Student loan calculator

Enter what you expect to borrow. See the monthly payment, total interest and how it compares with your starting pay.

Fixed-rate monthly payment on a level repayment schedule. Federal loans also charge an up-front fee (1.057% for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, 4.228% for PLUS loans disbursed October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2027), not included here. Income-driven plans, including the new Repayment Assistance Plan available from July 1, 2026, set payments by income instead. Rates: Federal Student Aid.

2026-27 federal loan rates

For federal Direct Loans first disbursed from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, rates are fixed for the life of the loan:

Loan	Rate
Undergraduate Subsidized and Unsubsidized	6.52%
Graduate and professional Unsubsidized	8.07%
PLUS (parents and grad students)	9.07%

Source: Federal Student Aid, rates announcement.

New limits from July 1, 2026

For new borrowers, Grad PLUS loans end, graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 a year ($100,000 total) and professional students up to $50,000 a year ($200,000 total). Parent PLUS loans are capped at $20,000 a year and $65,000 total per student. Source: FSA loan limits FAQ.

A rule of thumb

Try to keep total student debt below one year of the salary you expect to start at. Every college page on this site shows median debt and earnings, and every major shows what graduates earn.

Frequently asked questions

What is the student loan interest rate for 2026-27?

6.52% for undergraduate Direct Loans, 8.07% for graduate Unsubsidized loans and 9.07% for PLUS loans first disbursed July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How long does it take to pay off student loans?

The standard federal plan is 10 years. Longer plans lower the monthly payment but cost more interest overall.