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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Use Federal Student Aid’s Repayment Calculator to estimate federal student loan payments and compare repayment plans. It can show estimated monthly payments, interest and total paid, payoff dates, and—where relevant—possible discharge amounts. Treat the results as scenarios, not an approved payment: your servicer sets final terms after processing your application.
What the student loan calculator estimates
Federal Student Aid’s online Repayment Calculator, formerly called Loan Simulator, can estimate which federal repayment plans may fit the loans and information you enter. Depending on the plan and your circumstances, results can include:
- Estimated monthly payment and an explanation of how it is calculated.
- Estimated principal and interest paid, total paid, and payoff date.
- A possible discharge amount when a plan or program may apply.
- Comparisons sorted by monthly payment, total paid, or fastest payoff.
Federal Student Aid says, “The results provided by our Repayment Calculator are estimates only.” A calculator result is not an approved payment amount. After you apply and your servicer processes the information, the servicer determines your final terms, including the monthly payment.
How to use the Repayment Calculator
- Choose how to provide loan information. Enter loan details manually, or sign in and consent to retrieval of available loan details and federal tax information. Access to retrieved information depends on your loan program and choices.
- Enter or review your household and income details. These details matter for income-based plan estimates. Federal Family Education Loan Program borrowers cannot import federal tax information under Federal Student Aid’s August 2026 guidance, so they must enter income manually.
- Review the plans the calculator identifies. Eligibility depends on loan type and when the loans were first disbursed. A plan appearing in a comparison is an estimate based on the information provided; confirm eligibility before applying.
- Compare the measures that matter to you. Sort by monthly payment, total paid, or fastest payoff, then inspect the interest, term, and payoff date rather than choosing solely by the lowest monthly amount.
- Confirm terms with your servicer before relying on a figure. The estimate does not replace an application or the final terms set after processing.
How to compare repayment plans
Federal Student Aid describes both fixed-payment and income-based repayment plans. For fixed-payment plans, the monthly amount is based on loan amount, interest rate, and a set repayment period. Income-based payments vary with income and family size. The repayment-plan overview explains plan families and eligibility context.
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| Comparison | What it helps you assess |
|---|---|
| Monthly payment | Whether the estimated bill is manageable in your budget. |
| Total paid and interest paid | The longer-term cost. Similar monthly payments can lead to different totals. |
| Payoff date and repayment term | How long payments may continue. A longer period can lower the monthly amount while increasing interest over time. |
| Eligibility | Whether your loan type and disbursement history may qualify; verify before applying. |
| Possible discharge or forgiveness | Whether the scenario reflects a program that may apply, subject to its requirements—not a guarantee. |
Check both the monthly bill and total cost
A lower monthly payment is not automatically the least expensive option. A longer repayment period can mean more interest and a higher total paid, even when monthly amounts look similar. Use the calculator’s lifetime figures alongside the monthly estimate when deciding which trade-off fits your needs.
Treat forgiveness and discharge as conditional
For Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Federal Student Aid states that eligible borrowers must make 120 qualifying monthly payments. A calculator may show estimates with PSLF considered, but its result does not establish eligibility or guarantee forgiveness. Review program conditions and confirm your circumstances with Federal Student Aid or your servicer.
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Why your actual payment or total cost may differ
Estimates rely on the loan information, eligibility, and income details available to the calculator, as well as the tool’s current features and assumptions. Changes in any of those inputs can change the result. The servicer’s processed application—not the estimate—determines final terms.
Interest during pauses can raise costs
Interest may accrue while payments are paused. If unpaid interest capitalizes, it is added to principal, and future interest is calculated on the higher balance. That can increase total cost and, depending on the plan, the monthly payment. Federal Student Aid explains interest accrual and capitalization; the CFPB also warns that forbearance and some deferments can raise principal and future payments through interest and capitalization. See the CFPB’s federal student loan repayment guidance.
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What this calculator does—and does not—cover
The Repayment Calculator is a government tool for comparing federal student loan repayment scenarios. It can help you frame choices around affordability, total cost, and timing, but it does not approve a plan, establish forgiveness eligibility, or set your final bill. Use the result as an estimate to discuss with your servicer before making a repayment decision.
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