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Your student loan statement gives you all the important information about your student loan. If you took out one or more student loans to help pay for college, knowing how to read your student loan statements can help you manage your student debt and repayment.

What Are Student Loan Statements?

Student loan statements are detailed summaries of your student loan. They provide information such as the last payment received, the current amount due, and where to send payments.

You’ll typically receive your student loan statement from your loan servicer three weeks before payment is due each month. If you have multiple student loans with more than one servicer, you’ll receive a student loan statement from each servicer every month.

Why Is It Important to Know How Much You Owe?

Keeping track of any debt is essential. You’re responsible for your student loan debt and making monthly payments on time until it’s paid off. Even missing one payment could cause you to fall behind.

A missed or late payment on your student loan debt could also hurt your credit. Your payment history makes up 35% of your FICO® credit score, so having late payments in your recent credit history could make it more difficult to be approved for credit cards or other loans.

Missed student loan payments may also incur late fees. Private lenders have their own rules when it comes to late fees and consequences, but they may start adding late fees after a grace period. Private student loans usually go into default as soon as you miss three monthly payments, but some go into default after one missed payment.

If you default on a federal student loan, usually after payment is 270 days past due, the government can collect your debt by withholding money from your wages and your income tax refund and other federal payments. But a temporary “on-ramp” protection will generally prevent most federal student loans from entering defaulted loan status from the 12-month period of October 2023 through September 2024.

Where Do I Find My Student Loan Statement?

Your student loan statement will typically come by mail from your student loan servicer unless you’ve opted to receive statements online.

Borrowers are generally expected to make required loan payments when due. The 2023 debt ceiling bill officially ended the three-year Covid-19 forbearance, requiring federal student loan interest accrual to resume on Sept. 1, 2023, and payments to resume in October 2023.

If you haven’t received any student loan statements or if you’re not sure, there are ways to find your student loan balance, such as requesting and reading your credit report.

Private Student Loans

If you have private student loans, you can contact your lender directly and ask them how to get your student loan statements. You can also try contacting your school’s financial aid office for information about your private student loan and the company that originated your loan.

Another option is to get a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus, Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®. This may give you basic information on any active student loan accounts you have opened in your name.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans 

Federal Student Loans

If you have federal student loans, there are a few ways to find your student loan statement. One way is to go to studentaid.gov and log in with your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. You can find your student loan balances, loan servicers, and interest rates on the site.

As with private student loans, you can also contact your school’s financial aid office for more information on your federal student loans.

Recommended: FAFSA Guide

Student Loan Statements

Not all student loan statements look the same, but they generally provide the same key details about your student loan. Knowing how to read your student loan statement is an important step in helping you manage your student loan debt.

Payment Summary

The payment summary shows the current amount due if payment is made by the due date. If you have other amounts due in addition to the current payment, like fees or a past due amount, those will also be shown in the payment summary.

Monthly Payment

The monthly payment will tell you what you are expected to pay, which includes the principal and interest, by the due date. The principal is the amount you borrowed, and the interest is what you’re paying to borrow the money.

Your required payment will be the same each month for the life of your loan unless you’ve chosen a variable rate for a private student loan or you’re enrolled in a federal income-driven repayment (IDR) plan.

Recommended: 7 Tips to Lower Your Student Loan Payments

Amortization Schedule

Your student loan repayment follows a student loan amortization schedule. Amortization is the process of paying back an installment loan through regular payments. When a student loan is amortized, it means that your monthly payment is divided into principal and interest payments.

Current Balance

Your current balance is what you owe on the date of the student loan statement. This is the total amount, including principal, interest, and any fees.

Original Balance

Your original balance is the amount that you borrowed before you made any payments toward your student loan.

Interest Rate

The interest rate on your student loan is how much you pay to borrow the funds. Federal loans issued since July 2006 have fixed interest rates, meaning they don’t change over the life of the loan.

The fixed rate for federal student loans depends on the type of loan. Federal student loans for graduate or professional school typically charge higher rates than federal loans for undergraduate study.

Private lenders determine rates for borrowers based on their creditworthiness. They offer undergraduate loans and graduate student loan options.

Negative amortization — having your loan balance grow over time if your monthly payment amount is less than the interest accruing — generally won’t occur if you make payments on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. That’s because the SAVE Plan offers a permanent interest subsidy that helps prevent your federal loan balance from growing if you qualify for a $0 (or very low) monthly payment.

Managing Your Student Loans

After you know your lender or loan servicer, you can easily manage your student loans. Student loan management may be different depending on whether you have a federal student loan or a student loan from a private lender.

Federal student loans allow you to select a repayment plan. Repayment plans are typically divided into traditional plans and IDR plans, such as the SAVE Plan. This allows you a choice: quickly paying off student loan debt to minimize interest charges or lower monthly payments for greater affordability.

You can also consolidate your federal student loans or refinance federal and private student loans, resulting in one monthly payment. You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.

Private lenders may have their own flexible repayment plans. They may offer you the choice of deferring payments, paying interest only, paying your full monthly payment, or making a low fixed payment while you’re still in school.
💡 Quick Tip: Ready to refinance your student loan? You could save thousands.

Should You Refinance or Consolidate to Simplify Repayment?

Combining multiple student loans into a single loan with one monthly bill can simplify your student loan repayment. However, the choice to consolidate student loans vs. refinance depends on your personal situation and your end game.

Federal student loan consolidation combines multiple federal loans into a single loan through the U.S. Department of Education. Federal consolidation generally won’t lower your total interest costs but can lower your monthly payments by extending the repayment period. (A longer repayment period means more total interest paid over the life of the loan.)

Private lenders offer student loan refinancing — some refinance both federal and private student loans — which means paying off your current loans with one new private student loan, ideally with a lower interest rate.
💡 Quick Tip: When rates are low, refinancing student loans could make a lot of sense. How much could you save? Find out using our student loan refi calculator.

