Online Calculator

Repayment Calculator

Federal loans offer multiple repayment shapes. This compares standard 10-year against extended terms so the lifetime trade-off is visible.

Standard 10-year payment

$397.42

Extended 25-year payment
$236.32
Standard total interest
$12,690.15
Extended total interest
$35,896.75
Extra interest from extending
$23,206.60

How the Repayment Calculator works

The calculation follows the standard method used across the US — no shortcuts, no hidden assumptions. Here is exactly what happens behind the scenes:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is extended repayment worth it?

Extended cuts payments ~30–40% but can double lifetime interest. Useful for cash-flow crunches; painful as a default strategy.

What about income-driven plans?

IDR sets payments from discretionary income with forgiveness after 20–25 years — valuable for low income relative to debt, though forgiven amounts may be taxable.