You may have noticed when shopping around for student loans that some lenders display an interest rate, while others show an APR. What’s the difference? The main distinction is that APR (which stands for annual percentage rate) includes any fees or other charges the lender may add to the loan principal. The “interest rate” does not.
When shopping for a student loan, it’s key to know whether you’re looking at an APR or an interest rate, since this can have a significant impact on the total cost of the loan. Read on to learn more about APR vs. interest rate, what each number includes, and how to compare student loan rates apples to apples to find the best deal.
How Do Student Loan Interest Rates Work?
As with any loan, the interest rate represents the amount your lender is charging you to borrow money. It’s expressed as a percentage of your loan amount (or principal) and doesn’t reflect any fees or other charges that might be connected to your loan. Interest rates can be fixed (the same for the life of the loan) or variable (may fluctuate over the life of the loan).
Interest rates work differently depending on whether a student loan is federal or private. Congress sets the interest rate for federal student loans. The rate is fixed — and it’s the same for all borrowers. The federal student loan interest rate for undergraduates is 5.50% for new loans taken out for the 2023-24 school year, effective from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
Private student loan companies are allowed to set their own interest rates, which may be higher or lower than rates for federal loans. Interest rates on private loans may be fixed or variable and typically depend on the creditworthiness of the borrower (or cosigner) — those with higher credit scores generally qualify for lower rates, while borrowers with lower credit scores tend to get higher rates.
💡 Quick Tip: You can fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.
What Is the Student Loan APR, and How Is It Different From Interest Rate?
A loan’s annual percentage rate (APR) represents a more comprehensive view of what you’re being charged. It tells you the total cost of the loan per year, including any fees, such as an origination fee. Because of that, a loan’s APR may be higher than its interest rate.
Looking at the APR helps you compare different loan offers and get a real picture of the overall cost you will pay for borrowing money for your education. If a loan doesn’t have any fees then the interest and the APR will be the same.
Federal student loans publish interest rates but not the APRs, so it’s important to keep in mind that the headline interest rate of a federal student loan is not the total cost of that loan. These loans also charge an origination fee, which is 1.057% for Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized loans, and 4.228% for Direct PLUS loans (unsubsidized loans for the parents and graduate/professional students.)
For private student loans, origination fees vary by lender. While some private lenders charge origination fees, it’s possible to find a private loan that doesn’t come with these fees. However, it’s important to keep in mind that private student loans generally don’t come with the same protections as federal student loans, such as income-driven repayment plans and forgiveness programs.
What Fees / Charges Might Be Included in a Student Loan APR?
For student loans, the most common fee is the loan origination fee. Whether the loan is federal or private, this fee is typically based on a percentage of the total loan amount and will be deducted from your loan amount before the loan is dispersed. This means that if you borrow $10,000 and the origination fee is 1.057%, $105.70 will be deducted from your total loan amount — so you would actually receive $9,894.30 for the year.
While origination fees can be small, the cost can add up. Because these fees are deducted from the total loan amount, you are paying the fee with borrowed money and will pay interest on the fee paid.
Both private and federal student loans may also have late fees and returned payment (or insufficient funds) fees, both of which add to the total amount you must repay. However, you can avoid these fees by always paying your bill on time and making sure you have enough money in your bank account to cover the payment.
Fees vary widely from one lender to the next, and some private lenders may not charge any fees.
If a Loan’s Interest Rate and APR Are the Same, Does That Mean There Are No Hidden Fees?
Typically, yes. Just keep in mind that interest rates published for federal student loans are not APRs and do not include the origination fee. This fee will come out of the amount of money that is disbursed (paid out) to you while you’re in school.
The student loan APRs listed by private lenders include any additional charges and fees. If the lender doesn’t charge any fees, the APR and interest rate will be the same.
When Shopping for a Loan, Should I Look at Interest Rate, APR, or Both?
Whenever available, you’ll want to look at the APR of a student loan, since this number allows a more apples-to-apples comparison of loan costs. If you just compare straight interest rates, you can miss the big picture in terms of the total cost of the loan. Sometimes those additional fees can make a big impact.
It’s also important to know when the interest rate or APR will kick in. Although the interest rate is the same for federal Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized loans, the latter loan ends up costing significantly more because interest starts accruing from the time the funds are disbursed. With subsidized federal loans, the interest does not accrue while you are still in school.
