Loans?

Yes, you can combine private and federal student loans by refinancing them with a private lender.

Through this process, you actually apply for a new loan (which is used to pay off your original loans) and obtain one with a new — ideally lower — interest rate.

Why would you want to do this? In addition to the advantages of loan consolidation (like having one, simplified monthly payment), refinancing student loans at a lower interest rate may lead to lower monthly payments. Note: You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.

Before you refinance federal student loans, there are a couple of things to think about. Here’s an easy decision tree to help you understand whether private student loan consolidation and refinancing federal loans is right for you:

Federal Student Loan Interest Rates

Some people assume that federal loans always offer the best rates, but this isn’t necessarily true.

Depending on loan type and disbursement date, new federal student loan interest rates are reassessed annually, every July. For the 2023-2024 school year, interest rates on new federal student loans range from 5.50% to 8.05% . Interest rates on federal student loans are determined by Congress and are fixed for the life of the loan.

Some borrowers — particularly those with established credit and a strong, stable income or who can find a cosigner with similar qualities — may be able to qualify for a private student loan with a rate lower than a federal loan. For example, grad school borrowers who have higher-interest-rate unsubsidized federal Direct Loans and borrowers with federal Direct PLUS loans may also be able to qualify for a private loan with a lower interest rate than those federal loans. Undergraduates are likely to find lower rates with federal student loans — without a cosigner or credit check.

When you apply to refinance, private lenders evaluate things like your credit history and credit score, in addition to other personal financial factors, in order to determine the interest rate and terms you may qualify for. This applies when you consolidate private student loans as well.

This means if you’ve been able to build credit during your time as a student, or your income has significantly improved, you may be able to qualify for a more competitive interest rate with a private lender when you refinance. (If you aren’t interested in or don’t qualify for student loan refinancing, a Direct Consolidation
Loan from the Department of Education might be worth a look — but you can’t combine federal and private loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan.) Private student loan consolidation is a different matter.

To get an idea of how much refinancing could potentially reduce the cost of interest on your loans, take a look at SoFi’s student loan refinancing calculator.

Federal Student Loan Benefits

When you refinance a federal student loan with a private lender, it becomes a private student loan. This means that the loan will no longer be eligible for federal benefits and protections.

Before you contemplate the idea of refinancing, consider taking a look at your loans to see if any of these federal loan benefits and programs apply to you — or whether you might want to take advantage of them in the future. Here are some to consider:

Student Loan Forgiveness

There are a few forgiveness programs available for borrowers with federal student loans. For example, under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), your Direct Loan balance may be eligible for forgiveness after 120 qualifying, on-time payments if you’ve worked for an eligible public sector entity that entire time.

Pursuing PSLF can require close attention to detail to ensure your loan payments and employer qualify for the program. The qualification requirements are clearly stated on the PSLF section of the Federal Student Aid website .

Similarly, the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is available for teachers who work in eligible schools that serve low-income families full time for five consecutive years. The total amount forgiven will depend on factors like the eligible borrower’s role and the subject they teach. The Federal Student Aid website has all the details of this program.

These forgiveness programs can be beneficial for people who choose careers in public service or education.

Income-Driven Repayment Plans

There are also a number of federal loan repayment plans that can ease the burden for eligible borrowers who feel their loan payments are higher than they can afford.

Under the student loan repayment plans and the other income-driven repayment options, monthly payments are calculated based on a certain percentage of the borrower’s discretionary income.

President Joe Biden’s Save on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan provides the lowest monthly payments of any IDR plan available to nearly all student borrowers.

But if your income is over a certain threshold, you likely won’t benefit from these programs.

And if you do qualify but you’re at the high end of the spectrum, your slightly lowered payments may come at a disproportionate price in the form of accumulating interest. Although the Department of Education says that if you make your monthly payment under the SAVE plan, your loan balance won’t grow due to unpaid interest.

Deferment or Forbearance

Life can be unpredictable — sometimes that means borrowers might have difficulty making payments on their student loans. When this happens, borrowers with federal student loans may qualify for deferment or forbearance.

President Biden proposed a federal student loan debt canceling of up to $20,000 for qualified loan holders but it was struck down by the Supreme Court in a ruling released in late June 2023.

