If you have student debt, chances are that you’ve wondered how long it will take you to repay your loans. The answer is not as straightforward as you might think!
There are so many variables involved in calculating this answer that it’s not an easy feat to do on your own. That being said, here you can look at some of the variables at play and determine what factors will affect how long it takes to pay off student loans.
There are many factors in play
There are several factors to consider when determining how long it will take you to repay your student loan.
First, there’s the amount of debt you have. Then comes the interest rate you’re paying on that debt. After that, it’s all about how much money you earn and can afford to pay toward student loans each month.
Finally, there’s what repayment plan you choose for repaying your student loans (or whether or not one is even available).
There’s no one answer!
The answer to this question is a little more complicated than it seems.
For one thing, every student loan is different. There are federal loans, private loans and graduate school loans to consider.
The interest rate on your loan will vary depending on who the lender is and how much you borrowed. For example, if you have multiple loans with different lenders, you’ll need to keep track of them all separately when deciding how long it’ll take for you to pay them off (if ever).
Lantern by SoFi professionals suggests, “The average student loan payment is $460 a month, according to Educationdata.org.”
It all depends on your starting point
The amount you owe will determine how long it takes to repay your student loan. If you owe $10,000, it’ll take less time than if you owe $100,000.
The more money that goes towards the principal each month (the amount borrowed), the sooner those payments will be made and the sooner they can start accruing interest again.
The length of each repayment plan is usually ten years—after this period ends, any remaining debt will be forgiven as part of an income-driven repayment plan.
Where you went to school will also have an impact
Your school will also impact how long it takes to repay your student loan. The more expensive the school, the longer it will take to pay off your debt.
This is because more expensive schools tend to have higher starting salaries and interest rates, which means that you may be paying back your student loans for a longer time than someone who went to a cheaper college or university.
The amount of debt you owe affects your repayment time
The amount of debt you owe affects your repayment time. The longer you take to pay off your loan, the more interest you’ll pay and the more money it will cost.
Hopefully, they’ve given you a better idea of how long you can take to repay your student loans. The amount of debt you owe affects your repayment time, and so does where you went to school. If all else fails, remember that options are available for those who need them most.