Cost Calculator AI
Education & SchoolFederal Repayment

Student Loan Repayment Calculator

Compare federal student loan repayment options including Standard 10-Year, Graduated Repayment, and Extended 25-Year Fixed plans.

Calculation Results

Repayment Plan Amortization Models

Standard = Fixed 10 Years | Graduated = Payments increase every 2 years | Extended = Fixed 25 Years
  • Standard Plan: 120 fixed monthly installments over 10 years (lowest lifetime interest).
  • Graduated Plan: Starts with lower payments that increase every two years over 10 years.
  • Extended Plan: Stretches payments over 25 years (requires >$30,000 in federal loans).
  • Highlights the severe interest penalty of stretching loans over 25 years.

Step-by-Step Worked Example

Scenario: Graduate with $45,000 in federal student loans at 5.5% weighted average APR.

Calculation Steps:

  1. Standard 10-Year Plan: $488.29/month; Total Paid = $58,595 ($13,595 interest).
  2. Graduated 10-Year Plan: Starts at $317.39/month, rises to $708.02/month; Total Paid = $61,525 ($16,525 interest).
  3. Extended 25-Year Plan: $276.08/month; Total Paid = $82,824 ($37,824 interest).
  4. Comparison: Extended plan lowers monthly bill by $212/month but costs $24,229 more in interest.
Result: Standard Plan requires $488.29/month ($13,595 interest). Extended Plan lowers payment to $276.08/month but adds $24,229 in lifetime interest ($37,824 total interest).

How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1Enter total federal student loan debt balance.
  2. 2Input the weighted average interest rate across your federal loan portfolio.
  3. 3Compare side-by-side initial payments and total lifetime borrowing costs.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Extended plan eligibility requires more than $30,000 in outstanding Direct or FFEL loans.
  • Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans depend on annual adjusted gross income (AGI) and family size.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the downside of the Extended Repayment Plan?

While the Extended Plan lowers your monthly required payment, extending the term to 25 years typically more than doubles your total interest charges over the life of the loan.

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