The three-year-long pause on federal student loan payments due to Covid-19 lockdowns ends in the Fall of 2023. Student loan interest will resume starting on Sept. 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October.

For borrowers who can’t make payments, the DOE created a temporary on-ramp period through Sept. 30, 2024. This on-ramp period protects borrowers from having a delinquency reported to credit reporting agencies. And it prevents the worst consequences of missed, late, or partial payments.However, payments are still due, and interest will continue to accrue.

Also, there are ongoing deferment and forbearance options that allow borrowers to temporarily pause payments on their federal student loans in the event of economic hardship.

The biggest difference between the two is that with forbearance, the borrower is responsible for paying the interest that accrues on the loan during this time. Forbearance can have a major financial impact on a borrower, as any unpaid interest will be added to the original loan balance. With deferment, the borrower may or may not be responsible for paying the interest that accrues.

The type of loan you hold will determine whether or not you qualify for deferment or forbearance. Both options can be potentially helpful tools to borrowers going through a short period of financial difficulty, but both have important considerations .

Refinancing Your Student Loans

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.

If your student loan payments seem overwhelming, you’re not alone. U.S. borrowers owe a combined $1.77 trillion in student loan debt, and one in ten Americans has defaulted on a student loan, according to the Education Data Initiative.

And now, for the first time in a long time, many student loan borrowers are faced with making payments again. The reason: The end of the three-year pause on federal student loan payments, which requires interest accrual to resume on September 1, 2023 and payments to resume on October 1, 2023. This resumption in federal student loan payments was part of the debt ceiling bill that President Biden signed into law in early June 2023.

In addition, the Supreme Court’s ruling against the President’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt means that student loan borrowers who may have been hoping for that forgiveness now don’t have that option.

You may be thinking, I haven’t paid my student loans in years – do I really have to start now? What happens if I just don’t pay?

The answer is that borrowers do indeed have to start paying their student loans again, and simply not paying can have consequences. Late or missed “delinquent” payments can make it harder to get a credit card, car loan, or apartment lease. And if you default on a loan, the balance of the loan will become immediately due, your wages may be garnished, and your tax refund can be withheld, among other serious consequences.

There are several options that can help you avoid defaulting on your student loan, such as deferment, forbearance, and income-driven repayment plans. Here’s what to know before you stop making payments on your student loans.

Do Student Loans Ever Go Away?

The short answer to the question of do student loans ever go away? is no, unless you’re part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Unlike other forms of debt, such as home and auto loans, student loans generally cannot be discharged during bankruptcy. Borrowers are still required to repay student loans even if they don’t graduate or are struggling to find a job.

So what happens if you don’t pay student loans? In addition to the interest that accrues over time and increases in the amount you owe, failing to repay a student loan on time can result in additional fees if your debt gets moved into collections.

Because on-time payments account for a portion of a borrower’s credit score, failing to make payments can negatively impact a person’s credit score. Having a low credit score can impact your ability to get a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or apartment lease.

If you default on federal student loans, the government can take your tax refund or up to 15% of your wages. You can also be sued, though this is more common with private loans.


💡 Quick Tip: Often, the main goal of refinancing student loans is to lower the interest rate — federal and/or private — by taking out one loan with a new rate to replace your existing loans. Refinancing makes sense if you qualify for a lower rate and you don’t plan to use federal repayment programs or protections.

Is There a Student Loan Statute of Limitations?

There is no statute of limitations for federal student loans. That means you can be sued at any point for not paying your loans.

There is a statute of limitations for private student loans, which is set by individual states and generally ranges from three to 10 years. But even this limit just means the lender can’t sue you anymore — it doesn’t mean the loan goes away or they stop trying to collect what is owed.

Is Getting Out of Paying Student Loans Possible?

There are options that allow borrowers to temporarily stop making student loan payments. Here’s what happens if you don’t pay your student loans because you’ve been approved for one of these plans.

Relief for Federal Student Loans

If you have federal student loans, the end of the federal payment pause requires payments to resume on October 1, 2023. To help borrowers, the Department of Education is launching a 12-month “on-ramp” to repayment, running from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, so that financially vulnerable borrowers who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or referred to debt collection agencies.