The Takeaway

Your student loan statements give all the details of your debt. Federal student loan borrowers can expect to receive billing statements now that the pandemic-related payment pause has ended.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

FAQ

What is a student loan statement?

A student loan statement gives you a detailed breakdown of your loan, including the last payment received, the current amount due, and where to send your payments.

How do I get to my student loan statement?

Federal student loan borrowers can get their student loan statements from their loan servicer. If you don’t know who your loan servicer is, visit your Federal Student Aid account dashboard.

Private student loan borrowers can contact their lender directly to ask for student loan statements. If you’re unsure who your lender is, you can get a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies or contact your school’s financial aid office.

How do I read student loan statements?

Not all student loan statements look the same, but they generally provide the same information. Your student loan statement should give you a payment summary and tell you your monthly payment amount, due date, current and original balance, and interest rate.

Student Loan Refinancing
If you are a federal student loan borrower you should take time now to prepare for your payments to restart, including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.) Please note that once you refinance federal student loans, you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans, such as the SAVE Plan, or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Photo credit: iStock/Ridofranz
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Source: sofi.com

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Apache is functioning normally

Many students take out loans to pay for college. While federal student loans don’t require a credit check, private student loans typically do. And, since students often don’t have much credit history, they typically require a cosigner. A cosigner can be a parent but it doesn’t have to be. You can ask other family members, friends, or even mentors to cosign your student loan.

Since a cosigner will be responsible for paying back your loan in the event you’re unable to, it’s important to choose someone you feel comfortable entering a financial agreement with. A cosigner with good credit and high income could result in lower interest rates on your loans.

Read on for a simple, step-by-step guide on how to get someone to cosign your student loan.

How to Ask Someone to Cosign Your Private Student Loan

You may have someone in mind who would make a good cosigner. The problem is, how do you ask someone to cosign a loan? It’s a big ask, and approaching the topic can be intimidating. Not to worry. What follows are some tips that can help ensure you come to the conversation prepared.

Recommended: Avoidable Mistakes for Choosing Student Loan Cosigners

1. Research Your Financial Aid Options First

Before you ask someone to cosign a private student loan, it’s a good idea to explore all of your college funding options. Around 85% of students receive some form of financial aid to pay for college.

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, will give you access to any federal student aid you may be eligible to receive. This might include grants, work-study, federal subsidized loans, federal unsubsidized student loans, and even private scholarships. Completing the FAFSA is free, and it’ll also show potential cosigners that you’ve done your due diligence and have tapped all your available options to finance your education before asking for help.

Recommended: 11 Strategies for Paying for College and Other Expenses

2. Explain Why You Need a Cosigner

Once you’ve decided who you want to ask to be your cosigner, it’s important to come to the table with a clear explanation of why you need a cosigner and what costs the loan will cover. You’ll want to be prepared to share details on your own savings, debts, and credit history. This shows a cosigner why you need help and what kind of risk they would be taking on.

Providing a clear picture of what you have and what you need demonstrates that you’re taking your education and financial goals seriously. Having followed tip #1, you’ll be in a position to show the funding gap between your own funds plus any aid you’ve received and the cost of attendance at your chosen college.

3. Outline Your Plan for Repaying the Loan

When asking someone to cosign a student loan, it’s a good idea to let them know that you have a plan for repayment and exactly what that plan is. Some private lenders allow you to defer making payments until after graduation, while others require you start making interest-only payments while still in school. Either way, you’ll want to have an idea for how you will make those payments on your own.

Failing to make payments on time each month will impact both you and your cosigner, so it’s a good idea to also make a backup plan in case something doesn’t work out. This might be getting a part-time job in any field if you find that it takes longer than expected to get hired in your chosen field.

Demonstrating your plan for repayment can help build your potential cosigner’s confidence and help them feel more comfortable about entering into a cosigner agreement with you.

Recommended: 6 Strategies to Pay Off Student Loans Quickly

4. Make Sure They Understand What They’re Agreeing To

Before moving forward to a written agreement, it’s a good idea to go over the requirements and responsibilities for being a cosigner. For starters, your cosigner must meet a minimum credit score and demonstrate a certain minimum monthly income. The exact requirements will depend on the lender.

You’ll also want to let them know that, as a cosigner, they have a legal obligation to make sure the loan is repaid, and that any late or missed payments on the loan can impact both your and their credit scores.

While these risks can feel intimidating to bring up, outlining your plan to avoid loan default can help address their concerns and show you’re taking the commitment seriously.

Recommended: Ca$h Course: A Student’s Guide to Money

5. Make a Plan for a Cosigner Release

A cosigner release effectively removes a cosigner from a loan, freeing them from any continued responsibility for repayment of your loan. Private lenders may offer the option for a cosigner release if you, at a certain point down the road, meet certain credit requirements and have a strong track record of on-time payments.

Discussing a plan or timeline for when your cosigner will be released from their responsibilities shows that you’re being considerate of the risks of being a cosigner and the impact it can have on their finances. While you may not have the strongest qualifications as a borrower today, your creditworthiness can build over time as you consistently make on-time loan payments.

You might also have the option of refinancing your student loan and, in the process, releasing your cosigner from the original loan agreement.

6. Give Them Time to Think

Cosigning a loan is a serious commitment and whomever you ask may need some time to think over the decision. For this reason, it’s a good idea to approach your potential cosigner early on so you have plenty of time to talk through the agreement and, if necessary, pursue another option.

Handling Potential Concerns and Objections

Cosigners will likely have questions and potential concerns about how the agreement could impact their finances, as well as your relationship. After you’ve made your pitch, it’s important to hear them out and be open to their input to reach an agreement that works for you both.

If a cosigner has objections that you can’t resolve, it may be time to seek out a different cosigner.

Formalizing the Cosigner Agreement

If the person you ask to cosign your loan says “yes,” it’s time to find the right private student loan for your needs. It’s generally a good idea to shop around and compare rates and terms from different lenders, including banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Some lenders allow you to pre-qualify for a student loan online, without impacting your (or your cosigner’s) credit score. This allows you to compare offers, go over rates and terms with your cosigner, and decide which loan is the best fit.