With private student loans, interest typically begins to accrue as soon as the loan money is disbursed to your school.
Whether interest starts accruing immediately or later, you typically don’t have to start making any payments on private or federal student loans until after you graduate.
A student loan’s interest rate is the cost of borrowing money, and is expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. APR includes the interest rate as well as the additional costs and fees associated with borrowing. As a result, it gives you a more complete picture of the total cost of the loan. Understanding APR vs. interest rate is important when you’re researching best rates for student loans. It will help you make informed decisions that may lower your cost of borrowing.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.
FAQ
What is a good APR for a student loan?
For new loans taken out for the 2023-24 school year, the federal student loan interest rate is 5.50% for undergraduates (whether the loan is unsubsidized or subsidized). For graduate students it’s 7.05% (subsidized) or 8.05% (unsubsidized). For parents, it’s 8.05%.
Average private student loan annual percentage rates (APRs) range from just under 4% to almost 15% percent.
Is APR better than interest rate?
The annual percentage rate (APR) gives you a more accurate picture of the true cost of financing. The APR of a loan tells you how much you will pay for a loan over the course of a year after accounting for the interest rate as well as any extra costs, like origination fees.
When comparing loan offers, it’s generally better to compare APRs than interest rates, since this allows you to compare loan offers apples to apples.
Can APR and interest rate be the same?
Yes. If no fees are added to your loan amount, the interest rate and the annual percentage rate (APR) will be the same.
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SoFi Private Student Loans
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Graduation from college or grad school is a time to celebrate the great achievement of years of hard work. But once the party is over, many graduates will be thinking of their next steps: new careers, new cities, and a life filled with new experiences and responsibilities.
For most recent grads, one of those responsibilities is a major one — managing and organizing the repayment of student loans. The average undergrad leaves school with $37,388 in student loan debt, joining the growing population of Americans who, together, are repaying more than $1.7 trillion in student loans.
Student Loan Repayment Options
Managing the repayment of a federal student loan debt requires strategy, organization, diligence, and a bit of know-how, especially when it comes to picking a repayment plan.
There are several federal repayment options: the standard plan, income-driven plans, and the graduated repayment plan, among others. New grads can also consider consolidating or refinancing their student loans into one new loan with a new rate and new terms. For a recent grad overwhelmed by new choices and decisions, parsing out the details of these loans can be a chore — one that frequently gets ignored.
The graduated repayment plan has been somewhat replaced by newer repayment options, like income-based and income-contingent plans. For some borrowers, though, this plan can be a useful way to begin repayment slowly but still pay off federal loans in 10 years (10-30 years for consolidation loans).
💡 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.
How Do Graduated Repayment and Extended Graduated Repayment Plans Work?
Graduated Repayment Plan
The graduated repayment plan is designed to help keep repayment costs low for recent graduates who may have lower starting salaries, but who expect to see their salaries increase substantially over the next 10 years.
Under the graduated repayment plan, the repayment term for federal loans will be 10 years (10-30 years for consolidated loans), which is the same length as the standard repayment plan. With the standard repayment plan, you will pay the same fixed amount each month for the length of the term.
On the graduated plan, your payments will be lower than what you would pay if you were to stay on the standard plan, but never too low that you aren’t paying the amount of interest that is accruing each month. Then, every two years, your payment amount will increase.
Extended Graduated Repayment Plan
The extended graduated repayment plan is similar to the graduated plan, however, the repayment term is over 25 years rather than 10. Typically, borrowers who select this plan will have lower monthly payments than they would under the standard or graduated plan. While their payments will increase over time, they’ll do so more gradually than they would under the extended plan due to the longer term.
With this plan, borrowers may have a much lighter bill to pay each month than they would on many other plans, however, they will end up paying more in interest over time.
What Are the Benefits of a Graduated Repayment Plan?
The main benefit of the graduated repayment plan is that your payments will be low for the first few years of repayment. This can be a big help to recent graduates on entry-level salaries who may not have additional cash flow and are just learning how to build a solid financial foundation while staying within their budget.
Payments will increase over time, but your repayment term (for unconsolidated loans) is 10 years. This means that if you make scheduled payments, you’ll be finished paying off your debt relatively quickly. For Direct Consolidation Loans, your repayment period will depend on the amount of debt you have and could be between 10 and 30 years.