Federal student loan borrowers can also temporarily pause payments by requesting a deferment or forbearance. You might qualify if you’re still in school at least part-time, unable to find a full-time job, facing high medical expenses, or dealing with another financial hardship. The type of loan held by the borrower will determine whether they can apply for a deferment or forbearance.

Federal student loans can be deferred for up to three years. There are two types of forbearance; general and mandatory. Borrowers facing financial difficulties can request a general forbearance, and their loan servicer determines whether they qualify. General forbearance is awarded in 12-month increments and can be extended for a total of three years.

You can temporarily pause payments on your federal loans by requesting a deferment or forbearance.

Loan servicers are required to award qualifying borrowers a mandatory forbearance. Qualifications include participating in AmeriCorps, National Guard duty, or medical or dental residency. The Federal Student Aid website has a full list of criteria for mandatory forbearance. Mandatory forbearances are also granted in 12-month increments but can be extended so long as the borrower still meets the criteria to qualify for mandatory forbearance.

Borrowers who enroll in an income-based repayment plan can qualify to have their loan balance forgiven after a certain amount of time; the amount of time depends on the plan. (Keep in mind, you’d still have to pay taxes on the amount forgiven.)

For instance, under President Biden’s new SAVE Plan, which is based on income and family size, qualifying federal student loan borrowers with undergraduate federal loans can get their monthly payments reduced by half — from 10% to 5% of their discretionary income.

In rare cases, certain loans can be canceled or discharged, if your school closes while you’re enrolled or you are permanently disabled. For obvious reasons, these aren’t options to count on, so you can assume your loans will be sticking with you.


💡 Quick Tip: When rates are low, refinancing student loans could make a lot of sense. How much could you save? Find out using our student loan refi calculator.

Consequences of Defaulting on Your Student Loans

As mentioned earlier, what happens when you stop paying student loans is that the loan is at risk of going into default. The national default rate was 2.3% for fiscal year 2019 (the most recent year for which numbers are available), according to the U.S. Department of Education. (Because of the pause on federal student loans payments during the pandemic, the default rate dropped significantly from 7.3% in 2018.)

There are serious financial repercussions for defaulting on a student loan.

For federal student loans, if a borrower fails to make payments for more than 270 days on a loan from the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program or the Federal Family Education Loan Program, the loan will go into default. (For loans made under the Federal Perkins Loan Program, the loan can be declared in default after the first missed payment.)

At this point, the balance of your loan becomes due immediately through a process called “acceleration.” You’ll also lose eligibility for federal programs such as deferment, forbearance, income-driven repayment plays, and additional federal aid.

Recommended: Student Loan Refinancing Guide

Your wages may be garnished (meaning that your employer may be required to hold back a portion of your paycheck) and any tax refunds or federal benefit payments may be withheld.

Defaulting on a student loan will damage your credit rating and you may not be able to buy or sell certain assets, such as real estate. If your loan holder sues you, you may also be charged related expenses such as attorney fees.

Temporary Relief for Private Student Loans

Private lenders sometimes offer relief like forbearance when you’re dealing with financial hardship, but they aren’t required to. If you have a private student loan, check with your lender directly to see what temporary relief programs or policies they may have.

Private student loans generally go into default after 90 days. Private lenders may also take you to court or use collection agencies to collect your student loan debt. Whether you have federal or private student loans, contact your loan servicer immediately if your loan is delinquent so you can understand what options are available to you before your loan goes into default.

Recommended: Should You Refinance Your Student Loans?

The Takeaway

Because student loans don’t disappear, it’s important to stay on top of payments, especially with federal student loan payments resuming on October 1, 2023. Borrowers with federal student loans may be able to take advantage of the Department of Education’s 12-month on-ramp to repayment until September 30, 2024. Or they might qualify for deferment, forbearance, or income-based repayment options which can provide some temporary relief or help make monthly payments more manageable.

Options available for borrowers facing financial hardships with private student loans vary by lender.

For some borrowers, student loan refinancing may be a way to lower interest rates, reduce monthly payments, and combine all your loans into a single monthly payment. Reducing monthly student loan payments by extending the life of the loan may result in more interest over the life of the loan. If you qualify for a lower interest rate, you could save money over the life of the loan.

It’s also possible to refinance both federal or private loans, or a combination of the two. However, it’s very important to understand that if you refinance federal loans, you’ll lose access to federal benefits and protections, including deferment, forbearance, income-driven repayment, and loan forgiveness for public service, so it’s not recommended for borrowers who are planning to take advantage of those programs.

