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Jobs that help pay off a portion of student loans are becoming more common and for a good reason. The average student loan borrower has around $37,000 in student loan debt.

Companies that help to repay a portion of student loans are in the minority, so you may have to do some research to get student loan assistance as a benefit. To help you, here’s what to know about what’s available, companies that offer this perk, and what you can do to try and negotiate for it.

Types of Job-Based Student Loan Assistance Programs

There are two types of student loan assistance you may receive through an employer: repayment assistance programs where your employer is a participant and repayment assistance benefits your employer offers directly.

Repayment Assistance Programs

Depending on your chosen career, you may be eligible to receive student loan assistance through a federal – or state-based program. There are several programs for those working in public service careers, like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Teacher Loan Forgiveness programs.

That said, these programs typically require you to commit to working in a specific job or a certain area (like medicine, law, or military service, for example) for a set number of years, which can be challenging if you don’t enjoy the job or want to pursue a different career path somewhere else.

But if you fulfill your service obligation, you may get as much as your full student loan balance is forgiven.

Recommended: A Guide to Military Student Loan Forgiveness

Repayment Assistance Benefits

About 8% of employers in the U.S. offer student loan repayment assistance as a benefit, according to the Society for Human Resource Management . The terms of a repayment assistance benefit can vary by employer. For example, some may offer it as a match of the employee’s payments and others may simply pay a set amount toward an employee’s loan balance each month.

The amount you receive from a repayment assistance benefit may be less than what you might get through a government repayment assistance program. But you may not need to commit to a service obligation to qualify, and you may be able to negotiate how much you’ll receive.

Types of Jobs That Offer Student Loan Forgiveness

In order to qualify for certain types of loan forgiveness, borrowers may need to meet certain employment requirements. Here are some of the jobs that could potentially allow someone to qualify for federal student loan forgiveness programs.

1. Federal Agency Employee

Federal agencies may be allowed to offer student loan assistance as a perk to appeal to candidates. In order to qualify for this student loan repayment assistance, the employee is required to sign onto a three-year contract with the agency. The benefit may be up to $10,000 per year, but cannot be more than $60,000 per person. Additionally, the benefit is only available to for federal student loans.

2. Public Service Worker

If you work in the public service sector for a qualifying organization, such as the government or a non-profit, you may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). To pursue PSLF, borrowers are required to make 120 qualifying payments while certifying their employment with a qualifying employer. After this period, any remaining amount is forgiven. PSFL is only available to borrowers with federal student loans.

If you have a Perkins loan and work in public service, you could potentially qualify for loan cancellation.

3. Medical Field

The Association of American Medical Colleges maintains a database with information on loan assistance programs for doctors by state.

Medical professionals who work in underserved areas may also qualify for loan forgiveness through the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program . In this program, medical professionals must commit to working for at least two years in a Health Professional Shortage Area.

Refinancing medical school student loans may be another option to consider for medical professionals who are not pursuing any loan forgiveness programs. While refinancing would eliminate loans from any federal forgiveness programs, it could potentially allow borrowers to secure a more competitive interest rate.

4. Automotive Professionals

Professionals in the automotive industry may qualify for loan forgiveness through the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Loan Forgiveness Program. In 2021, SEMA awarded funds to pay for student loans to 22 working professionals.

5. Lawyer

Lawyers may also be able to qualify for PSLF. In addition, there are other lawyer-specific programs that provide assistance to lawyers paying off student loan debt including the Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program or John R. Justice (JRJ) Program.

6. Teacher

Student loan forgiveness for teachers is available. Teachers who work in special education, are considered highly qualified teachers or work in underserved areas may qualify for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. The amount of loan forgiveness available is dependent on the teacher’s area of specialty and can be either $17,500 or $5,000.

7. Peace Corps

Peace Corps volunteers may be eligible to defer their loans or pursue PSLF.

8. Veterinarian

Veterinarians who work in underserved areas may qualify for up to $25,000 in student loan repayment assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.

8 Major Companies that Repay Student Loans

Hundreds of large and small employers offer jobs that pay off student loans, but it’s not always easy to find out which ones provide the benefit. To help you get started, here are 10 well-known companies that repay student loans.

1. Abbott Laboratories

The company’s Freedom 2 Save program functions a bit differently than other repayment assistance benefits in that it combines efforts to pay off student loan debt and save for retirement.

Full- and part-time employees who qualify for the company’s 401(k) plan and contribute 2% of their pay toward student loan repayment, will receive a contribution of 5% of their salary in their 401k account. Employee 401k contributions aren’t required.

