DelDebtHow long it takes to pay off student loans depends on your repayment plan and how much you pay. On the classic federal Standard Repayment Plan, Direct Loans are paid off within 10 years. For federal loans made on or after July 1, 2026, the new Tiered Standard plan sets a fixed term of 10, 15, 20 or 25 years based on how much you owe. Income-based plans can run much longer, and paying extra can cut years off any of them. Enter your balance, rate and payment below to see your own timeline.
How to use the calculator
The calculator works on one loan with a fixed rate:
- Loan balance: what you owe today, from your servicer or lender.
- Interest rate: the rate on that loan. If you have several loans, enter the total balance and a weighted average rate for a rough answer.
- Monthly payment: what you pay now.
- Extra per month: an amount you could add on top.
You get the number of months to pay off the loan at your current payment and the total interest, the same with the extra payment, and a table of the monthly payment and total interest for a 10, 15, 20 and 25-year term. Interest is charged at the rate divided by 12 each month. Federal loans accrue interest daily, so your servicer's numbers will differ slightly.
Income-driven plans set your payment from your income instead of your balance, so the calculator doesn't model them.
Federal repayment terms in 2026
Federal student loan rules changed in 2025–2026. A law signed on July 4, 2025, which the Department of Education calls the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (it was previously referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), reshaped repayment plans. The Department's final rule took effect on July 1, 2026. Here's what it means for the length of repayment:
| Your loans | Fixed-payment plan | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Loans made before July 1, 2026 (and no new loan since) | Standard | Up to 10 years |
| Direct Loans, if you received a Direct Loan on or after July 1, 2026 | Tiered Standard | 10 to 25 years, based on total balance |
The Tiered Standard term depends on the total amount of your Direct Loans when you enter repayment:
| Total Direct Loans | Must be repaid within |
|---|---|
| Less than $25,000 | 10 years |
| $25,000 to $49,999 | 15 years |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 20 years |
| $100,000 or more | 25 years |
Payments on both plans are at least $50 a month. Direct Consolidation Loans on the older standard plan also get longer terms that grow with the total balance. For loans made before July 1, 2026, graduated and extended plans also still exist.
The income-based option for new loans is the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), which sets payments as a share of income. Under the final rule, RAP forgives any remaining balance after 360 qualifying payments, which is 30 years. Older income-driven plans generally forgave after 20 or 25 years of payments.
Rules like these can keep changing, and which ones apply depends on when each of your loans was made. Check studentaid.gov and your servicer before choosing a plan. The rule itself is published in the Federal Register.
Private student loans follow your loan agreement. Terms are set by the lender, so look at your contract or statement for the payoff date.
Worked example: $35,000 at 6%
Take a $35,000 loan at 6% interest, the calculator's starting example. Here's what each term means:
| Term | Monthly payment | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $388.57 | $11,628.61 |
| 15 years | $295.35 | $18,162.98 |
| 20 years | $250.75 | $25,180.21 |
| 25 years | $225.51 | $32,651.65 |
Stretching from 10 to 25 years lowers the payment by $163.06 a month but almost triples the interest. Every extra five years adds roughly $6,500 to $7,500 in interest on this loan.
Under the Tiered Standard plan, a $35,000 balance falls into the 15-year tier, so the required payment would be about $295 instead of $389. That's easier on your budget, but it costs $6,534.37 more in interest than paying it off in 10 years. Nothing stops you from paying the 10-year amount voluntarily.
The same comparison at other balances, all at 6%:
| Balance | Tiered Standard term | Payment | Total interest | Interest if paid in 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | 10 years | $222.04 | $6,644.92 | $6,644.92 |
| $35,000 | 15 years | $295.35 | $18,162.98 | $11,628.61 |
| $60,000 | 20 years | $429.86 | $43,166.07 | $19,934.76 |
| $120,000 | 25 years | $773.16 | $111,948.50 | $39,869.52 |
On a $120,000 balance, the 25-year term costs $72,078.98 more in interest than a 10-year payoff. The 10-year payment on that balance would be $1,332.25 a month, which is out of reach for many borrowers. The tiers exist for a reason, but the longer you take, the more you pay.
How extra payments shorten the timeline
Back to the $35,000 loan at 6%. Paying $390 a month clears it in 120 months with $11,565.94 in interest. Here's what extra money each month does:
| Extra per month | Paid off in | Total interest | Time saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | 120 months | $11,565.94 | — |
| $50 | 102 months | $9,731.65 | 18 months |
| $100 | 89 months | $8,408.06 | 31 months |
| $200 | 71 months | $6,621.67 | 49 months |
| $300 | 59 months | $5,469.64 | 61 months |
An extra $100 a month finishes the loan two and a half years early and saves $3,157.88. Make sure your servicer applies extra payments to principal rather than to future payments; we cover how in how to pay off student loans faster, along with when refinancing makes sense and which loan to target first. To test a one-time lump sum instead of a monthly extra, use the extra payment calculator.
When a longer timeline is the right call
Paying off student loans as fast as possible isn't always the best move:
- Forgiveness programs. If you're working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, paying early just shrinks the balance that would be forgiven. Check which repayment plans count toward PSLF on studentaid.gov: according to the final rule, payments under the Tiered Standard plan don't qualify.
- Higher-interest debt. A credit card at 25% costs far more than a student loan at 6%. Pay the required student loan payment and send extra money to the card first.
- No emergency fund. Extra payments can't be taken back. A small cash cushion keeps one surprise bill from landing on a credit card. See pay off debt or save.
Student loans usually sit next to other debts. The DelDebt planner lets you enter each loan with its own balance, rate, payment and due date alongside your cards and car loan, choose a payoff order, log payments and get reminders. It works without an account.
FAQ
How long does it take to pay off student loans on the standard plan?
For federal Direct Loans made before July 1, 2026, the Standard Repayment Plan pays them off within 10 years. For borrowers who receive a Direct Loan on or after July 1, 2026, the Tiered Standard plan sets 10, 15, 20 or 25 years depending on the total balance.
How long does it take to pay off $35,000 in student loans?
At 6% interest, it takes 10 years at about $389 a month, or 15 years at about $295 a month. Adding $100 a month to a $390 payment cuts it to 89 months.
How long does it take to pay off $100,000 in student loans?
At 6% interest, a 10-year payoff takes about $1,110 a month, and a 25-year term brings the payment down to about $644. Your own rate changes these numbers, so run your balance through the calculator.
Is it better to pay off student loans in 10 years or 20?
Ten years costs much less interest: on $35,000 at 6%, about $11,629 versus $25,180 over 20 years. A longer term only makes sense if the lower payment frees money for higher-interest debt or savings, or you're pursuing forgiveness.
Do extra payments shorten my federal student loan term?
Yes, if they go to principal. Ask your servicer to apply extra payments to principal on a specific loan instead of advancing your next due date, then check your next statement.