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Paying off your student loans early may make sense for some, but it may not be the best choice unless you have the income to pay off higher-interest debt, like credit cards, and you’ve put money aside in an emergency fund. Find out how long it really takes to pay off student loans, if it’s a good idea (or not) to pay off your loan early, and the pros and cons.
- How long does it take to pay off student loans?
- Is it worth paying off student loans early?
- Pros of paying off student loans early
- Cons of paying off student loans early/a>
- Frequently asked questions about student loan repayment
How long does it take to pay off student loans?
The timeline to pay off your student loans depends on how many loans you have, your repayment plans and income, future goals, and more. On average, it can take graduates with a bachelor’s degree more than two decades to pay off their student loan debt, according to Research.com. And it can take graduate students who earn a master’s or Ph.D. degree nearly 23 years on average to pay off their student loans.
Paying off federal student loans works differently than paying off private loans. Generally, these are the average time periods to pay off federal or private student loans:
Repayment options | Repayment term |
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Standard repayment — All federal loan borrowers are enrolled in this plan automatically. Your payments remain the same each month. | 120 months 10 to 30 years for consolidation loans |
Graduated repayment — This plan is best if you have a stable income with the chance of it increasing over time. | Up to 10 years Up to 30 years for consolidation loans |
Extended repayment — This plan is only for borrowers with more than $30,000 in federal loans. | Up to 25 years |
Income-driven repayment plans — (ICR) Income-Contingent Repayment (PAYE) Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Revised Pay As You Earn (IBR) Income-Based Repayment | After 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments, borrowers may be eligible for loan forgiveness. If you’re employed in public service or volunteer, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness in less than 10 years. |
Private student loans — Interest rates, terms, and conditions vary by lender. | 5 years at minimum to repay. Some private lenders offer terms of over 25 years. You may have options for paying off your private loans: Graduated repayment: Your payments start out lower and increase gradually over time. Extended repayment: You may pay less each month over a longer time period. |
Is it worth paying off student loans early?
It’s almost always advisable to pay off any type of debt as soon as possible. Student loans are no different. Probably the biggest benefit to paying off your student loans early is the interest savings. You’ll also get out of debt faster, have more income to spend on rent or a car payment, pay off credit card debt, and enjoy life.
By paying off your loans early, you’ll lower your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio — the percentage of your gross monthly income (before taxes) used to pay your rent or mortgage, car payment, and other debts. Lenders look at this ratio when determining if you’re a good credit risk. Also, you won’t typically incur any fees from either federal or private lenders for paying off your loans early.
But if your income’s on the lower end with no raise in sight and you haven’t yet created a savings account or emergency fund, you may want to follow the standard repayment plan options instead. Also, if your employer offers a 401(k) retirement plan and matches your contribution, it may make sense to put more money into this fund rather than putting that money toward paying off your loans.
Pros of paying off student loans early
Paying off your student loans early comes with a few benefits. Consider the following:
1. Pay less interest
Although student loans generally have lower interest rates than many personal loans and credit cards, they still incur interest that must be paid on top of the principal loan amount each month. Paying off your student loans early can essentially lower the total cost of your loans.
2. Get out of debt faster
No one wants debt hanging over their head. By paying off your loans faster, you’ll shed those monthly student loan payments, allowing you to use that money to pay off high-interest credit card debt. Paying off your loans early also increases your cash flow each month to go toward living expenses, rent for a larger apartment, getting married, saving for your future, starting your own business, and more.
3. Lower your debt-to-income ratio
Lowering your DTI ratio can make it easier to get approved for other types of credit accounts, such as a personal loan, car loan, or mortgage. It might also increase your chances of getting a lower interest rate and better terms on your new loan.
4. Save for the future
Although living for today is preferable in many instances, it doesn’t really apply when trying to save for the future. Retirement may be years down the road, but it’s estimated that saving 10-times your pre-retirement income by age 67 should allow you to maintain your current lifestyle in retirement. Cutting the cost of student loans from your budget will help you meet your future financial goals faster.