2. Chegg

Full-time employees of the education company receive an annual contribution to their student loan payments.

3. Estee Lauder

The beauty company provides employees with $100 per month in student loan assistance, up to a total of $10,000.

4. Fidelity

As an employee of the investment brokerage firm, you’ll may be eligible to receive up to $15,000 toward your student loan payments.

5. Nvidia

If you’ve graduated within the last three years, Nvidia will match your student loan payments dollar for dollar up to $500 per month. The lifetime cap is $30,000.

6. Penguin Random House

Employees who have been with the publisher for at least one year can receive up to $1,200 in student loan repayment assistance each year, for a total of $9,000 over seven-and-a-half years.

7. PricewaterhouseCoopers

As a participating associate or senior associate, you can receive $1,200 in student loan payments each year.

8. SoFi

As an employee with SoFi, you’ll get $200 each month in student loan repayment assistance.

Negotiating a Student Loan Repayment Benefit

If you’re looking for a job, keep an eye out for companies that repay student loans as an employee benefit. If you can’t find one, you can still try to negotiate the benefit for into your total compensation. Here are some ways to do it.

Doing Your Research

Resources like Payscale and Glassdoor can help give you an idea of the salary and benefits that may be available from various companies. Look at what the company you’re interested in typically offers as well as what you might get with a similar position somewhere else.

If anything, this process can give you a better idea of what you’re worth. But it will also give you a benchmark that you can use to negotiate for student loan repayment benefits, along with other aspects of your compensation.

Making Your Interests Clear

Helping a potential employer understand why student loan repayment is important to you can help set the stage for the entire conversation.

In addition to salary, employers can consider several other factors to make up your total compensation. So knowing what’s most important to you can help them make a more attractive offer.

Asking for a Signing Bonus Instead of Monthly Payments

While a signing bonus isn’t specifically designed as a student loan repayment benefit, you can use it that way. In fact, making a lump sum payment toward your student loans could help you accelerate your student loan debt repayment timeline.

Recommended: How to Negotiate Your Signing Bonus 

Asking for the Opportunity to Revisit the Request in the Future

If you can’t manage to persuade a potential employer to provide you with student loan assistance, that may not be the end of it. You could ask for the chance to talk about your compensation again in six months or a year.

During that time, you may be able to prove to your employer that it’s worth the investment on their part. Or you may have planted a seed for the employer to create a student loan repayment benefit for all employees.

Making Student Loan Repayment a Priority

Whether or not you can find jobs that pay off student loans, you can still make it a priority to eliminate your student debt as quickly as possible. A student loan repayment assistance benefit can help you achieve that goal, but it can’t do it on its own.

As such, it’s essential to consider other options to save money, such as refinancing your student loans. While refinancing can be a helpful option for some borrowers, it won’t make sense for everyone. If federal student loans are refinanced they’ll lose eligibility for federal programs and benefits, like PSLF or income-driven repayment plans.

If you qualify, you may be able to reduce your interest rate or your monthly payment. With a lower interest rate you could potentially save money over the life of your loan.

The Takeaway

The number of companies offering student loan repayment assistance as a part of their employee benefits package is growing. Some jobs might also offer the opportunity for the borrower to apply for student loan forgiveness. For example, there are programs available for medical professionals, teachers, and those that work in the government or non-profit sector.

Another opportunity for managing student loans is refinancing, which could allow qualifying borrowers to lower their interest rates — making the loan more affordable in the long run. If you’re interested in refinancing, consider the options available at SoFi.

When you refinance with SoFi, there are no prepayment penalties or origination fees. You can start taking control of your student loan debt and get a quote in just two minutes.

FAQ

What careers pay off student loans fastest?

High paying jobs may help borrowers repay their student loans quickly. However, some jobs may allow borrowers to pursue a loan forgiveness program. While these programs may not expedite the repayment process, they could help make student loan repayment more manageable.

What companies pay off student loans?

Companies including SoFi, Fidelity, Penguin Random House, and Nvidia all offer student loan repayment assistance programs. Specific benefits vary by company.

What kind of jobs qualify for student loan forgiveness?

The type of job that qualifies for student loan forgiveness may vary depending on the program. Jobs in the government or non-profit sector may qualify a borrower for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Teachers may qualify for Teacher Student Loan Forgiveness programs. Some medical professionals may qualify for programs such as the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.

