How to pay off student loans

January 10, 2022

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More than 43 million Americans are making payments on their student loans, whether they graduated from college last year or a decade ago. There’s no question that for some, student loan payments are a real struggle.

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The nearly two-year-long pause on federal student loan payments ends on May 1, following several extensions. In its statement, the Department of Education said this final extension “will allow the Administration to assess the impacts of the Omicron variant on student borrowers and provide additional time for borrowers to plan for the resumption of payments and reduce the risk of delinquency and defaults after restart.”

So, no matter whether you’re trying to dig out of a deep student-loan pit or you’re just beginning to set aside money, it’s time to devise a smart strategy for how to pay off student loans. Here are some ideas.

Paying Back Student Loans

This past spring, two-thirds of the respondents to a survey said they would have trouble resuming payments on their student loans following the end of the government’s pause, according to Pew Trusts. However, as onerous as they can be, student loans have to be dealt with. The alternative is fairly dire. If you are delinquent on your student loan payment for 90 days or more, your loan servicer will report the delinquency to the three major national credit bureaus. And should your student loans go into default, your tax refunds may be withheld, your wages may be garnished, and you may even end up in court.

One out of every ten Americans has defaulted on a student loan, and 7.8% of all student loan debt is in default, according to EducationData.org. It’s crucial to get out of default (and for those who are not yet in default but falling behind in their loans or in danger of doing so) to catch up as quickly as you can.

Paying off student loans early may reduce the amount of interest that accrues over the life of the loan and free up your money for spending on expenses, saving and investing.

5 Ways to Pay off Student Loans Faster

Paying off student loans with speed requires a multi-pronged approach, depending on where you are in your education and career. What works one year might not work the next. These five approaches outline different plans of attack.

1. Begin Payment As Soon As Possible

It’s possible to make loan payments while you’re still in school, though it’s not required. In fact, a six-month grace period goes with most federal student loans. You don’t have to make use of it, however.

If you can, while in school or during the grace period, try to pay at least enough to cover the amount of interest you’re accruing each month, advises the DOE’s Federal Student Aid. That way, less interest will capitalize and get added to your principal balance when you enter repayment.

Some students work a part-time job while still in college to get a leap on their loans.

2. Make More Than the Minimum Payment

Paying extra each month can reduce the interest you pay and reduce the total cost of your loan over time, says Federal Student Aid. If you can continue making monthly payments even if you have satisfied future payments, you will pay off your loan faster.

It’s important to notify your loan servicers to apply overpayments to your current balance and to ask if the additional payment amount can be allocated to your higher-interest loans first. One way to make it easier: Set up automatic payments based on the extra payment. This way you won’t be tempted to change your mind.

3. Use Your Tax Refund & Extra Money

Consider dedicating your tax refund to paying off some of your student loan debt. Part of the reason you may have received a refund in the first place is that you get a tax deduction for paying student loan interest, says Federal Student Aid. A regular side gig dedicated to your student loan will make it vanish faster.

4. Seek Out Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Options

Sometimes it’s impossible to not only pay extra on your loan but also to cover the minimum. Job loss or a change in life circumstances are crises that deal a heavy blow.

The federal government has income-driven repayment plans to help reduce student loan payments. Anything is better than falling into delinquency. After submitting the supporting documentation, you may qualify for lower monthly payments. There are other student-loan forgiveness and cancellation programs that, if you meet the requirements, could wipe out the balance of your debt and put you on the road to a post-student-debt financial life.

If you are employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, if you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on your loans.
If your school closes while you’re enrolled or soon after you withdraw, you may be eligible for discharge of your federal student loan.

5. Refinance Your Student Loan

Refinancing offers shortcuts to some. With interest rates at low levels, a student loan refinanced with a private servicer may produce smaller payments and a shorter repayment time frame. If you choose a shorter term, it may actually increase your monthly payment, but your debt might be paid off faster and you might save money on interest.

The pros and cons to refinancing must be studied carefully. Once a federal loan is refinanced, you no longer qualify for federal loan forgiveness programs, both ones that exist now and ones that may be created in the future. Should President Joe Biden decide to grant student loan forgiveness to Americans holding debt — $10,000 is the number often cited — you would be ineligible for it.

The Takeaway

While the resumption of monthly payments on federal student loans may not come as good news for many people, it provides an opportunity to take a look at your payment strategy. Of course, the most important thing is not to become delinquent in payments or go into default.

To reap the benefits of paying off a student loan faster, pursue one or more of these five strategies: Begin payments as soon as possible, make more than the minimum payment, use your tax refund and extra money, seek out loan forgiveness and repayment options, and refinance your student loan.

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This article originally appeared on LanternCredit.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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