When you officially apply for the loan, you and your cosigner will need to provide a number of financial documents to the lender, so be sure to give your cosigner time to gather all their paperwork.

Repaying the Loan Responsibly

When you take out a private student loan, you’ll typically have a choice of several repayment plans. Which one you choose can have a significant impact on both your monthly payment and total cost of the loan. Options may include:

•  Immediate repayment This means you make full monthly payments while still in school. Doing so will minimize the interest you pay, resulting in the greatest savings.

•  Interest-only repayment Here, you’ll pay only the interest on your loan while you’re still in school. Payments will be lower than immediate repayment but you won’t chip away at your loan balance (or save as much on interest).

•  Partial interest repayment This involves making a fixed monthly payment while still in school that only covers part of the interest you owe. Payments will be lower than interest-only plan but your loan balance will grow.

•  Full deferment Here, you’ll pay nothing while you’re enrolled in school. During this time, though, your loan balance grows.

Once you choose a plan, you’ll want to create a budget for the minimum payment you owe each month. It’s also a good idea to enroll in autopay, to ensure you never miss a payment. Some lenders also offer a rate discount if you enroll in autopay.

After you’ve graduated and your finances allow, you may be able to make extra principal-only payments — this can help lower the total interest you pay over the life of the loan.

The Takeaway

If you need a cosigner on your student loan, you have options. Whether you choose a parent, other family member, friend, or mentor, it’s important to be transparent about the requirements and risks that go into being a cosigner.

Coming to the conversation prepared can build trust and confidence with potential cosigners and put you on the path to funding your education.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

FAQ

How do you convince someone to cosign a loan?

You’ll want to be transparent, as well as fully prepared for the conversation. Explain how the loan will support your long-term educational and financial goals, how you plan to make future loan repayments, and why you are a trustworthy borrower.

Who can I ask to be my cosigner?

It’s common for students to use parents or family members as cosigners, but there are no rules stating that your cosigner must be a relative. You can also ask mentors or family friends who are invested in your success. Just keep in mind that a cosigner will need to meet the lender’s financial and credit requirements.

Can I hire someone to be a cosigner?

There are businesses that advertise online that they will cosign your student loans for a fee, but borrower beware. These are often scams in which the “cosigner” requests cash payment in advance, then disappears. Or, the business might be legitimate but will require you to give them a portion of the loan in exchange for cosigning. Generally, it’s not worth the risk or cost.

What percentage of student loans are cosigned?

Roughly 92% of undergraduate private loans are cosigned. About 66% of graduate school loans from private lenders require a cosigner.

How do I assess my creditworthiness before seeking a cosigner?

To assess your creditworthiness, you’ll want to check your credit score and take a look at your credit reports.

You can often access your credit score for free through your bank or credit card company (check your statements on log into your online account). You can access your credit reports from the three main consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Photo credit: iStock/NoSystem images

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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Source: sofi.com

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Apache is functioning normally

Federal student loan interest rates are set by Congress. Each spring, they determine the next school year’s interest rates based on the high yield of the last 10-year Treasury note auction in May. The new rates apply to loans disbursed between July 1 and June 30 of the next year.

For private student loans, the lender determines the interest rate, and it may vary depending on which financial institution you’re working with as well as your own financial profile. Unlike federal loans, the decision to change rates on a private student loan rate can happen more than once a year. A private lender might change rates monthly, quarterly, or annually — it’s up to them to decide.

If you already hold student loans, then the rates of those loans may or may not change. It depends on whether you have a federal or private loan, and if that loan has a variable or fixed interest rate.

Learn more here about the federal student loan interest rate in 2023-24, what’s being proposed for the future, and options you have if your loan has a variable interest rate.

Federal Student Loan Interest Rates Change Annually

Under a law adopted by Congress in 1993, the federal government pegged federal student loan interest rates to the longer-term US Treasury rates, and those interest rates are adjusted annually for new federal student loans.

Your interest rate will also depend on the type of loan you take out. Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans tend to have the lowest rates, while Direct PLUS loans have the highest. Sometimes, Congress will lower interest rates, but they raised them in 2022 and 2023. We won’t know federal student loan interest rates for the 2024-25 school year until May 2024.

Each year, the new rates take effect on July 1 and apply to federal student loans taken out for the following academic year. The federal student loan interest rates rose from the 2017–2018 to the 2018–2019 school years, but decreased for the 2019–2020 and 2020-2021 school years. For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, student loan interest rates increased again.

Note, though, that these changes only apply to new student loans. Once you’ve taken out a federal student loan, the rate of that loan will stay the same unless you pursue consolidation or refinancing.
💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Student Loan Rates for the 2023–2024 School Year

So what will student loan interest rates be in 2023?

For the 2023-2024 school year, the interest rate on Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loans for undergraduates is 5.50%, the rate on Direct Unsubsidized loans for graduate and professional students is 7.05%, and the rate on Direct PLUS loans for graduate students, professional students, and parents is 8.05%. The interest rates on federal student loans are fixed and are set annually by Congress.

In an effort to keep the interest rates on federal student loans from skyrocketing, Congress has set limits on how high-interest rates can go. Undergraduate loans are capped at 8.25%, graduate loans can’t go higher than 9.5%, and the limit on parental loans is capped at 10.5%. Since 2006, the highest interest rates reached for Direct Subsidized Loans and Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans was 6.8%.
💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Private Student Loan Rates Can Change at Any Time

Private student loans are from banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions, and they get to set the interest rates on the loans they disburse. Some private loans have fixed rates, which means you lock in an interest rate and it doesn’t change for the life of the loan. Other private loans have variable rates, which means the interest rate might go up and down over the course of the loan.

As of July 2023, financial institutions use Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) to help with pricing corporate and consumer loans, including business loans, student loans, mortgages, and credit cards.

Private lenders can raise or lower interest rates at any time, but any changes usually have to do with changes in the economy, such as the Federal Reserve deciding to raise or cut interest rates.