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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
If you are looking to refinance federal student loans, please be aware that the White House has announced up to $20,000 of student loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for qualifying borrowers whose student loans are federally held. Additionally, the federal student loan payment pause and interest holiday has been extended beyond December 31, 2022. Please carefully consider these changes before refinancing federally held loans with SoFi, since the amount or portion of your federal student debt that you refinance will no longer qualify for the federal loan payment suspension, interest waiver, or any other current or future benefits applicable to federal loans. If you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness and still wish to refinance, leave unrefinanced the amount you expect to be forgiven to receive your federal benefit.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.

Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For information on licenses, see NMLS Consumer Access (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org ). The Student Debt Navigator Tool and 529 Savings and Selection Tool are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal housing lender.
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.
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.
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Let’s talk about student loan payments. Woo-hoo! OK, it’s not the most thrilling topic, but know what is serotonin-boosting? Paying off that very last loan.

How to Pay Off Your Student Loans

It’s the unglamorous work that goes on behind the scenes that make or break every business owner, athlete, or creative person. It is helpful to think about student loan repayment like any other big feat worth accomplishing.

It begins with knowing that paying down student loans in a smart and effective way can take a lot of planning, budgeting, and adapting.

While there is no single smartest way to pay off student loans, because everyone’s situation is different, there are steps that will put most borrowers in a position to pay off their student loans without too much pain and on a timeline.

Another goal could be to create a financial plan that includes your loans.

Strategies to Pay Off Student Loans

Here are nine steps to consider including in your student loan repayment plan.

1. Organizing All Of Your Debt, Including Student Loans

Keeping track of your student loans and other sources of debt can be tricky, especially if you are a recent graduate. Consider listing them. Include the student loan servicer, amount of the loan, monthly payment, interest rate, and when the loan should be paid in full.

If you aren’t sure what your monthly payments will be, you can use this student loan calculator to get a rough idea, or you can call your loan servicer.

If you have credit card debt or personal loans, include them on your debt list. With all of your sources of debt, you can then mark on a calendar the date that the monthly payments are due.

While you always need to make the monthly minimum payments on all debts (unless your student loans are within their grace period or are in forbearance), listing them allows you to identify which debts you may want to pay off first.

If you have high-interest credit cards adding up each month, a credit card consolidation loan may be a great option to look at, too.

Once your credit cards are paid off, you’ll want to think about whether your goal is to pay your loans off quickly, or to simply make the monthly payments until the loans are done. The former is one way to save on interest over time.

Some folks do prefer to pay only the minimum monthly amount on their student loans so that they can save a little for other things.

2. Budgeting to Include Loan Payments

It can take time and effort to develop a monthly budgeting system that works for you, but it is doable, and totally worth it.

To get started, track your monthly cash inflows and outflows for two months. Total how much money you spent in each category, including debt payments like student loans.

Once you have a general idea of what you’re spending in each category, you can begin to build a budget framework. For example, if you spend $300 on groceries one month and $350 the next, you can now set a realistic grocery budget. Leave room for annual and quarterly expenses as well as incidentals.

With a budget that is built to include student loan payments, you’ll be more equipped to make all of your payments on time and know how much is available to spend on other wants and needs. Also, understanding how you’re spending will allow you to identify the areas where you’re overspending.

3. Setting Up Automatic Payments

Hopefully your student loan payments are set up to be automatically deducted from your bank account. If they aren’t, you can contact your student loan servicer to set up autopay. That way you won’t miss a payment because you forgot or are somewhere where you can’t access the internet.

Remember, missed or late payments will negatively affect your credit score. Damaged credit could preclude you from opportunities in the future, such as being able to refinance your loans.

Many loan service providers offer a discount if you arrange to autopay. When you sign up, ask if such a discount is available.

4. Paying More Than the Minimum Monthly Amount

Paying more than the minimum monthly payment can be a great strategy if your goal is to pay off your loan faster than the stated term. You’ll also save on interest over the life of the loan by paying it off sooner. Even small amounts can make a difference.

To do this, instruct your loan servicer to apply any extra payments to the loan principal, or adjust your automatic monthly payment to a higher amount and clarify that you want that extra money dedicated to the principal.

Make sure, after the next month’s payment, that the money was indeed put toward the loan’s principal.

Recommended: Why Making Minimum Student Loan Payments Isn’t Enough

5. Paying a Lump Sum Toward Student Loans

Increasing your monthly payment isn’t the only way to put a dent in your loans; at any point, you are allowed to make a lump sum payment toward the principal.

You could put your tax refund, holiday or birthday money, work bonuses, or inheritance money toward your student debt.