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.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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.

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.

Dealing with substantial student loan debt can be overwhelming, especially if you find yourself struggling to make your payments.

Fortunately, there are some options that may help minimize the amount of money you pay back on your federal student loans, such as the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs.

When trying to figure out how to get rid of student loans, it’s important to understand that you might be able to reduce your monthly payment with a student loan refinance. Or you may be able to temporarily postpone your federal loan payments through deferment or forbearance.

Options to Get Out of Repaying Student Loans Legally

1. Loan Forgiveness Programs

Depending on your eligibility, there are a few different federal loan forgiveness programs available to borrowers with federal student loans. These programs could help you get out of paying a portion of student loan debt as they forgive your loan balance after a certain number of years.

President Joe Biden proposed a federal student loan debt cancellation of up to $20,000 for those who met household income eligibility. However, the Supreme Court ruled against Biden’s plan, saying the president did not have the necessary authority to take such action. Since then, President Biden has announced various programs to provide relief for those carrying federal loans, along with calling attention to existing plans.

Each forgiveness program has different eligibility criteria.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness

This federal student loan forgiveness program forgives the loans of highly qualified teachers. Depending on the subject area they teach, teachers who meet the eligibility requirements may have up to $17,500 or up to $5,000. Teachers are eligible to apply for this loan forgiveness program after they have completed five years of service.

Recommended: Explaining Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

This program is designed for those working in public service. In order to qualify, applicants must meet the programs eligibility requirements, including:

•   Work for a qualified employer

•   Work full-time

•   Hold Direct Loans or have a Direct Consolidation Loan

•   Make 120 qualifying payments on an income-driven repayment plan

Borrowers who are interested in pursuing PSLF will have to follow strict requirements in order to qualify and have their loan balances forgiven.

2. Income-Driven Repayment Plans

Income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans tie a borrower’s monthly loan payments to their income and family size.

The repayment period for income-driven repayment plans varies from 20 to 25 years. While these plans help make loan payments more affordable for borrowers, extending the loan terms may result in accruing more interest over the life of the loan.

President Biden has announced the creation of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan , which replaces the existing Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan. Borrowers on the REPAYE Plan will automatically get the benefits of the new SAVE Plan.

The SAVE Plan, like other income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, calculates your monthly payment amount based on your income and family size. According to the White House, the SAVE Plan provides the lowest monthly payments of any IDR plan available to nearly all student borrowers.

Starting next summer, borrowers on the SAVE Plan will have their payments on federal undergraduate loans cut in half (reduced from 10% to 5% of income above 225% of the poverty line).

A beta version of the updated IDR application was made available in early August 2023 and includes the option to enroll in the new SAVE Plan. The DOE says that if you apply for an IDR plan (such as the SAVE Plan) in the summer of 2023, your application will be processed in time for your first federal student loan payment due date.

Recommended: The SAVE Plan: What Student Loan Borrowers Need to Know About the New Repayment Plan

3. Disability Discharge

When working out how to get rid of student loans, take into account that It may be possible to have federal student loans discharged if you have a permanent disability. To be eligible for the disability discharge, you need to show the Department of Education that you are not able to earn an income now or in the future because of your disability.

To do so, you need to get an evaluation from a doctor, submit evidence from Veterans Affairs, or show that you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance. You cannot apply for disability discharge until you have been disabled for 60 months unless a doctor writes a letter saying that your disability and inability to work will last at least 60 months.

4. Temporary Relief: Deferment or Forbearance

Federal student loan repayment was put on pause over three years ago due to the Covid-19 shutdown. As part of the agreement reached in the Debt Ceiling bill, the Department of Education’s student loan forbearance program ends in 2023, with interest resuming on September 1, 2023 and payments due beginning in October 2023.

However, in late June, President Biden announced the creation of the On-Ramp Program . The Department of Education is instituting a 12-month “on-ramp” to repayment of federal student loans, running from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, so that “financially vulnerable borrowers” who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or referred to debt collection agencies.

Apart from the On-Ramp Program, forbearance and deferment both offer borrowers the ability to pause their federal student loan payments if they qualify.

