How accurate is the income-driven estimate?

Treat it as a rough approximation, not a quote. It uses the long-standing income-driven convention — roughly 10% of your discretionary income, where discretionary income is your AGI minus 150% of the federal poverty guideline for your household. The actual federal income-driven plans and their formulas are changing, so use the official Loan Simulator at studentaid.gov for the figure that will actually apply to you.

Should I refinance my federal student loans to lower the payment?

Usually not without real caution. Refinancing federal loans with a private lender permanently gives up income-driven repayment, forgiveness programs like PSLF, and federal forbearance — and that decision cannot be reversed. Refinancing tends to make sense for private loans, or for federal borrowers with strong, stable finances who knowingly accept the trade-off. If there is any chance you will need federal protections, keep federal loans federal.

Does refinancing guarantee I will save money?

No. No lender can promise a rate or savings before reviewing your credit, income, balance, and term. A shorter term can raise the monthly payment even while lowering total interest; a longer term lowers the monthly payment but increases lifetime cost. Compare real prequalified offers and run the full-cost numbers before committing.

Do you collect the numbers I enter?

No. Every calculation runs in your browser — nothing you type is sent to us or stored. If a result links to a provider, you are sent to that provider's own website; we never collect your financial information.

Student loan repayment estimator

See roughly what your student loans cost each month on the standard 10-year plan versus an income-driven estimate — and, if your loans are private, whether refinancing might lower your rate. The standard figure is exact; the income-driven figure is an approximation, with a pointer to the official federal tool. Everything runs in your browser; we don't see or store your numbers.

How the estimate works

Standard 10-year plan is straight amortization of your balance at your rate over 120 months — the same math a servicer uses. This figure is exact for the inputs you give.
Income-driven estimate approximates the older income-driven convention: about 10% of your discretionary income, where discretionary income is your AGI minus 150% of the federal poverty guideline for your household size (2026 guidelines). It's an illustration — the federal plans are in flux, so confirm with the official Loan Simulator.
Private loans don't have federal income-driven plans. There, the lever is refinancing to a lower rate when your credit and income support it.

The one thing not to get wrong

Refinancing federal loans with a private lender permanently ends federal protections — income-driven repayment, PSLF and other forgiveness, and federal hardship forbearance. That trade is irreversible. This tool deliberately sends federal borrowers to the free government options first, and only routes private-loan refinancing to a marketplace, because that's the honest split.

What to do with the number

If your standard payment is uncomfortable and your loans are federal, get your real income-driven figure at studentaid.gov before anything else. If your loans are private and your credit is strong, comparing refinance offers is the move — just remember no lender can promise savings in advance, so compare real prequalified rates and check the full lifetime cost, not only the monthly payment.

Student loan repayment estimator

How the estimate works

The one thing not to get wrong

What to do with the number

Have private student loans?

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