What Are the Drawbacks of a Graduated Repayment Plan?
There are a number of drawbacks to the graduated repayment plan, which can make it a less attractive option than some of the other repayment options available. First, even though you’ll be paying off your loans in 10 years, you will end up paying more in interest using this plan as opposed to the standard plan.
Why? Because with the graduated plan, you’re making lower payments in the first few years. As a result, you’re not paying down as much of the principle as you would be on the standard plan, which means you’re paying more in interest over time.
Another potential drawback is that your payments are scheduled to increase every two years. Depending on the amount you owe, these increases can be staggering.
While the lower payments up front might fit your budget as you start your career, it’s hard to predict whether your salary will increase at just the same rate as your payments will. However, if you end up having a difficult time making the higher payments that eventually come with a graduated repayment plan, you can switch to an income-based plan or an extended plan.
Refinancing Student Debt vs Graduated Repayment Plans
Once you’ve gotten settled into a steady job, another option to consider is refinancing your student loans with a private lender. When you refinance, you are essentially using one new loan to pay off all your current student loans. Then, you just have the new loan to repay, which will have a new interest rate and new terms.
There are a number of benefits to refinancing, including getting a lower interest rate, a lower monthly payment, or a shorter or longer loan term. Additionally, replacing all your loans with one loan will help you streamline your repayment. Some lenders even allow you to refinance private and federal loans together. Note: You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.
💡 Quick Tip: When refinancing a student loan, you may shorten or extend the loan term. Shortening your loan term may result in higher monthly payments but significantly less total interest paid. A longer loan term typically results in lower monthly payments but more total interest paid.
Refinancing your loans with a private lender at a lower interest rate and shorter term can potentially save you thousands of dollars in interest over the life of your loan. However, when you refinance, you give up some of the benefits that come with keeping your federal loans, including student loan forgiveness and income-based repayment plans.
If you foresee a need to use any of these benefits that come with federal loans, it might not be in your best interest to refinance. But, if you have built a strong financial foundation and have a steady income coming in, refinancing could be the best strategy for paying your loans down quickly — and for saving money in the process.
Refinancing Student Loans with SoFi
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.
With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
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. SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.
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.
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.
Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
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.
Being debt-free can be a terrific feeling of freedom. However, many of us don’t know that sensation. According to Experian, the average American is carrying $101,915 in debt. And paying off the amount that you owe — whether it’s credit card debt, student loans, or something else — can be a considerable challenge.
While each person’s finances are different, there are smart strategies to pay off debt effectively and quickly. That will not only likely reduce your money stress and improve your finances, it can also free up funds to help you achieve some big-picture goals, whether that means funding a wedding or growing your toddler’s college fund.
Here, you’ll learn why it’s important to pay off debt, the best how-tos, and tips for managing debt as you work to shake it off.
Why Is It Important to Pay Off Debt?
Granted, not all debt should necessarily be paid off ASAP. There’s “good debt,” which is typically lower interest and can have a positive impact on your financial status. For example, if you have a mortgage, that is likely low-interest and it is helping you build equity and, by extension, your net worth.
However, there is also “bad debt” of the high interest variety, like credit card debt, which can wind up having a negative effect on your finances and your life. Some examples of why this kind of debt can be problematic:
• It takes up funds that could otherwise be put towards long-term goals like retirement or short-term goals, such as a vacation fund.
• It gives you more bills to pay.
• It can cause you stress.
• It can have a negative impact on your credit score, which can have further ramifications, such as making it more expensive to open other lines of credit.
• It means you are subject to the lender’s decisions (such as raising your interest rate).
When you are debt-free, you likely don’t have to deal with those issues any longer. So here are smart debt payoff strategies to help you take control of your money.
💡 Quick Tip: With low interest rates compared to credit cards, a debt consolidation loan can substantially lower your payments.
1. Create a Budget
A budget can help you understand and create a plan for where your money is going. This is where you can start to figure out how to live within your means to avoid accumulating new or more debt in the future, such as credit card debt.
• To start your budget, take an inventory of all of your after-tax income. If you have a job, simply look at your net paycheck and multiply the number by how many times you’re paid each month.
