This feels like a dumb question, but when using the loan calculator on StudentAid, all the talk about the benefits and drawbacks of consolidation on your potential repayment plans is confusing me.

I am currently on SAVE and preparing for the next step within 90 days, as I got my email from MOHELA last week.

I am eligible for PSLF, and want to maintain that eligibility.

My first loans originated in 2000, according to studentaid.gov, though I know I took loans before then in the late 90's (I attended university full time starting in 1998 with Federal loans). I always had subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

I consolidated my loans (I thought) in 2019 to join the SAVE repayment plan, but that resulted in TWO Direct Consolidation Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)

What you see in the pic is where I am with all this almost 26 years later.

In the Repayment Calculator, the interface is confusing... there are two buttons above the results which say "PSLF on" and "Consolidation on" and I can't tell if they are indicating that the results you see are with those options ARE turned on or if you have to click the buttons to turn those options on.

Anyway, with the PSLF button clicked, nothing appears to change in terms of eligible plans I can move to. With the Consolidation button presumably ON, I get fewer options and the RAP plan is slightly higher monthly payments with slightly longer terms, and higher interest.

I can't tell which version of the RAP plan applies to my loan set up! With the ability to see all possible worlds, but the inability to distinguish the options based on your actual loan structure, I'm just bloody confused.

If there's a detail that I can share that would help indicate the correct answer let me know, but if anyone can enlighten me based on what I provided here I would appreciate your help so much. Thanks in advance.

I’m writing this in a pretty panicked state so sorry for any errors. I am a US citizen that was approved to go to a Canadian university. I obviously fall right in the perfect spot to get no financial help through anyone anywhere. I need to find a loan company that will approve me, I am half managing to keep my cosigner on board. barely. We have taken a small loan through sallie mae years ago but the interest is just so horrible even with my cosigner having a perfect credit score. So we are looking for something with less interest. I can make payments while in school. we just need some reasonable. And the parent plus loan through fasfa i believe only falls on him? He doesn’t want that and I am completely okay with that I just need options. Any ideas?

Taking a huge salary cut and I need to refinance my student loan. I owe $60,000 and am paying $1,500 a month.
My new yearly salary is going to be around $62,000 a year and everywhere I’ve been trying to refinance with is rejecting me for low salary/high loan.
Does anyone have suggestions for loan agencies that will work with someone with a lower salary?
The goal is to make lower monthly payments over a longer period of time.
I have a 720 credit score.

I got a email from advantage on 7/1/26 that I have to pick a new plan in 90 days and I can only do this by sending them a document that’s on the website and fill it out. What is the last day I can send this? Payment resumes 10/1/26?

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Hello,

I recently qualified for my Federal student loans to be discharged. I know some have had luck getting their private student loans discharged due to their borrowers defense case being approved, even though borrowers defense is only for federal student loans. I wanted to see if anyone has been successful in getting their private student loans discharged through FirstMark Services? Originally my loan was through Wells Fargo, but then were bought out by Firstmark services. Any input is appreciated!! TYIA!!

Title pretty much summarizes the issue.

I was fortunate enough to have both of my consolidated student loans discharged by Income Driven Repayment in the summer of 2024.

My studentaid.gov didn’t show these loans as discharged until March 10th of this year. But nonetheless it showed the full amount of both accounts being discharged.

Looking into my Mohela account, I have 2 consolidated loan accounts. One of which is showing as discharged(they even owe me a refund)while the other still has a current balance equal to the remaining loan amount before discharge.

On the account that still has a balance I can see that there was a “claim payment” that matched the discharge amount but it seems to have been instantly reversed.

It says there is no payment due at this time and there hasn’t been one due for quite a while but I am curious if it is something I should call about or just leave it be and hope that they address it on their end.

I know in most cases the studentaid.gov site is the source of truth but just wanted to know if anyone has run into this before?

Hello guys
I received an admission letter from a German public university for bachelor's.
Can you please tell me about the education loan processing and blocked account conditions as I am facing some difficulties.

1. Which bank did you use?
   
2. Did they transfer the money in your personal bank account?
   
3. How much money did you disburse?
   
4. How much time did it take to process the loan?
   
5. What documents did the bank asked for ?
   
6. What was the rate of interest?
   
7. Moratorium period (Full moratorium or partial moratorium) ?
   
8. Are public banks like SBI better or NBFCs like Credilla better?

Hello everyone,

I'm writing this because I'm in a very difficult financial situation and I don't know where else to turn.

I live in Hungary and recently my former employer demanded that I repay the financial support they provided for my university studies after I terminated my study agreement.

According to the documents they sent me, they are claiming approximately 2,045,000 HUF (around €5,000). This includes salary, tuition reimbursement, and employer-paid social contributions. Paying this amount all at once is simply impossible for me and would put my entire family into serious financial hardship.

I have all the official documentation, including the study agreement, the termination documents, and the employer's repayment calculation. I can provide proof while removing any personal information if needed.

I'm not asking anyone to solve my legal case. I'm simply looking for any help, advice, or support that could help me get through this unexpected situation.