Depending on the type of loan you have, interest may continue to accrue even while the loan is in deferment or forbearance. However, applying for one of these options can help borrowers avoid missed payments and potentially defaulting on their student loans.

Note that private student loans don’t offer the same benefits as federal student loans, but some may offer their own benefits.

5. Student Loan Refinancing

This option won’t get rid of your student loans, but it could help make student loans more manageable. By refinancing your student loans, you can potentially qualify for a lower interest rate, which can possibly lower your monthly payments or save you money on interest over the life of your loan.

If you refinance with a private lender, you can also change the length of your student loan. While private lenders can refinance both your federal and private student loans, you do lose access to the protections that federal student loans provide, such as income-based repayment programs, on the amount that is refinanced.

6. Filing for Bankruptcy: A Last Resort

Bankruptcy is a legal option for the problems caused by people struggling with how to take out student loans. However, it is rare that student loans are eligible for discharge in bankruptcy. In some instances, if a borrower can prove “undue hardship,” they may be able to have their student loans discharged in bankruptcy.

Filing for bankruptcy can have long-term impact on an individual’s credit score and is generally a last resort. Before considering bankruptcy, review other options, such as speaking with a credit counselor or consulting with a qualified attorney who can provide advice specific to the individual’s personal situation.

Recommended: Bankruptcy and Student Loans: What You Should Know

The Takeaway

When you are learning how to take out student loans, the future debt may not be obvious. It can be challenging to pay student loan debt, but there are options that can temporarily reduce or eliminate your payment. It is only in extremely rare circumstances that student loans can be discharged in bankruptcy.

For federal student loans, some options that can help alleviate the burden of student loan debt include deferment or forbearance, which may be helpful to those who are facing short-term issues repaying student loans. Another avenue to consider may be income-driven repayment plans, which tie a borrower’s monthly loan payments to their income, helping make monthly payments more manageable.

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.

If you’re on the standard 10-year repayment plan and your federal student loan payments are high relative to your income, a student loan income-based repayment plan may be an option for you.

New changes to the plans, including a new plan called SAVE that was introduced by the Biden Administration, will reduce many borrowers’ payments. Read on to learn whether income-based student loan repayment might be right for your situation.

What Is Income-Based Student Loan Repayment?

Income-based student loan repayment plans were conceived to ease the financial hardship of government student loan borrowers and help them avoid default when struggling to pay off student loans.

Those who enroll in the plans tend to have large loan balances and/or low earnings. Graduate students, who usually have bigger loan balances than undergrads, are more likely to enroll in a plan.

The idea is straightforward: Pay a percentage of your monthly income above a certain threshold for 20 or 25 years and you are eligible to get any remaining balance forgiven. (The SAVE plan would forgive balances after 10 years for borrowers with original loans of $12,000 or less.)

By the end of 2022, 45% of Direct Loan borrowers were enrolled in an income-based repayment plan, according to Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education. But borrowers have often failed to recertify their income each year, as required, and are returned to the standard 10-year plan.


💡 Quick Tip: Often, the main goal of refinancing is to lower the interest rate on your student loans — federal and/or private — by taking out one loan with a new rate to replace your existing loans. Refinancing makes sense if you qualify for a lower rate and you don’t plan to use federal repayment programs or protections.

2 Income-Driven Student Loan Repayment Plans

While people often use the term “income-based repayment” generically, the Department of Education calls them income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. There are four, but two plans recently stopped accepting new borrowers. We’ll focus on the two that are still open to you:

•   Income-Based Repayment (IBR)

•   Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), which replaces the previous Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) plan

Your payment amount is a percentage of your discretionary income, defined for IBR as the difference between your annual income and 150% of the poverty guideline for your family size.

For the SAVE plan, discretionary income is the difference between your annual income and 225% of the poverty line for your family size. This new plan could substantially reduce borrowers’ monthly payment amounts compared to other IDR plans. For IBR and SAVE, the payment is 5% to 10% of your discretionary income.

Got it? But wait; there’s more. Note the number of years in which consistent, on-time payments must be made and after which a balance may be forgiven, as well as who qualifies.

How Income-Based Student Loan Repayment Works

In general, borrowers qualify for lower monthly loan payments if their total student loan debt at graduation exceeds their annual income.