6. Adjusting Your Repayment Plan If Needed

Most federal student loans come with a 10-year repayment plan unless you choose otherwise.

Income-driven repayment plans base payments on discretionary income and family size. The plans lower monthly payments by extending the length of repayment to 20 or 25 years, after which any remaining loan balance is to be forgiven.

Even though your monthly payments are lower, you will pay more interest over time (longer loan terms mean more interest payments, after all). So it’s not a great choice if you want to pay off your student loans quickly or pay as little interest as possible, but it is available to those who are having trouble making their monthly payments.

If you are planning to use the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program for your federal student loans, you will need to select one of the income-driven repayment plans.

7. Considering Refinancing Your Loans

When you refinance one or more student loans, a private lender like a bank, credit union, or online company pays off your current loans and issues one new student loan, ideally at a lower interest rate. A lower rate could mean substantial savings over the life of the loan.

With federal student loan consolidation, on the other hand, the government bundles your federal student loans into one, using a weighted average of the interest rates, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of a percentage point.

It’s important to note that by refinancing your federal student loans to a private student loan, you will not be able to access federal programs like income-driven repayment plans, PSLF, and government deferment or forbearance. If you don’t need any of those benefits, a lower rate gained by refinancing could be worthwhile.

Exploring refinancing with a private lender takes little time and doesn’t cost anything.

8. Knowing Your Worth and Asking for a Raise

With any pay raise, you can use the extra income toward your financial goals. This could mean increasing the monthly amount you pay toward your student loans or making a lump sum payment.

How much money you earn is an important factor contributing to your financial stability and ability to pay down your student debt. While budgeting is important, so is knowing your worth and asking for more when you deserve it.

If you haven’t already, start keeping track of your successes so that at your next compensation conversation, you have concrete examples on why you deserve a salary bump.

9. Understanding Your Employment Benefits Package

Although student loan repayment help is not as widespread as retirement or health care benefits, more employers are offering that perk to attract and retain employees.

Whenever you’re comparing job offers, it’s a good idea to compare benefits packages; although they’re not flashy like a big salary or company equity, benefits can be just as valuable.

If you’re looking for a new job, you could include student loan repayment help in your search. While it obviously shouldn’t be your only consideration, it’s great to have an idea of what you’re looking for in an employer.

Recommended: Finding Jobs That Pay Off Student Loans

Refinancing Student Loans

Refinancing is among the ways to pay off student loans, and SoFi is a standout in that field. SoFi refinances federal and private student loans with fixed or variable rates and a range of loan terms.

Take a close look at your student loan balance and the rates you’re paying, and then check your refinance rate in two minutes.

FAQ

What is the smart way to pay off student loans?

To pay off any loan, it’s smart to look at the interest rate and repayment term. If you can manage the monthly payments, a short term and a low rate is a winning combo.

If the payments are too painful and a longer term is needed, it could be smart to make extra payments of any amount whenever you can.

The PSLF program forgives any remaining Direct Loan balance after 10 years of on-time payments and qualifying employment. That could be seen as a smart way to pay off federal student loans if a graduate commits to working for a government or nonprofit employer, but the program has had a 98% applicant denial rate.

How can I pay off $100k in student loans in five years?

Say what? Well, it has been done. It might take sacrifice (moving in with relatives, no eating out, no new car), putting chunks that would normally go to rent toward student loan debt, staying motivated by watching and listening to others’ stories of debt repayment, refinancing one or more times, and getting aggressive about payments.

Most refinance lenders will offer a lower rate for a shorter loan term. Of course, the shorter the term, the higher your monthly payments will be, but the less costly the loan will be. A borrower might find that a variable rate, which usually starts lower than a fixed rate, pays off with a short-term loan.

How do I pay off a five-year loan in two years?

By paying extra toward the principal, in dribs and drabs or in a lump sum, and/or refinancing to a lower rate. Federal law prohibits prepayment penalties for federal or private student loans, so that’s not a worry.

To keep your student loan servicer from applying extra amounts to the next month’s payment, tell your servicer, by phone, mail, or online, to apply any extra payments to the loan principal.

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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
If you are looking to refinance federal student loans, please be aware that the White House has announced up to $20,000 of student loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for qualifying borrowers whose student loans are federally held. Additionally, the federal student loan payment pause and interest holiday has been extended beyond December 31, 2022. Please carefully consider these changes before refinancing federally held loans with SoFi, since the amount or portion of your federal student debt that you refinance will no longer qualify for the federal loan payment suspension, interest waiver, or any other current or future benefits applicable to federal loans. If you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness and still wish to refinance, leave unrefinanced the amount you expect to be forgiven to receive your federal benefit.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.