• Next, tally up necessary expenses. These might already include debt payments such as your student loans or a car payment. They can also include rent, utilities, insurance payments, groceries, and so on.
• Subtract this total from your income and what you have left represents the money available for discretionary spending. If the amount of money you’re spending on discretionary expenses exceeds the amount you have available, you’ll likely need to make some adjustments to how you spend.
• To pay off debt, focus a portion of the available discretionary income on debt payments. One approach is known as the 20/10 rule, which says that you should put no more than 20% of your annual take-home pay or 10% of your monthly income towards consumer debt.
2. Set Realistic Goals
It takes a lot of discipline to get debt-free. Setting measurable and achievable goals can help you stay on track. Think carefully about how much money you actually are able to put toward your debts each month. Include factors like how much spending you can reasonably cut and how much you might be able to add to your income.
Don’t factor in extra income unless you’re sure you’ll be able to come up with it. Once you settle on your monthly amount, you can calculate how many months it will take you to pay your debt off.
For example, say you have $500 dollars per month to help you pay off $10,000 in credit card debt with a 19.99% interest. With an online credit card payoff calculator, you can determine that it will take you about 25 months to pay off your card. So, a reasonable goal might be two years to get out of debt, which even builds in a little wiggle room if you can’t come up with a full $500 in one of those months.
3. Try a Payoff Method
Once you’ve identified funds you can use to pay down debt, there are a number of strategies you can use to put that money to work towards different debts you’re shouldering.
The Snowball Method
Here’s how the snowball method of debt repayment works:
• List your debts in order of smallest balance to largest. Look exclusively at the amount you owe, ignoring the interest rate.
• Make minimum payments on all the debts to avoid penalties. Make all extra payments toward paying off the smallest debt.
• Once the smallest debt is paid in full, move on to the next largest debt and so on. Use all of the money you were directing toward the previous debt, including minimum and extra payments, to pay off the next smallest. In this way, the amount you’re able to direct toward the larger debts should grow or “snowball.”
One downside to the snowball method is that while targeting your smaller debts first, you may be holding onto your higher interest debts for a longer period of time.
However, you should also theoretically get a psychological boost every time you pay off a debt that helps you build momentum toward paying all of your debts off. And if this extra push can help keep you motivated to continue eliminating debt, the benefits of this strategy might outweigh the extra costs.
The Avalanche Method
The avalanche method takes a slightly different approach:
• List your debts in order of highest interest rate to lowest. Once again, commit to making minimum payments on all of your debts first.
• Make any extra payments toward your highest interest rate debt. As you pay each debt off, move on to the next debt with the highest rate. The debt avalanche method minimizes the amount of interest you pay as you work to get debt-free, potentially saving you money in the long-term.
The Fireball Method
This is a hybrid approach to the snowball and avalanche methods:
• Group your debts by good and bad debt. As noted above, good debts are those that help you build your future net worth, like a mortgage, business loan, or student loan, and typically have lower interest rates. Bad debts have high interest rates and work against your ability to save; think credit card debt. (Btw, credit card debt should always be characterized as bad debt even if you are taking advantage of a 0% interest promotion.)
• Next, list your bad debts in order from smallest to largest based on balance size. Continue making minimum payments on all debts, but funnel extra cash toward paying off the smallest of the bad debts.
• Work your way up the list until all your bad debts are paid off. You can pay off your good debts on a regular schedule while investing in your future. Once you’ve blazed through your bad debt, you may even have extra cash to help you accomplish your long-term goals.
Choose the strategy that fits your personality and financial situation to increase the chances for success.
4. Complete a Balance Transfer
A balance transfer allows you to pay off debt from one or more high-interest credit cards (or other high-interest debt) by using a card with a lower interest rate. This strategy has a number of benefits.
• First, it helps you get organized. Staying on top of one credit card statement might be easier than keeping track of many cards.
• This strategy also helps you free up the money you were paying toward higher interest rates, which you could use to accelerate your debt payments.
Research what’s available carefully. Some credit cards offer teaser rates as low as 0% for a set period of time, such as six months to a year or even longer. It may make sense to take advantage of one of these deals if you think you can pay down your debt within that time frame.
However, when these teaser rates expire, the card might jump to its regular rate, which could be higher than the rates you were previously paying.
