Student-centric advice and objective recommendations
Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.
Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here.
How to Lower Student Loan Payments
By
Kayla Korzekwinski
Kayla Korzekwinski is a Scholarships360 content writer. She earned her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Advertising/PR, Rhetorical Communication, and Anthropology. Kayla has worked on communications for non-profits and student organizations. She loves to write and come up with new ways to express ideas.
Full BioLearn about our editorial policies
Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Full BioLearn about our editorial policies
When the time comes to repay debt, students may wonder how to lower student loan payments. Lower payments can give you more time to save money or establish yourself financially. Fortunately, there are several strategies for lowering student loan rates. Continue reading to learn about the many ways you can reduce monthly payments!
Also see:Â Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool
Enroll in an income-driven repayment plan
The federal government offers four income-driven repayment plans. These programs are based on income and family size, so the monthly payments are more affordable. In some circumstances, payments can be as low as $0 per month. These plans can also be adjusted if your income decreases or your family size grows.Â
Income-driven repayment plans are a good option to keep monthly payments low. However, the plans extend the payment period, meaning you’ll pay more in interest over time. Keep this in mind when deciding if an income-driven repayment plan is right for your needs.
See also: Best student loan repayment plans in 2021
Enroll in the graduated repayment plan
The graduated repayment plan is offered by the government on federal loans. This plan is ideal if you’re having trouble making monthly payments now, but expect your income to grow over time. Monthly payments start low and increase every two years. This increase will occur whether or not your income grows.
On the graduated plan, payments will never be less than the interest that accrued between payments and will never be three times more than previous payments. The repayment period remains at 10 years.
Enroll in the extended repayment plan
The federal government offers an alternative to the standard 10-year repayment plan for federal loans. The extended plan allows students to increase their repayment period to up to 25 years. The longer repayment period lowers monthly payments. There is also the option to have fixed or graduated payments on this plan.Â
To be eligible for the extended repayment plan, you must have at least $30,000 in debt. This is a good option if you’re struggling to stick to the 10-year plan, or if you’re hoping to lower your payments. Learn more about extended plans on the official government website.Â
Enroll in autopay
Many student loan lenders offer a 0.25% discount on interest for enrolling in autopay. This allows the lender to automatically withdraw payments from your bank account. The discount may seem small, but it will save you money on interest over time. A reduced interest rate will lower monthly payments.Â
Refinance
Refinancing is trading your individual federal loans for a single private loan. This new loan often has a reduced interest rate, which will lower monthly payments. Refinancing also makes it easier to keep up with payments by only having one.
It’s important to note that refinancing may change your eligibility for relief or repayment programs offered by the government. For example, if you’re pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness, you will no longer be eligible if you refinance.Â
Different lenders offer different rates, so be sure to evaluate all your options before choosing who to refinance with.
See also: How to pay off student loans
Apply for deferment or forbearance
A final option for lowering student loan payments is applying for deferment or forbearance. This also will prevent entering default if you’re struggling to make payments. Deferment and forbearance temporarily suspend or reduce payments. These options are only available in certain situations.Â
See also: How to get your student loans deferredÂ
High monthly student loan payments can be stressful. It is possible to lower payments to make them more manageable. It’s also fairly simple to do so! When repaying your loans, stick to a budget or change your plan to reduce your payments.
Additional resources
Did you know that there are grants to pay off student loans? Learn everything you need to know about student loan forgiveness with our handy guide! One of the most negative things you can do is not pay your loans, so learn some tips to avoid student loan default. No matter where you are in your educational journey, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for!Â