Even sharing this post would mean a lot to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

https://4fund.com/hu/4z8fk3

Hello, I am using the federal student loan online calculator to decide whether to do IBR or RAP.

I owe 266k (215k Direct Unsubsidized, the rest Direct Grad Plus). All my loans are from 2015 or later and they were all for graduate school.

I make around 80k annually. (Married filing separate, my spouse has no student loans).

Calculator on the federal student loan website has payoff date for RAP in 2056 despite the fact I have paid for ~5 years, but for IBR they do take these years into account and payoff date is in 2041.

My projected income in 2041 (the stated forgiveness year for IBR) is 107k, plus the forgiven amount 411k, equals ~520k which would give income tax bomb of ~180k. The calculator says I would have paid 84k from now until 2041 in monthly payments. So that would be total of about 264k (180+84).

My projected income in 2056 (the stated forgiveness year for RAP) is 145k, plus the forgiven amount 237k, equals ~380k which would be an income tax bomb of ~120k. The calculator says I would have paid 340k from now until 2056 in monthly payments. So that would be total of about 460k (120+340).

If RAP forgiveness is actually 2051 for me (i.e. they take into account the 5 years I've been paying via an income based plan), my projected income in 2051 (130k) plus the forgiven amount (about 240k) equals ~370k with income tax bomb of ~110k. And per my calculations, I would have paid 260k from now until 2051 in monthly payments. So that would be a total of about 370k (110+260).

My questions are as follows:

1. Is it correct that even though my loans were all for graduate school, IBR is only 20 years of repayment? For some reason I thought it was 25 for grad loans? Is my repayment term for grad loans only 20 years because I took the loans out after 2014 ("new IBR")?
2. Should I be thinking that my payoff date for RAP is 2056 (what the federal student loan website calculator says) or 2051? (As I mentioned, I have made about 5 years of payments on an income based repayment plan so far).
3. Part of me wants to go with RAP because it stresses me out to see my loan balance growing because I do not trust the government to forgive these loans - is that silly? Is new IBR forgiveness codified as law or could this be revoked in future?

Like the tittle said, I have about 9k in my saving account. I only earn about 2$ interest every month while my loan interest rate is 6.7%. I am currently a second year pharmacy student. I want to use the money to pay part of the school tuition, but I am scared of not having money in case of emergency. I am currently working part-time as an intern. Should I just not worry about the student loan until I graduate? I have read a lot of stories about people struggling to pay off their student loan and I am scared.

Hi everyone, I'm relatively new to Reddit and a first-time poster who needs advice ASAP. Sorry for the long post in advance, I think it's relevant background.

**My situation:** I'm currently taking prerequisites before starting an accelerated Master's program in January 2027. I just moved to my new school this past January and have depleted nearly all my savings (down to $2,000). Living expenses have risen since I arrived, and I'm struggling to afford housing, food, and tuition.

**Work:** I found a job two months after moving but recently had to quit due to my school schedule and medical flare-ups. I'm applying to multiple jobs now and have had one callback interview, but no luck so far. I'm hoping to work two jobs during my last semester of prerequisites, but my medical needs make that difficult.

**Grants/scholarships:** Since I'm taking undergrad prerequisites and don't have degree-seeking status, I don't qualify for most aid. I'm in a program at my school that offers me a guaranteed seat into a master's program once I have finished all the necessary requirements.

**In-state tuition:** I'm trying to qualify, which would significantly reduce costs. But I can't find a year-long lease that's both affordable and walkable to school (I don't have a car). I also can't afford the 2-3x rent deposit or furniture for a new place since my current one is furnished.

**What I've tried:** I've spoken with my dean of students and the financial aid office, but there's little they can do. I'm trying to change my FAFSA status from independent to dependent (even though I've been paying all rent and tuition), but my advisor isn't hopeful since I'm 22 and still in contact with my parents. The most I get currently from FAFSA is about $6,500.They suggested private loans but can't advise on amounts, lenders, or whether to take one large loan or multiple smaller ones.

**My current debt:** $26k in federal loans from undergrad.

**My Master's program:** $35k total tuition for 20 months (this doesn't cover groceries, rent, books, or other living expenses). They also don't recommend working during the program due to the pace and material being covered. I've also looked at other schools during my process, but this is still the best option for me educationally and financially.

**My dad's suggestion:** Take out at least $54k, but that feels like a lot given my existing debt. I also don't feel like I would get approved for this because I don't have a cosigner and would defer until I'm out of school.

**Timeline:** I need help immediately as tuition is due in August, and I need to move out of my current place in 10 days (need money for rent and a security deposit). I've also looked at the option of taking a semester off, but then I would lose my health insurance, might need to start paying fasfa back, and it could cause me to lose my seat in the master's program (they only allow students to start in spring/summer terms).

**What I'm asking:**

1. Should I take one large private loan or multiple smaller ones?
   
2. What's a decent APR for private student loans right now?
   
3. Any recommendations for reliable lenders (especially ones that don't require a cosigner)?
   
4. Any other options I might be missing?

I'd really appreciate any advice. Thank you.