5. Make More Than the Minimum Payment
Credit cards allow you to make minimum payments — small portions of the balance you owe — until your debt is paid off. While this might seem convenient on the surface, this system is stacked in the credit companies’ favor. Making minimum payments can cost more in the long run than making larger payments and paying down debt faster.
That’s because as you make minimum payments, the remaining balance continues to accrue interest. Consider a credit card balance of $5,000 with a 15% interest rate. According to this credit card interest calculator, if you only make minimum payments of $112.50 per month, it will take you 64 months (5 years and 4 months!) to pay off your debt of $7,344. And in that time you will have spent more than $2,344 on interest payments alone.
In an ideal world, you would pay your credit card balance off each month and wouldn’t owe any interest. But, if that’s not possible, consider paying as much as you can to minimize the cost of high interest rates.
6. Find Extra Cash
Finding the cash to pay off your debt can be tough, especially if you’re looking to accelerate your debt payments. The most obvious place to start is by cutting unnecessary expenses.
For example, you might save money on streaming services by dropping some or all of your subscriptions, or give up your gym membership while you’re getting your debt in check. You may also try negotiating lower rates for some necessary expenses such as phone or internet bills, or consider starting a side hustle that can boost your income.
You can also use any windfalls, such as extra cash from tax returns, bonuses at work, or generous birthday gifts, to help accelerate your debt payments.
7. Avoid Taking on More Debt
While you’re paying off debt, it’s important that you work hard to not add to your debt. If you’re trying to pay off a credit card, you might want to stop using it. You may not want to cancel your credit card, but consider putting it somewhere where it’s not easily accessible. That way you’ll be less tempted to use it for impulse buys.
It can also be helpful to track your spending with a free budget app to help understand where your money is going and how not to increase your debt.
8. Consolidate Debt
Consolidating is another strategy that makes use of lower interest rates to pay off debt.
• When you take out a loan, it will come with a fixed interest rate and a set term. When you consolidate your debts, you are essentially taking out a new loan to pay off debts, hopefully with a better interest rate or term.
• A new loan with a lower interest rate can save you money in the long run, especially if you’re carrying a sizable balance. You may also be able to lower your monthly payments to make a budget more manageable on a month to month basis — or you may be able to shorten your terms, which can let you pay off the loan faster. Do keep in mind extending the term of the loan could lead to lower monthly payments but you may end up paying more in interest over time.
• You may want to consider consolidating if you’ve established your credit history since you took out your loan. That may mean banks are more willing to trust a borrower with a loan and will give them more favorable rates and terms.
• Also, keep an eye on the prime interest rate set by the Federal Reserve. When the Fed lowers interest rates, banks often follow suit, providing you with a possible chance to find a loan with lower interest rates.
9. Reward Yourself
Paying off debt can be a challenging process. That’s why it’s so important to treat yourself as you reach debt milestones.
Tethering productive behavior to rewards is a process that Wharton business school professor Katherine Milkman calls “temptation bundling.” This process can help you boost your willpower and stick to your goals.
So, choose a reward and tie it to a debt milestone like paying off a credit card, or paying off 10% of your debt. Each of these steps puts you closer to being debt-free, and that’s worth celebrating. When you reach a goal, indulge in a free or budget-friendly reward.
Debt Payoff Tips
Paying off debt often requires patience and persistence. Here’s some smart advice to address common concerns and help keep you going as you whittle down that debt.
What Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Paying off Debt?
Some common mistakes when paying off debt are hiding from the situation (that is, not looking at how much you owe and creating a plan), taking out high interest payday loans, and, in some cases, taking out a home equity loan. Here’s a closer look at each:
• It can be a common mistake to not dig in, review the full picture, and make a plan. Some people would rather be in denial and just keep paying a little bit here and there. Knowing your debt and developing a way to pay it off can be the best move.
• Taking out a payday loan or other high-interest option to make a payment. This can make a tough situation worse by adding more money owed to your situation. A personal loan might be a better option with lower rates.
• Tapping your home equity. Credit card debt is unsecured; you don’t put up anything as collateral. A home equity loan, however, uses your home as collateral. Yes, a home equity loan can be a helpful option in some situations, but if you use that equity to continue spending at a level your income can’t support, that can mean bigger problems lie ahead. You could wind up losing your home.
How Can I Balance Paying off Debt with Saving for Other Financial Goals?