If Your Loan Has a Variable Interest Rate, a Hike Could Be in the Cards

If you take out a federal student loan, the loan’s interest rate is fixed. This means the interest rate stays the same over the life of the loan. But since you need to re-apply for federal aid every year you attend college, you may end up with four loans with four different interest rates.

When you apply for a private student loan or refinance an existing loan, borrowers can typically choose between a fixed and variable interest rate.

When you take out a private student loan, the original rate depends on your credit score, employment history, and current income level — among other factors, which vary by lender.

If your private loan has a variable rate, the rate may fluctuate as the economy changes. In the past year, the Federal Reserve has increased benchmark interest rates numerous times to try to help control inflation. Rates may rise again, but it’s impossible to say for certain.

Recommended: Student Loan Refinancing Guide

What to Do if You Have a Variable-Rate Loan

If your private student loan has a variable interest rate and you’re worried that interest rates might increase, you may have some options. Student loan refinancing involves taking out a new loan with a new interest rate. By refinancing, borrowers have the opportunity to make only one monthly payment instead of balancing multiple payments, and they may be able to lock in a fixed rate so they no longer have to be concerned with rate hikes.

Individuals whose financial situation has improved since originally borrowing their loan(s) may qualify for a lower interest rate.

The Takeaway

Should you refinance your student loans if you’re worried interest rates will change? If you have federal loans, you’ve already locked in a fixed interest rate so you don’t need to worry about interest rate changes. Plus, it’s important to remember that when federal student loans are refinanced, they are no longer eligible for federal borrower protections. But if you have a private loan with a variable interest rate, it may be worth exploring loan refinancing.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

Student Loan Refinancing
If you are a federal student loan borrower you should take time now to prepare for your payments to restart, including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.) Please note that once you refinance federal student loans, you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans, such as the SAVE Plan, or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

Apache is functioning normally

Refinancing your student loans can help save you money and reduce the amount of time you’ll be paying back your loan. However, as an international student, your options are limited. If you’re considering refinancing your student loans as an international student, it’s important to know where you can go and how it can help you.

How Refinancing Student Loans Works

Student loan refinancing is the process of replacing your current student loans with a new one, creating one monthly instead of several. You can refinance both federal and private student loans, potentially saving you money and time as you pay off your debt.

Student loan refinancing companies like SoFi offer fixed and variable interest rates that can be lower than what you’re currently paying on your student loans.

You can also choose from various student loan repayment options and terms, allowing you to pay off your loans as quickly as your budget allows. As you can guess, the shorter your repayment period, the more you’re likely to save on interest.

As you consider your strategy for paying off your student loan debt, refinancing can be a crucial element in helping you achieve your goal.

Another word you may hear that’s close to refinancing is consolidation. With other loans, the terms are typically synonymous. But with student loans, consolidation is generally associated with the federal direct loan consolidation program, while refinancing is typically done through a private lender.
💡 Quick Tip: Ready to refinance your student loan? With SoFi’s no-fee loans, you could save thousands.

Where to Refinance Student Loans for International Students

It’s not always easy to know where to go, and it can be frustrating to get turned down over and over again because of your international student status. Many refinancing companies require you to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible but fortunately, some companies provide more flexibility for international students. For instance, SoFi as well as MPOWER can offer loans to international students. SoFi, for example, considers U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and people who hold a J-1, H-1B, E-2, O-1, or TN visa (as of the date of this article).

If you’re a permanent resident, you’ll need to either have at least two years left until your status expires or you’ve filed an extension. And if you’re a visa holder, you’ll need to have at least two years left before your status expires, or you’ve filed for a renewal or applied for permanent residency.

That said, qualifying based on your citizenship, resident, or visa status doesn’t necessarily mean you qualify based on all criteria. Student loan refinancing lenders also typically have credit and income requirements.

This means that if you don’t have an established credit history — which is not always the case for international students — you may have a tough time getting approved on your own.

If this is your situation, it might be worth getting a student loan co-signer, such as a trusted family member or friend who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, to apply with you to help strengthen the creditworthiness of your application. This can be helpful because this person acts as backup for your application — and lenders now can also rely on the co-signer for payment. Even if you do qualify to refinance your student loans on your own, a co-signer could help you get a lower interest rate.

To help improve your chances of getting approved with more favorable terms, such as a low rate, it’s a good idea to choose a co-signer who has a stellar credit history and a solid income.

Two Things to Consider Before Refinancing Your Student Loans

Refinancing might not be the right option for everyone. Here are three things to think about before you make your decision:

You May Not Qualify for a Lower Rate

Your eligibility and interest rate are based on several factors, including your credit history and income. As such, there’s no guarantee you’ll get approved for a lower interest rate than what you’re currently paying, even with a co-signer.

Also, if you already have a relatively low interest rate with your current lender, you may have a hard time getting an even lower rate.

Fortunately, some lenders, including SoFi, allow you to check your rate before you officially apply. This is done with a soft credit check, which doesn’t impact your credit score.

You May Not Qualify for a Lower Rate

Your eligibility and interest rate are based on several factors, including your credit history and income. As such, there’s no guarantee you’ll get approved for a lower interest rate than what you’re currently paying, even with a co-signer.

Also, if you already have a relatively low interest rate with your current lender, you may have a hard time getting an even lower rate.

Fortunately, some lenders, including SoFi, allow you to check your rate before you officially apply. This is done with a soft credit check, which doesn’t impact your credit score.

Refinancing Is Just One Piece of the Puzzle

As you think through your student loan repayment strategy, keep in mind that refinancing isn’t the end of the line. Once you complete the process of refinancing your loans, it’s important to still make sure you’re paying down your debt.

For example, consider getting on a budget and looking for ways to put extra cash toward your student loan payments each month.

Also, you could go with a shorter repayment period to save even more time and money on your debt.

