How Long It Should Take You To Pay Off Your Student Loan

Being debt-free is rare these days. Although everybody wants to pay off their loans quickly, it's not always possible, especially when you've just graduated and are fresh on the job market. How long does it take to pay off student loans?

The amount of time depends on a number of factors, including the type of loan, amount borrowed, type of repayment plan, interest rate, and any deferment or forbearance.

On average, a student loan can take anywhere between 10 and 30 years to pay off. In a survey by One Wisconsin Institute, the 60,000+ respondents took an average of around 20 years to pay off their student loans.

For federal loans, it varies depending on your plan. You'll automatically be put on the standard plan, but you can opt for another. The plans are as follows:

• Standard repayment plan: fixed monthly payments for 10 years, or 10–30 years for a direct consolidation loan.
• Graduated repayment plan: payments start out gradually and increase over time, and are usually completed within 10 years.
• Extended repayment plan: fixed or graduated payments with a 25-year term.

Other repayment plans are income-based. The repayment term for these plans also varies, from 15 to 25 years. Private student loan repayment may range from five to 25 years.

Most federal loans provide a grace period of six months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrolment. This lets you settle down financially and select your repayment plan. If you can’t afford to make a payment right away, you can apply for deferment or forbearance, or even switch to a different repayment plan.

Deferment or forbearance lets you pause repayments. However, during this period, the interest will keep on accruing and, in some cases, be capitalized and added back to your principal. This will substantially increase your overall interest paid over the life of the loan. Therefore, you should use these options only when absolutely necessary.

If you can afford to, start making extra payments per month. Starting a side business or taking on an extra job can help to afford these extra payments. You should also research your repayment options and refinance at a lower interest rate, if possible.