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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Yes. The main point of a refinance is to get a lower rate, and graduates who qualify can save serious money.

Interest Rate, Explained

An interest rate is the rate charged to borrow money. Interest is calculated as a percentage of the unpaid principal amount. Federal student loans have a fixed rate, while many private student loans have a fixed or variable rate.

Student loans generate interest daily. Lenders typically add the accrued interest to the balance each month when the bill is generated.

The interest rate paid on any loan may make a big difference. If you have $75,000 in student loan debt and 20-year repayment term, the difference in interest paid with a 6.5% rate and a 4% rate is over $25,000.

To refinance student loans, people with excellent credit and a healthy income — or a solid cosigner — will generally qualify for the lowest rates.

Lowering Your Interest Rate With Consolidation vs Refinancing: How They Differ

For Federal Student Loans

Consolidation is a term reserved for federal student loans and is different from refinancing. Student loans are combined into one loan with a longer term (up to 30 years), reducing the monthly payments. The rate is the average of the existing loans’ rates, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percentage point.

Opting for a Direct Consolidation Loan allows borrowers to retain access to federal programs like deferment, forbearance, and income-driven repayment plans.

But because the new interest rate is the average of the existing rates, rounded up a hair, consolidating loans and drawing out the term usually results in more total interest paid.

Normally, if you had started paying toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness and then consolidated your loans, you’d have to start your qualifying payments over. But a waiver through October 31, 2022, will count repayment on loans before consolidation.

For Private Student Loans

Refinancing means paying off your private or federal student loans with one new loan with a new rate and, sometimes, term.

Refinancing with a private lender may lead to substantial savings.

Then again, it might not be the right move for every borrower. For those with federal student loans, refinancing means losing access to federal student loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans.

But borrowers with higher-interest student loans may find the allure of a lower rate — fixed or variable — tempting. If you qualify, you could reduce your payments or save a lot on total interest paid.

Recommended: Can Refinanced Student Loans Still Be Forgiven?

Understanding Your Options to Lower Interest Rate

Federal student loan consolidation is meant to make your monthly payment more manageable by lengthening your repayment term, but it will not lower your rate.

Only by refinancing with a private lender can you try to lower your current private or federal student loan rates. This student loan refinancing calculator can give you an idea of how much you could save by refinancing.

Before you start browsing interest rates, take a look at your current loans. How much do you owe? What are the rates? Are you enrolled in any federal benefits, eligible for any, or hoping to be?

Having this information at the ready can provide valuable insights as you start comparing the rates and terms you might qualify for from different lenders. A rate quote is usually quick and entails only a soft credit pull.

After you’ve determined how much you could potentially save by refinancing, consider looking at other benefits offered by the lender.

Refinancing With SoFi

Refinancing student loans to a lower interest rate makes sense for borrowers who are able to do so and who don’t qualify for or need income-driven plans or other federal programs.

SoFi offers student loan refinancing with low fixed or variable rates, as well as access to member benefits at no cost.

There are no fees when you refinance with SoFi, and the application process can be completed online. If you’re ready to take the next step in paying off student debt, get a rate quote in two minutes.

FAQ

What is federal student loan refinancing?

If you refinance federal student loans, a private lender pays them off with one new private student loan that ideally has a lower rate. Federal student loan consolidation is different.

Do low interest rates apply to student loans?

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans for undergraduates have a fairly low fixed rate for all borrowers. The rate for Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate and professional students is higher. The rate for Direct PLUS loans, for graduate students and parents of dependent undergrads, is yet higher. Most federal student loans also have loan fees that are a percentage of the total loan amount. The fee for PLUS loans has run over 4% in recent years.

Private student loan rates generally are higher than federal student loan rates, but refinancing rates may be quite low for those who qualify. There’s never any cost to refinance, and you can do so as many times as you want.

Can you refinance a student loan for a lower interest rate?

Yes, if you qualify to do so.

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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
If you are looking to refinance federal student loans, please be aware that the White House has announced up to $20,000 of student loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for qualifying borrowers whose student loans are federally held. Additionally, the federal student loan payment pause and interest holiday has been extended beyond December 31, 2022. Please carefully consider these changes before refinancing federally held loans with SoFi, since the amount or portion of your federal student debt that you refinance will no longer qualify for the federal loan payment suspension, interest waiver, or any other current or future benefits applicable to federal loans. If you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness and still wish to refinance, leave unrefinanced the amount you expect to be forgiven to receive your federal benefit.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.