To figure out if you qualify for a plan, you must apply at StudentAid.gov and submit information to have your income certified. Your monthly payment will then be calculated. If you qualify, you’ll make your monthly payments to your loan servicer under your new income-based repayment plan.

You’ll generally have to recertify your income and family size every year. Your calculated payment may change as your income or family size changes.


💡 Quick Tip: When rates are low, refinancing student loans could make a lot of sense. How much could you save? Find out using our student loan refi calculator.

What Might My Student Loan Repayment Plan Look Like?

Here’s an example:

Let’s say you are single and your family size is one. You live in one of the 48 contiguous states or the District of Columbia. Your adjusted gross income is $40,000 and you have $45,000 in eligible federal student loan debt.

The 2023 government poverty guideline amount for a family of one in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia is $14,580, and 150% of that is $21,870. The difference between $40,000 and $20,385 is $18,130. That is your discretionary income.

If you’re repaying under the IBR plan, 10% of your discretionary income is about $1,813. Dividing that amount by 12 results in a monthly payment of $151.08.

Under the SAVE Plan, however, your discretionary income is the difference between your gross income and 225% of the poverty line, which comes out to $32,805. The difference between $40,000 and $32,805 is $7,195, which is your discretionary income; 5% of your discretionary income is about $360. That amount divided by 12 results in a monthly payment of $30.

The Federal Student Aid office recommends using its loan simulator to compare estimated monthly payment amounts for both repayment plans.

Which Loans Are Eligible for Income-Based Repayment Plans?

Most federal student loans are eligible for at least one of the plans.

Federal Student Aid lays out the long list of eligible loans, ineligible loans, and eligible if consolidated loans under each plan.

Of course, private student loans are not eligible for any federal income-driven repayment plan, though some private loan lenders will negotiate new payment schedules if needed.

Pros and Cons of Income-Based Student Loan Repayment

Pros

•   Borrowers gain more affordable student loan payments.

•   Any remaining student loan balance is forgiven after 20 or 25 years of repayment; and, as of July 2024, after 10 years of repayment for those in the SAVE plan with original loan balances of $12,000 or less.

•   An economic hardship deferment period counts toward the 20 or 25 years.

•   The plans provide forgiveness of any balance after 10 years for borrowers who meet all the qualifications of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

•   The government pays all or part of the accrued interest on some loans in some of the income-driven plans.

•   Low-income borrowers may qualify for payments of zero dollars, and payments of zero still count toward loan forgiveness.

•   New federal regulations will curtail instances of interest capitalization and suspend excess interest accrual when monthly payments do not cover all accruing interest.

Cons

•   Stretching payments over a longer period means paying more interest over time.

•   Forgiven amounts of student loans are free from federal taxation through 2025, but usually the IRS treats forgiven balances as taxable income (except for the PSLF program).

•   Borrowers in most income-based repayment plans need to recertify income and family size every year.

•   On some plans, if a borrower gets married and files taxes jointly, the combined income could increase loan payments. (This is not the case with the SAVE Plan.)

•   The system can be confusing to navigate.

Student Loan Refinancing Tips From SoFi

Income-driven repayment plans were put in place to tame the monthly payments on federal student loans for struggling borrowers. For instance, the new SAVE Plan offers the lowest monthly payments of all IDR plans. (Those who have private student loans don’t qualify for IDR plans.)

If your income is stable and your credit is good, and you don’t need federal programs like income-driven repayment plans or deferment, refinancing your student loans is an option. (To be clear, refinancing federal student loans makes them ineligible for federal protections and programs like income-driven repayment and loan forgiveness for public service.) With refinancing, the goal is to pay off your existing loans with one new private student loan that ideally has a lower interest rate.

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

Is income-based repayment a good idea?

For borrowers of federal student loans with high monthly payments relative to their income, income-based repayment can be a good idea. Borrowers may want to check out the new SAVE Plan, which provides the lowest monthly payments of the income-driven repayment options.

What is the income limit for income-based student loan repayment?

There is no limit. If your loan payments under the 10-year standard repayment plan are high for your income level, you may qualify for income-based student loan repayment.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of income-based student loan repayment?

The main advantage is lowering your monthly payments, with the promise of eventual loan forgiveness if all the rules are followed. A disadvantage is that you have to wait for 10, 20, or 25 years depending on the plan you’re on and how much you owe.

