Editor's Note: For the latest developments regarding federal student loan debt repayment, check out our student debt guide.
Loans of any size for any purpose are a bit of a trade-off: The sudden, planned-for infusion of cash can be a powerful tool to facilitate many major life decisions or rites of passage, like pursuing a college degree or becoming a homeowner. But that financial flexibility also comes with equally strong strings attached.
Some people may want or need to take out more than one loan at the same time. For the 54% of young adults who went to college and took on debts including student loans, a student loan payoff letter may come into play. In this guide, we’ll run through what these letters are and some of the commonly navigated twists in understanding their use in managing loans.
What Is a Student Loan Payoff Letter?
Despite what it sounds like, a student loan payoff letter is not a document proving a student loan has been paid in full. Rather, it’s a document generated by the loan servicer stating the current loan balance, monthly payments, and other account information.
Note that a loan payoff letter is not exactly the same thing as a monthly statement—it’s a tool for other lending institutions to weigh how a borrower manages debt on an existing loan that also forecasts future interest costs based on when the loan is due to be repaid.
There is generally a time limit placed on payoff letters—a “good-through date”—after which the amount of interest due on the loan would change.
A student loan payoff letter may be needed when, for example, the borrower is still paying off student debt and also applying for a mortgage, refinancing an existing loan, or when they’re planning to pay off the loan.
The payoff letter will play a part in determining an applicant’s debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which many lenders look at to determine whether the applicant can afford potential future payments on a loan.
A high student loan balance, in relation to income, could limit a person’s loan options. So, it pays to pay your debt down as much as you can.
Getting a Student Loan Payoff Letter
A loan payoff letter can be requested from the lender at any stage of a loan’s term—it does not matter whether the borrower hasn’t made an initial payment or they’re close to making their last. Obtaining a loan payoff letter can be done by contacting the lender and simply requesting it.
Lenders’ websites may have an option for requesting these letters via an online form. If that option isn’t available, the borrower may need to call the lender’s customer service line to request the letter.
There may be a fee charged for requesting a payoff letter—if there is one, it should be explained in the loan agreement. The lender’s customer service representative should also be able to verify whether there is a fee for the letter.
Managing Student Loans
An important factor in determining a student loan payoff strategy is figuring out when the first payment is due, information which the loan servicer will provide.
According to the Federal Student Aid Office, “For most federal student loans, there is a set period of time after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment before you must begin making payments.”
This “grace period” could last anywhere from six to nine months depending on which type of federal student loan a borrower has. It may help to think ahead about how best to take advantage of the grace period in advance.
While it might be tempting to view the grace period as a time to sink extra money into things you want or need, borrowers may want to consider instead saving up for when student loan payments will start coming due.
Interest on Direct Subsidized Loans is paid by the US Department of Education while the borrower is in school at least half-time, during the grace period, or a deferment period—a factor that might make paying the loan off, in the long run, a little less burdensome.
Borrowers of Direct Unsubsidized Loans are responsible for paying interest during the entire term of the loan. Interest accrues from the time the loan is disbursed to the borrower.
Strategies for paying off student loans quickly may include looking into ways to make money outside your day job, asking if there is a student loan repayment program at your company, paying down other debt during the grace period, among others.
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and subsequent executive orders, relief measures including suspension of loan payments, cessation of collections, and waiver of interest on Education Department-held loans are in place through Dec. 31, 2022. The Federal Student Aid website has more details about this program .
Selecting the Right Repayment Plan
Several repayment options are available for eligible borrowers of federal student loans depending on the type of loan—this Federal Student Aid Office brochure explains the most common repayment plans and eligibility details.
It also links to information on consolidating federal student loans. Refinancing a student loan is an option some borrowers may want to consider. A student loan payoff calculator may help when comparing repayment options.
Standard Repayment Plan
For Federal Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), the loan servicer will automatically place borrowers on the Standard Repayment Plan unless they choose a different repayment plan.
The Standard Repayment Plan gives the borrower up to 10 years (between 10 and 30 years for consolidation loans) to repay, with fixed monthly payments of at least $50 during that time. This repayment plan may not be the best option for borrowers who are considering seeking Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
Graduated Repayment Plan
Eligible Direct Loan and FFEL borrowers who expect their income to increase gradually over time may opt for a Graduated Repayment Plan. This plan has the same10-year term (between 10 and 30 years for consolidation loans) that the Standard Repayment Plan does, but the payment amount differs.
Monthly payments start low and increase every two years, will always be at least the amount of accrued interest since the last payment, and will be limited to no more than three times the amount of any previous payment.
Extended Repayment Plan
Borrowers who need to make lower monthly payments over an extended time may want to consider the Extended Repayment Plan, which allows for a 25-year repayment term. This plan is for eligible Direct or FFEL borrowers who have outstanding loan balances of $30,000 or more on each loan.
Monthly payments on this plan can be either fixed or graduated and are generally lower than those made under the Standard or Graduated plans.
Income-Driven Repayment Plans
There are a few options for borrowers who might be having trouble making their payments and want to lower their monthly payments. This income-driven repayment (IDR) plans allow eligible borrowers to responsibly manage their debt while remaining on track to pay it off.
The plans take into account a borrower’s income, discretionary income, family size, and/or eligible federal student loan balance. Borrowers under an IDR must recertify their income and family size each year or risk losing their eligibility for the plan.
Borrowers considering any type of repayment plan are encouraged to use the Federal Student Aid Office’s Loan Simulator to determine which repayment plan is best for their individual needs.
The Takeaway
It’s doubtful that anyone enjoys the thought of borrowing money for college, but there are strategies to manage repayment. When you find a plan that works for you, a student loan payoff letter might pave the way to the next financial step of adulthood.
Choosing to refinance student loans may be an option for some borrowers to make financial management easier and maybe even save money and pay off some loans a bit earlier than planned.
Refinancing federal student loans into a private student loan means forfeiting all federal loan benefits, so borrowers are encouraged to look at all options before making a decision.
Options like forbearance, deferment or an income-driven repayment plan might make more sense if the borrower needs to reduce their monthly payment.
SoFi private student loan refinance options are available with low fixed or variable interest rates, a rate reduction with autopay, and no fees.
Student Loan Refinancing
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If you are a federal student loan borrower you should take time now to prepare for your payments to restart, including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.) 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, such as the SAVE Plan, or extended repayment plans.
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 TO DEC. 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. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
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