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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A minimum loan payment, by definition, is the lowest amount of money owed on a student loan each month. The actual amount owed each month will likely vary from borrower to borrower based on how much they own, the type of interest rate they have, and their repayment plan.

In some cases, borrowers may opt to make more than the minimum loan payment so that they can expedite the repayment process on their loan.

What Is the Minimum Payment on Student Loans?

The minimum payment on a student loan is the lowest amount of money a borrower can pay each month. The actual student loan minimum payment amount owed each month might be determined by factors including the loan type, interest rate, and the repayment plan. Generally, the minimum monthly payment includes both principal (the original amount borrowed), interest, and fees.

Why Would You Pay off Your Student Debt Sooner?

While the interest rate on your student loan may be lower than on your credit cards, it doesn’t necessarily mean your student loans should be put on the back burner. Prioritizing debt repayment could help lower your debt to income ratio and could help you reduce the amount of money you owe in interest over the life of the loan. Here are a few reasons you may want to pay off your student loans sooner rather than later.

Your Debt-to-income Ratio May Be Lowered

When borrowing a mortgage or a car loan, the lender will usually consider the applicant’s debt-to-income ratio. And the lower it is, the better it looks from a financial perspective. Do you need a new car? Want to buy a house? Start a family? The sooner you get your student loan debt paid off, the more money you will likely have to put toward those dreams being realized.

Your Credit Score Could Improve

Your FICO® credit score is a powerful component of your total financial picture; tend it like a garden, and it could grow. There’s something to be said for the fact that if you’re managing an open debt responsibly by making on-time payments, that may have a positive impact on your credit score. And a higher FICO® score can help you get a better interest rate on a loan you might need for a home or car.

It’s Easier to Save Money When You’re Not Paying Down Debt

The conventional wisdom is the less debt you have, the more money you likely have to save. Think of successfully managing and paying off debt as a necessary exercise routine, like working your core. As your financial “core” gets stronger, you’re likely to become better able to balance your finances and save more money.

When you’ve repaid your student loans, the money you were spending each month on loan payments can instead be used to help you reach financial goals like starting an emergency fund, saving for a down payment, or more.

Interest. Interest. Interest.

Though the interest rates are usually lower on student loans than your average credit card, those interest rates continue to accrue for the life of most student loans. (Note: The timetable of when interest starts to accrue on your student loans depends on the type of student loans you’ve been awarded. Contact your lender for all the details.)

Student loan interest does qualify for a tax deduction . But only $2,500 of the interest can be deducted each year — less if your modified adjusted gross income is greater than $70,000 a year.

Can I Pay More Than The Minimum on Student Loans?

It’s possible to make more than the minimum payments on your student loans without being charged for any prepayment penalty fees. Both federal student loans and private student loans are required to allow borrowers to make extra payments and pay off their loan early without charging any additional fees.

Making extra payments can help decrease the interest paid and help reduce the overall cost of the loan. Typically, you can contact your lender to specify that the extra payment be applied to your highest interest loan and be applied to the principal value of the loan.

Making payments directly to the principal value of the loan can help speed up repayment. And, because most student loan interest is charged per day, making additional payments on the principal value of the loan can help reduce the amount you pay in interest over the life of the loan.

How to Accelerate Your Student Loan Payments

You may be able to pay off your student loan debt more quickly by setting reasonable goals, including payments larger than the minimum required. As mentioned, both federal and private student loans generally allow for penalty-free prepayment but, as we mentioned above, contact your loan provider before doing so to ensure your prepayments are being applied how you want. Here is a ready-made checklist that may help you get rid of your student loan debt sooner.

Calculating Your Costs

Make a list or spreadsheet of all your student loans. You can use a reputable student loan calculator to help determine how much you ultimately owe (including interest) and when, ideally, you’d like to complete your student loan payments.

Making a Budget

Track your spending and make a realistic budget of your monthly and annual expenses. And leave some wiggle room for unexpected expenditures. Be honest with yourself. If you feel you’re spending too much on unnecessary expenses, maybe it’s time to skip your next urge to splurge.

Setting Manageable Goals

Now that you know how much money you have coming in and where it’s going, it might be time to make some uncomfortable-but-fair spending decisions with the intention of eliminating your student loans by your goal date. That means you may want to sacrifice some unnecessary expenses. Cutting back on non-necessities isn’t fun, but it may make it easier for you to save.

