Repayment Options
Repayment Plan |
Eligible Loans |
Monthly Payment and Time Frame |
Quick Comparison |
Standard Repayment |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans |
Fixed payments, at $50 per month |
Pay less interest over time |
Graduated Repayment |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans |
Graduated payments, begin lower and increase, usually every two years |
Pay more interest over time than standard plan |
Extended Repayment |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans Direct Parent PLUS Loans |
Payments may be fixed or graduated. Must have more than $30,000 in Direct or Parent PLUS loans Up to 25 years |
Monthly payments are lower than the standard plan |
Income-Based Repayment (IBR) |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans |
Maximum monthly payments are 15% of discretionary income; payments change as income changes Up to 25 years |
Monthly payments are lower than standard plan; Pay more interest over time than standard plan; After 25 years of monthly payments, the unpaid portion will be forgiven |
Pay As You Earn Repayment |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans |
Maximum monthly payments will be 10% of discretionary income; payments change as income changes Up to 20 years |
Monthly payments are lower than standard plan; Pay more interest over time than standard plan; After 20 years of monthly payments, the unpaid portion will be forgiven |
Income-Contingent Repayment |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans |
Payments are calculated each year and are based on your adjusted gross income, family size, and the total amount of your Direct Loans; Payments changes as income changes Up to 25 years |
Monthly payments are lower than standard plan; pay more interest over time than standard plan; after 20 years of monthly payment, the unpaid portion will be forgiven |
Income-Sensitive Repayment |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
|
Monthly payment is based on annual income; payments change as your income changes Up to 10 years |
Monthly payments are lower than standard plan; Each lender formula for determining the monthly payment amount under this plan can vary. |
Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Repayment |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans |
Maximum monthly payments will be 10% of discretionary income; payments change as income changes Up to 20 years |
Monthly payments are lower than standard plan; Pay more interest over time than standard plan; After 20 years of monthly payments, the unpaid portion will be forgiven; *amount forgiven may be subject to federal income tax* |