To manage both debt repayment and saving, it’s important to make sure you keep current on paying what you owe. Next, you might want to create a budget, cut your spending, and automate your finances (which will send some money to savings) to help maintain a good balance. Here’s guidance:
• Create a budget, keep paying off your debt, and work to create an emergency fund (even saving $20 or $25 a month is a good start).
• Commit to cutting your spending. Some people like gamifying this: Say, one month, you vow to not eat dinner out; another month, you decide to forgo buying any new clothes.
• Automate your finances. This can be as simple as setting up a recurring transfer from your checking account to savings just after payday. That whisks some money into savings (a small amount is fine), and you won’t see it sitting in checking, tempting you to spend it.
What Are My Debt Relief Options if I’m Struggling to Make Payments?
Some ways to get help with debt relief can include a balance transfer credit card, a personal loan, a debt management plan, and (if no other options are possible) considering declaring bankruptcy. If you are having a hard time with debt payoff, there are several options:
• As mentioned above, you might take advantage of zero-percent balance transfer credit card offers.
• You can contact your creditors and see if they will lower your interest rate or otherwise reduce your burden.
• You might consider a personal loan (mentioned above) to pay off high-interest debt with a lower-interest loan.
• You could participate in a debt management plan that consolidates your debt into one payment monthly that is then divvied up among those to whom you owe money. Look for a plan that is backed by a reputable organization such as the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) or the Financial Counseling Association of America.
• You might decide to declare bankruptcy; the most common form is known as Chapter 7 liquidation, and can get rid of credit card debt, medical debt, and unsecured personal loans. Educate yourself carefully to see if you qualify, and be sure you understand the long-term impact it may have on your personal finances.
The Takeaway
Digging yourself out of debt can be a challenging process, but with a well-crafted plan and discipline, it can be achieved. Evaluate your spending habits, determine how you are going to prioritize your debts, and stick to your plan by setting small, measurable goals. One option people consider is consolidating multiple high-interest debts into a one personal loan with one payment. However, note that extending the loan term could lead to lower monthly payments, but you may end up paying more interest in the long run.
Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.
SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Personal Loan overall.
FAQ
Why is it important to have a plan to pay off debt?
It’s important to have a plan to pay off debt so you can be organized and strategic in this effort. Only by knowing the full extent of your debt and your resources can you make a plan. Whether you choose to use a method like the snowball or avalanche technique, take out a personal loan, or try a debt management program, it’s vital to know just where you stand.
What are some strategies for dealing with multiple sources of debt?
If you have multiple sources of debt, you may want to research the snowball, avalanche, and fireball methods of paying down what you owe. These consider such factors as how much you owe and the interest rate you are being charged and can help you prioritize how you repay the debt. These strategies can help focus your efforts and contribute to your success.
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.
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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Inflation indirectly causes student loan interest rates to rise. That’s because the government tends to increase interest rates to combat rising prices, which typically raises the cost of borrowing.
Student loan interest rates have in fact risen since the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates to combat inflation during the Covid-19 economic recovery. For example, the fixed interest rate on newly disbursed federal student loans for undergraduates went from 2.75% in July 2020 to 5.50% in July 2023.
The fixed interest rate on newly disbursed federal student loans is largely determined by the high yield of the final 10-year Treasury note auction held each year in May. Bond yields are typically higher when interest rates go up.
High inflation is bad news for people seeking new student loans and those with variable interest rate loans, though people with fixed-rate loans won’t see their rates go up.
What Exactly Is Inflation?
Inflation — the rising cost of everyday items — is an important economic factor to everyone from investors to policymakers to borrowers. The reason it matters to borrowers is that inflation can lead to higher interest rates on every kind of debt, including student loans.
Put simply, inflation means that the price of bread will be higher tomorrow than it is today. So lenders may increase their interest rates during times of high inflation, given that borrowers will be paying the money back when those dollars will buy less. That’s one reason inflation and many interest rates have typically risen or fallen in step with each other.
The Federal Reserve is another reason. The country’s central bank plays a major role in managing the economy, especially with factors like interest rates and inflation.
The Fed began its rate-hiking campaign in March 2022 to combat high inflation and continued raising rates into 2023. Increases to the federal funds rate have prompted commercial banks to raise the price of consumer loans and other financial products, including private student loans.