Paying Beyond the Minimum Required

As we mentioned up top, you can accelerate your loan payoff by paying more than the minimum monthly payment required by your loan provider. It’s okay to start small — even an extra $25 a month can start to add up. Paying more each month can also save you money on interest. You can even ask your loan provider to put that extra cash toward the principal.

Avoiding Late Fees

An easy way to help ensure you pay at the same time every month is to set up an auto-draft from your checking or savings account. Some lenders may even offer a rate discount to student loan borrowers who enroll in automatic payments.

Maximizing “Surprise” Money

Are you doing so well at work that you got a raise or bonus? Rather than buying a virtual reality headset, lighten the burden of your current reality by putting that money toward your student loan debt.

Finding Extra Work

Every little bit of extra income can help. A part-time job could get you closer to your goal more quickly. If fitting in an extra 15 or 20 scheduled hours a week isn’t feasible, try finding a side hustle where you can make your own hours. You can hire a dog walker, become a rideshare driver, or even recharge electric scooters — all through an app.

Recommended: What is the Average Student Loan Debt After College?

Refinancing Your Student Loans

Refinancing your student loans may offer yet another step closer to your goal. Student loan refinancing is when you borrow a new loan (which is used to pay off your original loans) at a new interest rate and/or a new term.

One potential benefit of refinancing is the possibility of securing a lower interest rate. If you have a combination of private and federal loans, it’s possible to roll them into a single refinanced loan, which means only dealing with one monthly payment instead of multiple payments to multiple lenders (and possibly shortening your repayment term). This is what is known as loan consolidation.

Note: Opting to shorten your loan term likely means paying more each month, but it also means getting out of debt a lot sooner.

It’s also very important to understand that by refinancing your federal loans, you lose federal student loan protections such as deferment, forbearance, and access to income-driven repayment programs. Take this into consideration before moving forward with student loan refinancing with a private lender. If you don’t think you’ll want or need to take advantage of federal loan protections, however, refinancing can potentially help you pay less over the life of your loans.

And as long as you refinance with a lender that doesn’t charge prepayment penalties, you can continue your accelerated payment plan and pay more than the minimum on your new, refinanced loan, too.

The Takeaway

Making more than the minimum student loan payments each month can help borrowers speed up their loan repayment and spend less in interest over the life of their loan. Lenders generally do not charge any fees for prepayment. To make the most of your extra payments, contact your lender to be sure they are being made to the principal value of the loan.

Refinancing can be another option for borrowers who are interested in securing a lower interest rate on their loan. SoFi offers competitive interest rates for qualified borrowers, and there are no application or origination fees. As a SoFi member, borrowers also gain access to benefits like personalized financial advice.

SoFi offers many resources to help you manage your student loan debt, including more tips to help gain control of your financial future — and student loan refinancing options.

FAQ

What happens if I only pay the minimum on my student loans?

Making the minimum monthly payments on your student loan will generally result in your loan being paid off according to the original terms of your loan.

Is it worth paying off student loans early?

Paying off student loans ahead of schedule can make borrowing less expensive, because the borrower will likely spend less in interest over the life of the loan. Repaying student loans early could also have benefits like improving an individual’s debt-to-income ratio. Without the burden of student loans, borrowers might also be able to focus on other financial goals.

What is the average minimum student loan payment?

The average monthly student loan payment is around $400. A borrower’s monthly payment may be influenced by factors including the total amount they owe, the type of payment plan they are enrolled in, and their interest rate.

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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.
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SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are looking to refinance federal student loans, please be aware that the White House has announced up to $20,000 of student loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for qualifying borrowers whose student loans are federally held. Additionally, the federal student loan payment pause and interest holiday has been extended beyond December 31, 2022. Please carefully consider these changes before refinancing federally held loans with SoFi, since the amount or portion of your federal student debt that you refinance will no longer qualify for the federal loan payment suspension, interest waiver, or any other current or future benefits applicable to federal loans. If you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness and still wish to refinance, leave unrefinanced the amount you expect to be forgiven to receive your federal benefit.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s
website .
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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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Editor's Note: Since the writing of this article, the federal student loan payment pause has been extended into 2023 as the Supreme Court decides whether the Biden-Harris Administration’s Student Debt Relief Program can proceed. The U.S. Department of Education announced loan repayments may resume as late as 60 days after June 30, 2023.

If repayment of your student loans has started or interest is accruing, it might be high time to school yourself on managing your school debt. Refinancing is one option.