Cons of paying off student loans early
Although there are several benefits to paying off your student loans early, you should also consider the drawbacks.
1. Not using tax advantages
Federal student loans offer several tax advantages.
- The American Opportunity Credit allows you to claim up to $2,500 (per student) per year for the first four years of college as you work toward your degree.
- The Lifetime Learning Credit lets you claim up to $2,000 (per student) per year for your college or career school tuition and fees. This includes supplies required for classes that had to be purchased at the college.
2. Creating more debt to pay off debt
It’s important not to take on new debt to pay off debt, like a personal loan or credit card as this will only add to your debt load. In fact, the interest charged on your student loans is often lower than on other forms of credit, so you may even pay more in interest, which will not work to your advantage.
3. Not benefitting from student loan forgiveness
Unlike private student loans, federal loans offer several student loan forgiveness programs. For example, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program or Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) programs forgive your loans when you meet certain criteria. So, instead of paying off your loans early, if you qualify, you might consider carrying student loans until they’re forgiven.
4. Overlooking saving
When was the last time you put money into your savings account to save for an unexpected emergency or medical bill, catch up on a past-due bill, or pay for a long-awaited vacation?
If you don’t have a savings account or emergency fund, you may have to depend on other forms of credit to fund these expenses. If paying off your loans early means not creating a savings account or putting less into your emergency fund, then it may not be worth it.
Frequently asked questions about student loan repayment
Here are a few commonly asked questions about paying off student loans early to consider:
What is a grace period for student loans?
Most student loans come with a six-month grace period. This happens before repayment starts on your federal loans after graduation or if you drop below full-time enrollment or drop out of college. This period is meant to help you get on your feet in your new career. However, it’s best to check in with your loan servicer to determine when your grace period starts — or if your loan servicer even offers a grace period.
How do I repay my student loans?
How you repay your student loans depends on your lender and the type of loans you have. You’ll have income-driven repayment plans that tie your monthly payment to your income with federal student loans. Because your income or finances may change over time, you may find it helpful to reevaluate your payment plan.
Private lenders may have a fixed student loan repayment plan, but in the same way, as your circumstances change, they may also be willing to work with you to find a better payment plan for you.
Can I or should I refinance my student loans?
Remember, if you pay off your student loans early, you won’t have any reason to refinance to a lower interest rate or better term. Refinancing also means you give up federal protections that come with federal loans. Even so, if you have a stable income and a credit score that gets you the best rates and terms on your refinanced loan, it may be worth it.
The student loan consolidation companies in the table below are Credible’s approved partner lenders. Because they compete for your business through Credible, you can request rates from all of them by filling out a single form. Then, you can compare your available options side-by-side. Requesting rates is free, doesn’t affect your credit score, and your personal information is not shared with our partner lenders unless you see an option you like.
Lender | Variable rates from (APR) | Fixed rates from (APR) |
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![]() | 5.3%+ | 4.85%+ |
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![]() | 7.06%+1 | 6.8%+1 |
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![]() | 6.99%+2 | 6.99%+2 |
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![]() | 8.03%+5 | 6.0%+5 |
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![]() | 5.28%+3 | 5.08%+3 |
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![]() | 8.12%+4 | 5.9%+4 |
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![]() | 5.02%+ | 4.49%+ |
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![]() | N/A | 5.75%+ |
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![]() | 5.34%+ - 10.79%+8 | 7.58%+ - 14.48%+8 |
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![]() | N/A | 5.79%+ |
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All APRs reflect autopay and loyalty discounts where available | 1Citizens Disclosures | 2College Ave Disclosures | 5EDvestinU Disclosures | 3 ELFI Disclosures | 4INvestEd Disclosures | 7ISL Education Lending Disclosures | 8Nelnet Bank Disclosures |