What Does Inflation Mean for Student Loans?
To someone with student loan debt, inflation may not always be bad news. That’s because price inflation may influence wage inflation.
Inflation typically drives up the price of everything, including wages. As a result, some borrowers are paying back certain fixed-rate loans, for example, with dollars that have less value than the ones they borrowed.
There are exceptions. If a borrower took out a variable rate private student loan, it’s likely that inflation will lead to higher interest rates, which will translate into higher interest rates that the borrower has to pay. But if the borrower has a fixed-rate private student loan and their salary keeps up with the pace of inflation, then inflation can be helpful.
With the Federal Reserve in 2023 still aiming to cool down inflation or Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth, it’s worth checking to see whether your private student loan has a fixed or variable rate.
As a quick primer, fixed-rate loans have the same interest rate from when borrowers take out the loan to when they pay it off. Variable-rate loans change the interest they charge, which is influenced by Federal Reserve rate changes.
Variable-rate loans, also sometimes called “floating rate” loans, usually start out with lower interest rates than fixed-rate loans.
All federal student loans disbursed since July 2006 have fixed interest rates. Meanwhile, banks and other private lenders may offer fixed-rate and variable-rate private student loans.
When Does Refinancing Make Sense?
Student loan refinancing may be right for you if you qualify for a lower interest rate. Refinancing federal student loans with a private lender would remove your access to federal income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). A student loan refinancing calculator may come in handy as you weigh your options.
The first step is to check the interest rates on your existing student loans against the rates offered by other lenders. If they offer a better rate, then it may be possible to pay off that student loan debt faster or reduce your monthly payments with refinancing.
Some lenders refinance both federal and private student loans. If you choose to refinance federal student loans with a private lender, realize that you will give up federal benefits and protections like IDR plans and PSLF.
After a three-year pause, interest accrual on federal student loans will resume on Sept. 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October 2023. If you qualify for a lower interest rate, student loan refinancing may reduce your borrowing costs. Refinancing for a longer term, however, may increase your total interest costs.
Borrowers with variable-rate student loans may see their borrowing costs go up during times of rising inflation. Whether your student loans have a fixed or variable interest rate, the impact of consumer price inflation across the economy may impact your ability to make ends meet.
If you find student loan refinancing is right for you, SoFi can help. SoFi refinances federal student loans, parent PLUS loans, and private student loans with no origination or prepayment fees.
See if you prequalify for a student loan refinance with SoFi.
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SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.
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.
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.
On Saturday June 3rd, President Joe Biden signed the long-awaited debt ceiling deal into law. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 averts the general economic chaos that could ensue if the U.S. defaulted on its domestic and foreign debts, and imposes cuts in federal spending.
The legislation also ends the three-year pause on federal student loan payments and interest accrual in effect since March 2020.
When Will Federal Student Loan Payments Resume?
According to the bill’s language, the federal student loan payment pause will end “60 days after June 30th,” or Aug. 30th.
Student loan interest will resume starting on Sept. 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October. The Department of Education will notify borrowers well before payments restart.
On June 30th, the Supreme Court ruled against President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for qualified loan holders, saying the president did not possess the constitutional authority to take such an action but that Congress should make such a decision.
The Department of Education is instituting 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.
In addition to the “on ramp” program, Biden said he will strengthen a plan that reduces federal loan holders’ debt based on their income called SAVE.
For years, people who struggled to pay their federal student loans could enroll in the government’s Income-Driven Repayment Plans . Such a plan sets your monthly federal student loan payment at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on your income and family size. It takes into account different expenses in your budget.
The four income-based plans are: Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR).
Biden said that his Administration is “creating a new debt repayment plan, so no one with an undergraduate loan has to pay more than 5 percent of their discretionary income.”
The Takeaway
The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, commonly referred to as the debt ceiling bill, officially cancels the pause on federal student loan repayment and interest accrual at the end of August. Borrowers must now prepare to repay their loans this fall. Federal student loan interest will resume starting on Sept. 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October.
Student loan refinancing is one way borrowers can seek to make student loan payments more manageable. Note that the refinanced amount will lose access to federal protections and programs, and you may pay more in interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.
Refi with SoFi today to get flexible terms and a competitive low rate.
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SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.
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.
Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
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.