Sure, it’s not the most fun way to occupy a weekend, but taking a close look at your student loans and understanding the ways to repay them may save you money and angst.

When Might It Be a Good Idea to Refinance Student Loans?

When It Would Save You Money

The main goal of refinancing with a private lender is to lower the interest rate on your student loans — federal and/or private — with one new loan with a new rate that pays off the existing loans.

When rates are low, refinancing student loans could make a lot of sense. How much could you save? This student loan refi calculator can be enlightening.

Refinancing could be a great choice for working graduates who have higher-interest Direct Unsubsidized Loans, graduate PLUS loans, and/or private loans.

It could be smart to refinance law school debt and MBA loans.

Given that the average dental school graduate enters the profession with nearly $300,000 in student loans, refinancing could be a good idea.

The average debt load to get through medical school is also high. Medical residents and fellows may be able to refinance and make low monthly payments until becoming attending physicians.

In fact, all medical professionals, including nurses, may want to see if they could save money by refinancing.

Parent PLUS loans may also be good candidates for refinancing.

Perhaps you’ve heard of student loan consolidation. Federal student loan consolidation would combine all your federal student loans into one, but the rate is the average of those loans’ interest rates rounded up to the next one-eighth of one percentage point.

You Qualify for Refinancing

Your eligibility to refinance student loans depends on your financial history, employment, and monthly income vs. expenses.

You can usually refinance student loans right after graduating, and as often as you want after that. Most lenders charge no fees to refinance.

Can Your Loans Be Refinanced?

Graduates of Title IV accredited undergraduate and graduate programs who have federal and/or private student loans may be able to refinance them into one new loan.

You Want to Remove a Cosigner

Some lenders allow a cosigner to be released from any repayment obligation when student loans are refinanced.

Principal borrowers applying for cosigner release typically have to demonstrate that they are able to handle the loan on their own by meeting certain minimum requirements.

You Want to Switch to Fixed Interest

If you have student loans with variable rates, before rates rise you may want to consider refinancing to lock in a fixed rate.

Then again, if you’re willing to take on a risk to potentially save on interest — and will be able to pay off your student loans quickly — you might consider a variable rate. A variable-rate loan typically starts with a rate that’s 1% to 2% lower than a comparable fixed-rate loan.

But what if variable rates rise? Variable rates often will still save you money over the long term.

You Are Willing to Give Up Federal Benefits

If you have federal student loans, refinancing them into a private student loan will eliminate the ability to participate in income-driven repayment plans, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and federal deferment and forbearance.

Want to see if refinancing could be right for you? We’ve created a quick quiz that might help.

IMPORTANT: The projections or other information generated by this quiz regarding the likelihood of various outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual results, and are not guarantees of offers.

The Takeaway

If you’re asking yourself: Should I refinance my student loans? it might pay to look at the interest rates on your loans, the monthly payment amount, and whether you have any need to enroll in something like a federal income-driven plan.

SoFi refinances both federal and private student loans with no fees, and offers fixed and variable rates.

Get your rate in two minutes.

FAQ

When is it a good time to refinance student loans?

It’s a good time to refinance student debt when rates remain low and you can better the rate on your current student loans, and when you’d like to add or remove a cosigner.

Can refinancing student loans reduce the total cost of your student debt?

Absolutely, for borrowers who are able to reduce their fixed loan rate and keep the same loan term or shorten it, and for some borrowers who opt for a variable rate. Total interest paid could be significantly lower.

The rate for federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate or professional students isn’t all that low, and the rate for Direct PLUS loans (for parents and for graduate or professional students) has averaged over 7% in the past 15 years.

Also, student loans begin accruing interest when they’re disbursed, which can add up.

What credit score do you need to refinance student loans?

Experian says 670 and up, but each lender will have its own threshold. What’s clear is that the higher the score, the better the chance of getting a lower interest rate.

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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
If you are looking to refinance federal student loans, please be aware that the White House has announced up to $20,000 of student loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for qualifying borrowers whose student loans are federally held. Additionally, the federal student loan payment pause and interest holiday has been extended beyond December 31, 2022. Please carefully consider these changes before refinancing federally held loans with SoFi, since the amount or portion of your federal student debt that you refinance will no longer qualify for the federal loan payment suspension, interest waiver, or any other current or future benefits applicable to federal loans. If you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness and still wish to refinance, leave unrefinanced the amount you expect to be forgiven to receive your federal benefit.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.

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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