How does income-based repayment differ from standard repayment?

With the standard repayment plan, your monthly payments are a fixed amount that ensures your student loans will be repaid within 10 years. Under this plan, you’ll generally save money over time because your monthly payments will be higher. With income-based repayment, your monthly loan payments are based on your income and family size. These plans are designed to make your payments more affordable. After a certain amount of time ranging from 10 to 25 years, depending on the plan, any remaining balance you owe is forgiven.

Who is eligible for income-based repayment plans?

Under the new SAVE plan, any student loan borrower with eligible student loans can participate in the plan. With the PAYE and IBR plans, in order to be eligible, your calculated monthly payments, based on your income and family size, must be less than what you would pay under the standard repayment plan. Under the ICR plan, any borrower with eligible student loans may qualify. Parent PLUS loan borrowers are also eligible for this plan.

How is the monthly payment amount calculated in income-based repayment plans?

With income-based repayment, your monthly payment is calculated using your income and family size. Your payment is based on your discretionary income, which is the difference between your gross income and an income level based on the poverty line. The income level is different depending on the plan. With the SAVE Plan, for instance, your discretionary income is the difference between your gross annual income and 225% of the poverty line for your family size.

For IBR and SAVE, your monthly payment is 5% to 10% of your discretionary income.

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.

Student loans, like any loans, have an interest rate (and, sometimes, other loan fees). While interest rate accrual on existing federal student loans was paused from March 2020 through August 2023 due to the Covid-19 forbearance, the 2023 debt ceiling bill officially ended the payment pause, requiring interest accrual to resume on Sept. 1 and payments to resume in October 2023. And of course, any new student loans — federal or private — will have an interest rate that impacts the total cost of the loan.

So what is the average student loan rate? While it would be difficult to nail down the average rate of all active student loans held by borrowers, we know the interest rates of new federal student loans, as well as the range of rates for private student loans.

What Is The Average Student Loan Interest Rate?

The interest rate on a student loan varies based on the type of student loan. Federal student loans issued after July 1, 2006, have a fixed interest rate. The rates on newly disbursed federal student loans are determined annually by fixed formulas specified in the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA).

These are the federal student loan interest rates for the 2023–24 school year:

•   5.50% for Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loans for undergraduates

•   7.05% for Direct Unsubsidized loans for graduate and professional students

•   8.05% for Direct PLUS loans for graduate students, professional students, and parents

All three of those rates have risen from the 2022-2023 school year, and the undergraduate rate has doubled since the 2020-2021 school year.

Source: Studentaid.gov

This means that the average rate for the three main types of federal student loans is 6.87%:

Source: Studentaid.gov

Private student loan interest rates vary by lender and each has its own criteria for which rates you qualify for. Private student loans can have either fixed interest rates that remain the same over the life of the loan or variable rates that can start lower than a fixed interest rate but then go up over time, based on market changes.

Private lenders may also offer different interest rates if you have a cosigner on your student loan. The interest rates on private student loans can vary anywhere from 4% to 17%, depending on the lender, the type of loan, and on individual financial factors including the borrower’s credit history.

Recommended: Types of Federal Student Loans

How Are Interest Rates Determined?

As mentioned previously, the interest rates on federal student loans are set annually by fixed formulas specified in the HEA. The rates are tied to the financial markets — federal law sets them based on the 10-year Treasury note and a statutory add-on percentage with a maximum rate cap.

Since July 2006, all federal student loans have fixed interest rates. Although federal student loans are serviced by private companies or nonprofits selected by the federal government, these loan servicers have no say in the federal interest rate offered.

For private student loans, the lenders set their own rates, though they often take cues from federal rates. Each lender has their own algorithm and credit standards. The rates quoted for student loans vary based on each applicant’s individual situation — though generally the better a potential borrower’s financial history is, the better rate they may be able to qualify for.

To learn more about private and federal student loans check out our student loan help center. If you’re looking to reduce your interest rate, student loan refinancing may be right for you.


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

How Is Student Loan Interest Calculated?

After a three-year payment pause, the debt ceiling bill officially ended the Covid-19 forbearance, requiring federal student loan interest accrual to resume on Sept. 1 and payments to resume in October 2023.

