Repaying Your Loan(s)
For Federal Direct Loans, there are several different repayment options that can help you manage your debt.
The amount you pay each month and how long you take to repay your loans will vary depending on the repayment plan you select.
Repayment plans and calculators
Visit the Repayment Plans and Estimator at the U. S. Department of Education website for more information.
- Using their online repayment estimator, you can estimate your repayment amount under each of the different plans to find one that’s right for you. You may request a different repayment plan anytime to help with your current financial situation.
- The repayment estimator not only helps you select a repayment plan when it is time to begin repaying your student loans. It can also help you decide how much to borrow for your degree and career objectives.
Consolidating your loans
A Direct Consolidation Loan can help you (and your parents, if they borrowed for you) simplify loan repayment by combining several types of federal student loans into one. The repayment process is simpler.
- You make only one payment each month.
- The interest rate on the Consolidation Loan might be lower than what you are currently paying on your current loans.
- The Federal Student Aid website has more information on loan consolidation.
- As a result of consolidation, you will only have to make one monthly payment on your federal loans and the amount of time you have to repay your loan will be extended.
- Consolidating your federal education loans can simplify your payments, but it also can result in loss of some benefits.
- Learn about consolidation so you can weigh the pros and cons and decide whether a Direct Consolidation Loan is right for you.
About your loan history
If you are unsure about the types and amounts of student loans you borrowed, you may access your federal student loan history anytime through the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).