The Takeaway

Be sure to check your eligibility requirements when it comes to refinancing student loans as an international student with private lenders. Also, consider adding a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to strengthen your application.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

Student Loan Refinancing
If you are a federal student loan borrower you should take time now to prepare for your payments to restart, including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.) Please note that once you refinance federal student loans, you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans, such as the SAVE Plan, or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOSL0923021

Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

Apache is functioning normally

Editor’s Note: Due to major changes coming to the FAFSA, the form for the 2024-2025 academic year is delayed until December 2023. This article reflects the most recent information, but final details will not be available until the new FAFSA form is released.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA®, is a form students can fill out each school year to apply for college grants, work-study programs, federal student loans, and certain state-based aid.

By not filling out the form, or missing the FAFSA deadline, students may not receive financial aid that could help them pay for college. Indeed, the graduating class of 2022 left roughly $3.6 billion in need-based federal Pell Grants on the table by not completing the FAFSA, according to a new report by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN).

Typically, the FAFSA becomes available on October 1 for the following academic year. The 2024-2025 academic year, however, is an exception. Due to upcoming changes to the FAFSA (and some adjustments to how student aid will be calculated), the form will be available in December 2023.

It’s helpful to fill out your FAFSA as early as possible and not miss the important application deadlines, as there is a limited amount of aid available.

Read on for key federal, state, and institutional FAFSA deadlines to know.

What Is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA is the online form that you must fill out to apply for financial aid from the federal government, state governments, and most colleges and universities. The form requires students and their parents to submit information about household income and assets. That information is used to calculate financial need and determine how much aid will be made available.

If you are a dependent student, you will need to submit your parents’, as well as you own, financial information. If you are considered independent, you are not required to submit your parents’ financial information.

If you are already in school, remember that the FAFSA must be filled out every year, since income and tax information might have changed.

Federal financial aid includes student loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study jobs. In general, the eligibility requirements for federal aid state that for most programs, students:

•   Must demonstrate financial need (though there is some non-need based aid, such as unsubsidized student loans) and,

•   Must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen, and

•   Be enrolled in an qualifying degree or certificate program at their college or career school

For further details, take a look at the basic eligibility requirements on the Student Aid website.
💡 Quick Tip: You can fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.

FAFSA Open Date and Deadline

File Your FAFSA for Next Year Close to December

Generally, it makes sense to submit the FAFSA promptly after the October 1st application release — or, in the case of the 2024-25 FAFSA, December 2023. Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so submitting it early could help improve your chances of receiving financial help for college.

File Your FAFSA for Last Year by June 30

You must file the FAFSA no later than June 30th for the school year you are requesting aid for. So, for the academic year 2023-24, you must file by June 30th, 2024, at the very latest, and for the academic year 2024-25, the final federal deadline is June 30th, 2025.

This FAFSA deadline comes after you’ve already attended and, likely, paid for school. You generally don’t want to wait this long. However, if you do, you can often receive grants and loans retroactively to cover what you’ve already paid for the spring and fall semester. Or, in some cases, you may be able to apply the funds to pay for 2023 summer courses.

State and institutional FAFSA deadlines

When the FAFSA is due is also dependent on where you want to go to college. Individual states and colleges have different deadlines — which may be much earlier than the federal deadline — for awarding financial aid to students. Here’s a look at two other key FAFSA deadlines to know.

Institutional FAFSA Deadlines

While students have until the end of the school year to file the FAFSA, individual schools may have earlier deadlines. These priority deadlines mean you need to get your FAFSA application in by the school’s date to be considered for the college’s own institutional aid. So if you are applying to several colleges, you may want to check each school’s FAFSA deadline and complete the FAFSA by the earliest one.

While filling out your FAFSA, you can include every school you’re considering, even if you haven’t been accepted to college yet.

State FAFSA Deadlines

States often have their own FAFSA deadlines. You can get information about state deadlines at Studentaid.gov. Some states have strict cutoffs, while others are just best-practice suggestions — so you’ll want to check carefully. States may have limited funds to offer as well.

Federal FAFSA Deadline

Typically, the FAFSA becomes available on October 1, almost a full year in advance of the year that aid is awarded. For the 2024-25 academic year, the FAFSA will open a few months later than usual — some time in December 2023. However, the federal government gives you until June 30th of the year you are attending school to apply for aid.

It’s generally recommended that students fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after it’s released for the next school year’s aid to avoid missing out on available funds. Plus, there are often earlier school and state deadlines you’ll need to meet.

Recommended: FAFSA Delay: 5 Steps to Help Ensure Your State and College Aid Aren’t Affected

Taking the Next Steps After Submitting the FAFSA

So what happens after you hit “submit” on your FAFSA? Here’s a look at next steps:

•   Wait for your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you submitted your FAFSA online, the U.S. Department of Education will process it within three to five days. If you submit a paper form, it will take seven to 10 days to process. The SAR summarizes the information you provided on your FAFSA form. You can find your SAR by logging in to fafsa.gov using your FSA ID and selecting the “View SAR” option on the My FAFSA page

•   Review your SAR. Check to make sure all of the information is complete and accurate. If you see any missing or inaccurate information, you’ll want to complete or correct your FAFSA form as soon as possible. The SAR will give you some basic information about your eligibility for federal student aid. However, the school(s) you listed on the FAFSA form will use your information to determine your actual eligibility for federal — and possibly non-federal — financial aid.

•   Wait for acceptance. Most college decisions come out in the spring, often March or early April. If you applied to a college early action or early decision, you can expect an earlier decision notification, often around December. Typically, you will receive a financial aid award letter along with your acceptance notification. This letter contains important information about the cost of attendance and your financial aid options.

Understanding Your Financial Aid Award

Receiving financial aid can be a great relief when it comes to paying for higher education. Your financial aid award letter will include the annual total cost of attendance and a list of financial aid options. Your financial aid package may be a mix of gift aid (which doesn’t have to be repaid), loans (which you have to repay with interest), and federal work-study (which helps students get part-time jobs to earn money for college).

