Table of Contents
Whether you’re a recent graduate looking to understand your total debt or a working professional tracking your progress toward paying off your loans, staying informed about your student loan balances is a crucial aspect of financial well-being. But for something that is so important, it can be surprisingly confusing to locate all your student loan information.
Keep reading to learn how to view your federal student loans, how to use the Federal Student Aid website, where to pay your student loans, and more.
Key Points
• The Federal Student Aid (FSA) website is the official platform to view your federal student loans.
• To log in to the FSA website, you need to create an FSA ID. This ID allows you to securely access your federal student aid information and manage your loans.
• On the FSA website, you can find your loan servicer. Your loan servicer manages your federal student loans.
• Regularly reviewing your loan details helps you stay informed about your financial obligations and ensures you are on track with your repayment plan.
• The FSA website offers various repayment plans, including income-driven plans. Understanding these options can help you choose the best plan for your financial situation.
How to View Federal Student Loans
Student loan holders can view their federal student loans via the Federal Student Aid (FSA), which is run by the Office of the U.S. Department of Education. It offers a convenient option for getting a comprehensive picture of all federal loans.
The FSA website can show you information on your federal student loans, including:
• The number and types of loans you have
• The initial amount of your loans
• Your current loan balances
• The interest rates on your loans
• If any of your loans are in default
• The name of your loan service provider and their contact information
Using the Federal Student Aid Website
In order to see your loan information on FSA, borrowers will need to create a new account. Current registrants can log in with their email, phone number, or FSA ID username and password. In addition to student loans, the site also has valuable resources including repayment plans and loan counseling.
Where Do I Pay My Student Loans?
Even though you can obtain all the information about your student loans through the FSA website, that is not actually where you pay your student loans. Once you’re logged in, borrowers should be able to see the name and contact information for their student loan servicer. The student loan servicer is the entity charged with collecting loan payments.
Once you know who your student loan servicer is, you should be able to set up an online account directly with the loan servicer. Some student loan servicers also offer the option to set up automatic bill pay.
If you don’t want to make your payments online, your student loan servicer’s website should also have information about making payments in other ways, like via check or bank transfer.
Recommended: 6 Strategies to Pay Off Student Loans Quickly
Looking to save money on your
monthly student loan payments?
See how refinancing could help.
How Do I Pay My Student Loans?
The federal government offers a handful of options when it comes to federal student loan repayment. These repayment plans are designed for people with different types of financial situations and priorities — from those who want a straightforward way to pay off their loans in a 10-year period to those looking for income-driven repayment plans.
Here’s a quick rundown of the repayment options offered for federal student loans.
Standard, Extended, and Graduated Repayment Plans
• The Standard Repayment Plan is the default loan repayment plan for federal student loans. Borrowers pay a fixed amount every month within 10 years in order to pay off their loan(s).
• The Extended Repayment Plan is similar to the Standard Repayment Plan but instead of making payments over 10 years, the payments are extended up to 25 years.
• The Graduated Repayment Plan also offers a 10-year repayment option. Under this plan, monthly loan payments start at a lower amount and are then increased every two years for up to 30 years.
If you’re just starting to pay back your student loans after graduation, you’ll likely be automatically assigned to the Standard Repayment Plan. You can change the repayment plan you are enrolled in at any time.
Income-Driven Repayment Plans
There are currently four income-driven repayment plans — Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). Under these plans, monthly payments are determined as a percentage of the borrower’s monthly income. Depending on the plan, borrowers have up to 25 years to repay their loans.
Note: SAVE is no longer available for new enrollments, and PAYE, ICR, and SAVE will be eliminated by July 1, 2028. Once these plans are eliminated, borrowers with loans issued before July 1, 2026 will choose between a standard fixed-term plan (10–25 years, based on balance), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), the new Repayment Assistance Plan (also income-based), and Graduated or Extended plans.
For loans issued on or after July 1, 2026, borrowers will only have two repayment options: the Revised Standard Plan or the Repayment Assistance Plan. Graduated and Extended plans will no longer be an option.
Student Loan Consolidation
The federal government may also have options for you to consolidate your student loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan, which would allow you to group all your loans together into a single loan from the government, with an interest rate that’s the weighted average of all your loans’ interest rates, rounded up to the nearest eighth of a percent.
Student Loan Refinancing
In addition to the repayment plans offered by the federal government, you might also consider refinancing your student loans with a private company. Loan refinancing pays off your current federal and private student loans with a new loan from a private lender.
The private lender will review factors like your credit history and income potential to determine your new terms. For some borrowers, student loan refinancing may result in a lower interest rate, lower monthly payments, or even a shorter repayment term — which could mean you spend less money in interest over the life of the loan. Conversely, if you refinance with an extended term, you may pay more interest over the life of the loan.
The Takeaway
Managing your federal student loans effectively starts with knowing the details of your debt. By using the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website and creating an FSA ID, you can easily access and review your loan information, including balances, interest rates, and payment history.
Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.
FAQ
What is the official platform to view my student loans?
The official platform to view your federal student loans is the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website. This website provides comprehensive information about your loans, including balances, interest rates, and payment history.
What is an FSA ID and why do I need one?
An FSA ID is a username and password that allows you to securely access your federal student aid information on the FSA website. You need an FSA ID to log in and manage your federal student loans, as well as to sign important documents related to your financial aid.
How can I find out who my loan servicer is?
You can find out who your loan servicer is by logging into the FSA website with your FSA ID. Your loan servicer’s contact information will be listed there, and they can provide additional details about your loans and repayment options.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance SoFi Loan Products
Terms and conditions apply. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are private loans. When you refinance federal loans with a SoFi loan, YOU FORFEIT YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL FEDERAL LOAN BENEFITS, including all flexible federal repayment and forgiveness options that are or may become available to federal student loan borrowers including, but not limited to: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, extended repayment plans, PAYE or SAVE. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Learn more at SoFi.com/eligibility. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
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.
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.
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.
SOSLR-Q325-081