Interest on federal student loans typically accrues daily. To calculate the interest as it accrues, the following formula can be used:

In other words, you will multiply your outstanding loan balance by the interest rate factor. Then, multiply that result by the days since you last made a payment.

To calculate that interest rate factor you can divide the interest rate by the number of days of the year (365). For example, let’s say you have an outstanding student loan balance of $10,000, an interest rate of 4.75%, and it’s been 30 days since your last payment. Here’s how to calculate your interest:

Many private student loans will also accrue interest on a daily basis, however, the terms will ultimately be determined by the lender. Review the lending agreement to confirm.

Recommended: When Do Student Loans Start Accruing Interest?

What to Look for in a Student Loan Interest Rate

When you take out a federal student loan, you’ll receive a fixed interest rate. This means that you’ll pay a set amount for the term of the student loan. In addition, all of the terms, conditions, and benefits are determined by the government. Federal student loans also provide some additional perks that you may not find with private lenders like income-driven repayment (IDR) plans.

The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan is one of the IDR options to consider if you’re a federal student loan borrower. The SAVE Plan is the most affordable repayment plan for federal student loans, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Borrowers who are single and make less than $32,800 a year won’t have to make any payments under the SAVE Plan. (If you are a family of four and make less than $67,500 annually, you also won’t have to make payments.)

Private student loans can have higher interest rates and potentially fewer perks than federal student loans. You may want to take advantage of all federal student loans you qualify for before comparing private loan options.

Average Interest Rates for Student Loans FAQ

Here are some common questions about the average interest rates of student loans:

What Is a Good Fixed Interest Rate for Student Loans?

When it comes to cost, the lower the interest rate, the better. The lower the interest rate, the less a borrower will owe over the life of the loan, which could help individuals as they work on other financial goals. If you’re taking out federal loans, the student loan interest rate is set by federal law, so you don’t have a choice for what is and isn’t a reasonable interest rate.

When it comes to private student loans, it’s wise to shop around and compare your options to find the most suitable financing solution. Since every lender offers different terms, rates, and fees, getting quotes from multiple lenders may help you select the best option for your personal needs. Keep in mind that the rate you receive on a private student loan is largely dependent on your credit score and other factors, whereas federal student loan interest rates are based on HEA formulas and not your creditworthiness.

Also keep in mind that private student loans do not have the same borrower protections as federal student loans, including IDR plans or deferment options, and should be considered only after all federal aid options have been exhausted.

Is $30K In Student Loans Bad?

If you owe $30,000 in student debt, you’re right in line with the national average. More than 40 million consumers have outstanding student debt as of 2023, and the average borrower owes about $35K, according to TransUnion®.

Is a 4.75% Interest Rate Good?

With interest rates on private student loans ranging anywhere between 4% and 17%, and the three types of federal student loan rates averaging 6.87% for the 2023-2024 school year, a 4.75% interest rate in 2023 is lower than what most students can get on a new student loan.

How Can I Reduce the Interest Rates on my Student Loans?

The interest rate on federal student loans, while fixed annually for the life of the loan, does fluctuate over time. For example, the rates for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans for undergraduates doubled from 2.75% in 2020–21 to 5.50% in 2023–24.

To adjust the rate on an existing student loan, borrowers generally have two options. They can refinance or consolidate the loans with hopes of qualifying for a lower interest rate.

Refinancing a federal loan with a private lender eliminates them from federal borrower protections such as income-driven repayment plans or Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The federal government does offer a Direct Consolidation Loan, which allows borrowers to consolidate their federal loans into a single loan. This will maintain the federal borrower protections but won’t necessarily lower the interest rate. When federal loans are consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan, the new interest rate is a weighted average of your original federal student loans’ rates.

Refinancing student loans with a private lender may allow qualifying borrowers to secure a lower interest rate or preferable loan terms. Note that extending the repayment term will generally result in an increased cost over the life of the loan.

To see how refinancing could work for your student loans, take a look at the student loan refinance calculator.


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

The Takeaway

The average student loan interest rate varies depending on the loan type. The interest rate for federal Direct Unsubsidized and Subsidized loans is set annually by federal law and fixed for the life of the loan. The interest rate on private student loans is determined by a variety of factors including the borrower’s credit history and may range anywhere from 4% to up to 17%.

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.

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.

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.