If, after accounting for gift aid and work-study, you still need money to pay for school, federal student loans might be your next consideration. As an undergraduate student, you may have the following loan options:

•   Direct Subsidized Loans Students with financial need can qualify for subsidized loans. With this type of federal loan, the government covers the interest that accrues while you’re in school, for six months after you graduate, and during periods of deferment.

•   Direct Unsubsidized Loans Undergraduates can take out direct unsubsidized loans regardless of financial need. With these loans, you’re responsible for all interest that accrues when you are in school, after you graduate, and during periods of deferment.

•   Parent PLUS Loans These loans allow parents of undergraduate students to borrow up to the total cost of attendance, minus any financial aid received. They carry higher interest rates and higher loan origination fees than Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.

If financial aid, including federal loans, isn’t enough to cover school costs, students can also apply for private student loans, which are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders.

Private loan limits vary by lender, but students can often get up to the total cost of attendance, which gives you more borrowing power than you have with the federal government. Each lender sets its own interest rate and you can often choose to go with a fixed or variable rate. Unlike federal loans, qualification is not need-based. However, you will need to undergo a credit check and students often need a cosigner.

Keep in mind that private loans may not offer the borrower protections — like income-based repayment plans and deferment or forbearance — that come with federal student loans.
💡 Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find much lower rates on no-fee private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.

The Takeaway

Completing the FAFSA application allows you to apply for federal aid (including scholarships, grants, work-study, and federal student loans). The FAFSA form is generally released on October 1st of the year before the award year and closes on July 30th of the school year you are applying for.

The 2024–25 FAFSA will be delayed until December 2023 due to changes the U.S. Department of Education is implementing to make the application more streamlined for students and families. That application will close on June 30, 2025. However, individual colleges and states have their own deadlines which are typically earlier than the federal FAFSA deadline.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

SOIS1023015

Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

Apache is functioning normally

These days, a college education is considered a luxury for many American families. For the 2022-23 school year, a full-time student can expect the sticker price on a public, four-year, in-state school to be $10,950, according to the College Board’s 2022 Trends in College Pricing report . That’s $190 higher than the previous year, or an increase of 1.8% before adjusting for inflation.

For a private non-profit university, the annual cost jumps to $39,400, an increase of $1,330 over the previous year.

Multiply that by four years, add out-of-state or private school tuition, or pursue an advanced degree, and it’s easy to see why so many students and their parents have to borrow money to cover the cost of tuition and related school expenses. In fact, 43.6 million borrowers have federal student loans, which equates to 93% of all student loan debt.

You might be one of them, or have a family member or close friend who is. But how much do you really know about student debt? After all, it can rank right up there with politics and religion on the list of topics that no one wants to bring up.

Any idea which states have the highest student loan balances? Or how much Americans owe in total on their student loans? What about how common it is for people to stop making payments?

We’ve gathered those answers and more, and the numbers may surprise you. Because whether you see it as a private struggle or a national crisis, student loan debt is a big deal.

1. Americans currently owe over $1.7 trillion on their student loans.

That was the cumulative student loan balance among American consumers as of August 2023. A decade ago, that figure was closer to $1.1 trillion. Student loans are now the largest form of consumer debt in the U.S. other than mortgages — exceeding car loans and credit card debt.

Want some good news? This debt crisis has been getting some attention. Though the Biden administration was unsuccessful in implementing a nationwide student loan forgiveness program (at least for now), it has forgiven more than $116 billion in student loan debt via more targeted forgiveness initiatives. It has also made improvements to how payments toward forgiveness under income-driven repayment (IDR) and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program are counted. Plus, it implemented a new, improved IDR program known as Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE).
💡 Quick Tip: Ready to refinance your student loan? With SoFi’s no-fee loans, you could save thousands.

2. The average student loan balance is more than $37,000.

The average federal student loan borrower today owes $37,718. .Borrowers with private loans owe even more: as high as $40,449, on average.

When divided up by generation, Baby Boomers carry the highest average balance at $45,136. Gen Xers come in second, with balances averaging $43,438. Millennials have the next-highest average balance of $33,173, followed by Gen Z with $14,315.

3. Individual debts vary widely.

The average debt is just that — the average. Recent figures show that student loan balances are as varied as age, state and program statistics. Total balances can range from less than $1,000 to more than $200,000, depending on the borrower.

This may not come as a surprise when compared to the total costs of attending college. For the 2022-23 school year, Kenyon College in Ohio topped the list of most expensive schools at $66,490 a year for tuition and fees, according to U.S. News and World Report . On the other hand, a handful of schools, including Berea College in Kentucky and College of the Ozarks in Missouri, offer free college tuition to students who qualify.

4. Current student debt varies widely by state and college.

While not technically a state, Washington, D.C. topped the list of states with the highest student debt, with an average of $54,945 — more than $12,000 higher than the next-highest state, Maryland, which averaged $42,861. The bottom of the list (or perhaps the top, depending on your point of view), includes North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa, all with less than $31,000.

Likewise, the program students pursue can have a huge impact on the amount of student debt facing graduates. The cost of graduate school can vary widely by program. Specialized degrees — medicine, law, or pharmacy, for example — could leave students facing even higher debt burdens, sometimes upwards of $100,000.

5. Student loan debt disproportionately impacts women and borrowers of color.

Student loan debt can have a number of devastating consequences for borrowers of all backgrounds. It’s shown to make major life milestones such as buying a home and starting a family less attainable. And for those who can’t afford their payments, student loan default can wreak havoc on their credit and overall finances.

However, certain borrowers are disproportionately burdened by student loan debt. For instance, Black college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student loan debt than white college graduates. And four years after graduation, Black students owe an average of 188% more than what white students borrowed.

Additionally, Hispanic and Latino borrowers were the most likely to delay getting married and having children due to student loan debt.

Further, 64% of student loan debt is held by women, with the highest average amount of debt belonging to Black women.

6. Americans with student debt are likely to have multiple loans.

The Department of Education currently contracts a few different loan servicers . The federal student loan will be assigned to a loan servicer when it is disbursed. For borrowers with multiple student loans, it is possible that they’d have multiple loan servicers. That could be a lot to juggle, and one reason borrowers may consider federal student loan consolidation.

7. The number of borrowers defaulting on their student loans is in the seven figures.

As of 2023, one out of every 10 Americans has defaulted on a student loan, and 5% of all student loan debt is currently in default. About 4 million student loans enter default each year.

Risk factors for student loan default can include having other forms of debt, such as a credit card balance, car payment, or mortgage. And defaulting on loans can also put borrowers at risk for having other bills, such as medical expenses, end up in collections as well.

What’s to be done? Even if you just stop paying on your student loans, they won’t go away (though the new SAVE Plan can bring your payment down to $0 if your income is low enough, and may eventually lead to forgiveness if your income remains low.) And in the meantime, interest will continue to accrue and, in some cases, capitalize (along with penalties and other downsides to nonpayment, like being sent to collections).

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

Student Loan Refinancing
If you are a federal student loan borrower you should take time now to prepare for your payments to restart, including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.) Please note that once you refinance federal student loans, you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans, such as the SAVE Plan, or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. SoFi Bank, N.A. and its lending products are not endorsed by or directly affiliated with any college or university unless otherwise disclosed.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOSL0923022

Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

Apache is functioning normally

Editor’s Note: For the latest developments regarding federal student loan debt repayment, check out our student debt guide.

What happens if I miss a student loan payment? That’s the question on many borrowers’ minds as federal student loan payments resume after more than three years of emergency forbearance.

Missing payments on student loans can have a variety of negative consequences, including damage to your credit score and wage garnishment. However, the Biden administration is offering a temporary “on-ramp” to ease the transition back into repayment. Until the end of September 2024, borrowers will not have to worry about their student loans falling into default or damage to their credit score if they miss payments.

Interest will continue to accrue during this time, though, and any missed student loan payments will be due eventually. Rather than ignoring your student loan bills, take some time to review your options for making them more affordable. The Department of Education offers various plans to help struggling borrowers get back on track.

What Happens if I Miss a Federal Student Loan Payment?

Missing federal student loan payments typically leads to delinquency and default, but from October 2023 through September 2024, borrowers who miss a payment will avoid these consequences. Here’s a closer look at what this student loan on-ramp entails, followed by what typically happens when you miss payments.

Understanding the Student Loan On-Ramp

Federal student loan borrowers have been exempt from student loan payments and interest since March of 2020. With the end of this emergency forbearance, the Biden administration is offering a one-year on-ramp for borrowers to adjust to the new reality. Until Sep. 30, 2024, borrowers won’t face the usual consequences if they miss payments.

For example, your loans won’t fall into delinquency or default, and missed payments won’t be reported to the credit bureaus. Your loans won’t go into collections, and you won’t have to worry about garnishment of your wages, tax refund, or Social Security benefits.

What’s more, the interest that accrues during this year won’t be capitalized, or added onto, your principal balance when the on-ramp expires. This on-ramp gives borrowers time to start making payments again after the lengthy pause.

However, interest will still accrue during this time, and you’ll still have to pay back your loan eventually. Instead of skipping payments over the next year, you may be better off applying for an income-driven repayment plan for more affordable monthly bills.

What Normally Happens When You Miss a Student Loan Payment

Normally, your student loan is considered delinquent the day after you miss a payment. Even if you start making the next payments, your account will remain delinquent until you make up for the missed payment or receive deferment or forbearance.

Once 90 days pass, your loan servicer will let the major credit reporting agencies know that your loan is delinquent. Your credit score will take a hit, making it more difficult to qualify for good terms on loans or credit cards or to rent an apartment.

If you continue not paying, your loan will go into default. For federal loans, the government will wait 270 days. Defaulting on your student loan has serious consequences. The entire amount you owe on your loan, including interest, becomes due immediately.

You won’t be able to take out any other student loans, and you’ll no longer qualify for deferment or forbearance or be able to choose your own mortgage, car loan, or other forms of credit. The government may take your tax refund or federal benefits to pay off your loan. You may also have your wages garnished, meaning your employer will take part of your paycheck and send it to the government to be applied toward the loan.

It’s rare, but the government can also sue you at any time — there’s no statute of limitations. You may also be responsible for collection fees, attorney’s fees, and other costs. In other words, you do not want to default on your student loans. (If you do, options exist for getting out of default, such as the Fresh Start program.)
💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

What Happens if I Miss a Private Student Loan Payment?

Private lenders usually give you much less leeway than the federal government. Exactly what happens if you miss a payment depends on the company’s policies and your loan terms. A private lender can tack on late fees and transfer your loan to a debt collection agency.

Also, private lenders can sue you if you stop paying your student loans. If they win, a court can sign a judgment allowing them to garnish your wages. States set the statute of limitations for lawsuits about payment of private loans; the time period usually ranges from three years to a decade. But the lender can continue trying to collect the debt for as long as they want. Plus, certain actions can reset the statute of limitations, such as making a payment or even acknowledging that the debt belongs to you.

Will My Loans Eventually Go Away if I Can’t Pay?

If you stop paying your student loans, they will not go away. However, it may be possible to discharge student loans in bankruptcy or qualify for student loan forgiveness or discharge.

For example, federal student loans can be discharged if you suffer from a total permanent disability or your school closes while you’re attending or soon after you leave. You can also pursue student loan forgiveness programs, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness or Teacher Loan Forgiveness.

Student loan cancellation from an income-driven repayment plan may also be an option. Income-driven plans will discharge your remaining student loan balance at the end of your term. While the term is 20 or 25 years for some plans, the new SAVE plan will offer forgiveness after 10 years if your original principal balance was $12,000 or less. On all the income-driven plans, it’s possible that your monthly payment could be $0, depending on your discretionary income.

For instance, borrowers who earn less than $32,800 as individuals or $67,500 as a family of four in most states could have $0 monthly payments on the SAVE plan. If this describes you, you could essentially stop paying your student loans and see them go away after anywhere from 10 to 25 years on the plan, depending on how much you borrowed and whether you took out the loans for undergraduate or graduate school.

However, you’ll have to apply for income-driven repayment and recertify your income annually to stay on the plan and keep making progress toward loan cancellation. If you give the Department of Education permission to access your tax information, it can recertify your plan automatically each year.

What if I’m Experiencing Financial Hardship?

If you are having a tough time with your finances or are putting off making a late student loan payment, don’t just ignore your loans; instead, approach your lender or loan servicer to discuss your options.

For federal loans, an income-driven repayment plan could help. Income-driven plans, which include SAVE, PAYE, Income-Based Repayment, and Income-Contingent Repayment, adjust your monthly payments based on a percentage of your discretionary income. Most also extend your loan terms and offer loan forgiveness if you still owe a balance at the end. The new SAVE plan particularly has the most generous terms for borrowers.

You might also be able to qualify for a deferment or student loan forbearance, allowing you to temporarily stop or reduce payments. If you’re in deferment, depending on the type of loan you have, you may not be responsible for paying the interest that accrues during the deferment period. Among other reasons, you can apply for deferment if you’re in school, in the military, unemployed, or not working full-time.

You can apply for forbearance if your student loan payments represent 20% or more of your gross monthly income, if you’ve lost your job or seen your pay reduced, if you can’t pay because of medical bills, or if you’re facing another financial hardship, among other things. Private lenders are not required to offer relief if you’re facing hardship, but some, including SoFi, do.

Will I Be Sent to Collections if I Do Not Pay My Student Loans?

It is possible that if your student loan is in default it may be sent to a collections agency. Federal student loans in default are managed by the Department of Education’s Default Resolution Group. The Default Resolution Group oversees collections for all federal student loans that are in default, so they are not sent to a private collections agency.

The Department of Education is temporarily offering a Fresh Start program for student loans in default. By calling your loan servicer or logging into myeddebt.ed.gov, you can get your loans back into active repayment, enroll in a new repayment plan, and have the record of default removed from your credit report. You’ll also regain access to federal financial aid.

Private student loans may be sent to a collection agency as soon as the loan enters default, which is generally after 90 days of non-payment.

What if I Don’t Expect My Situation to Change Anytime Soon?

Deferment, forbearance, and relief offered by private lenders are temporary solutions. If your financial hardship looks like a long-term issue, you’ll need a permanent fix.

With federal loans, you may be eligible for an income-driven repayment plan. The government currently offers four plans that aim to make payments affordable by tying them to your monthly income.

On most plans, the payments range between 10% and 20% of your discretionary income, and if you make them on time, the balance is eligible to be forgiven in 20 or 25 years.. As mentioned, though, the new SAVE plan may offer loan forgiveness after just 10 years, depending on your original loan balance. Plus, starting in July 2024 it will cut monthly payments on undergraduate loans in half. For most borrowers, the SAVE plan will likely offer the most affordable monthly payments. However, parent loans are not eligible for SAVE. If you’re a parent borrower, your only option for an income-driven plan is Income-Contingent Repayment.

Private student loans are also not eligible for income-driven repayment, and most private lenders don’t offer this option. If you’re struggling to afford your private student loan bills, though, it’s worth explaining your situation to the lender and seeing if they can work with you on a feasible repayment plan. It’s in their interest to continue collecting even partial payments from you, rather than seeing payments stop altogether and having to go through the trouble of lawsuits or referrals to collection agencies.

Why You May Want to Consider Refinancing

Another potential long-term solution to unaffordable payments is student loan refinancing. With a private lender like SoFi, you can refinance federal student loans, private loans, or both. Refinancing involves obtaining a new loan to pay off all of your old ones and committing to the new terms and interest rate.

Refinancing your student loans can make sense if you qualify for a lower interest rate, which, depending on the term you choose, may be able to cut down the money you spend in interest over the life of your loan. Or, if you choose a longer term than you originally had when refinancing, you could lower your monthly payments, which can make the loan more affordable for you now. You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.

When you refinance with SoFi, you won’t pay any origination fees to refinance, and if your financial situation improves down the line and you want to pay off your loan faster, you won’t face prepayment penalties. It takes just two minutes online to figure out whether you qualify and the potential rates you can obtain.

The Takeaway

Missing student loan payments can have serious consequences, including entering default and damaging your credit score. Fortunately, borrowers have some leeway through September 2024 as they adjust to making payments on their federal loans again. However, private student loans offer no such benefit.

Refinancing could be an option to consider for borrowers looking to secure a lower interest rate. Consider SoFi — where there are zero fees for refinancing student loans and qualifying borrowers can secure a competitive interest rate.

Hoping to get a handle on your student debt? Look into whether refinancing your student loans with SoFi could help you lower your payments or save money in the long term.

FAQ

What happens if I’m late on a student loan payment?

If you are late on a student loan payment, the loan may be considered delinquent. The loan will remain delinquent until a payment is made, or other arrangements — such as deferment or forbearance — are made. Through Sep. 30, 2024, missing payments on your federal loan payments won’t cause them to go into delinquency or default thanks to the student loan on-ramp.

Does a late payment on a student loan affect credit?

A late payment may have a negative impact on your credit score. With the exception of the student loan on-ramp through the fall of 2024, federal loans are normally reported to the credit bureau if they remain delinquent for 90 days. Private student lenders may report a late payment to credit bureaus after 30 days.

What happens if you miss a student loan payment by 270 days?

If you fail to make payments on your federal student loan for 270 days, the student loan will enter default (again, with the exception of the temporary student loan on-ramp). Consequences of default can be serious, such as the total balance of the loan becoming due immediately.

Private student loans may be considered in default after 90 days.

SoFi Loan Products
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Student Loan Refinancing
If you are a federal student loan borrower you should take time now to prepare for your payments to restart, including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.) Please note that once you refinance federal student loans, you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans, such as the SAVE Plan, or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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Source: sofi.com