Key Takeaways
- On average, undergraduate borrowers take 17 years to repay their loans, according to a survey by Research.com
- Graduate and professional school borrowers are in repayment for 23 years, on average.
- Switching payment plans and periods of deferment can affect how long it takes to repay your loans.
If you’re in college, there’s a good chance you took out student loans to help with some of the cost. According to The College Board, 47% of bachelor’s degree recipients graduated with outstanding student loans in 2024.
How long does it take to pay off student loans? It’s a common question since your loans can affect your monthly cash flow and your other financial goals. Most borrowers are in repayment for more than 15 years, but how long it will take to repay your loans depends on your loan type, payment plan, and whether you make extra payments.
Average Time to Repay Student Loans
As of the end of 2025, there were over $1.8 trillion in outstanding federal and private student loans, according to Enterval Analytics. How long you’ll need to repay your loans depends on the loan type and repayment plans available.
Federal Student Loans
For federal student loans, the default or standard repayment plan is 10 years, and repayment begins after the student graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time status. However, many federal loan borrowers end up taking longer than 10 years to repay their loans thanks to alternative repayment plans. Depending on the plan, borrowers could be in repayment for as long as 30 years.
Below is how long borrowers have to repay their loans under each federal repayment plan:
| Payment Plan | Eligible Loans | Duration |
| Standard Repayment Plan | Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized PLUS Loans Direct Consolidation | 10 years |
| Graduated Repayment Plan | Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized PLUS Loans Direct Consolidation Loans | 10 years (30 years if you consolidate with a Direct Consolidation Loan) |
| Extended Repayment Plan | Borrowers must have $30,000 or more in qualifying loans: Direct Subsidized and UnsubsidizedPLUS LoansDirect Consolidation | 25 years |
| Income-Based Repayment (IBR) | Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized PLUS Loans Direct Consolidation | 20 years (for borrowers who took out loans on or after July 1, 2014) |
| Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) | Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized PLUS Loans Direct Consolidation | 25 years |
| Pay As You Earn (PAYE) | Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized PLUS Loans Direct Consolidation | 20 years |
Source: Federal Student Aid
Private Student Loans
Private student loans make up a much smaller slice of the student loan market than federal loans. Student loan repayment terms vary by lender, but borrowers can usually select a repayment period between five and 20 years.
Some student loan borrowers will be in repayment longer if they qualify for a deferment or forbearance or refinance their loans and select a longer term.
Factors That Affect Your Time In Repayment
The following factors can affect your repayment term:
In-School Payments
Depending on the loan type and the payment plan you choose, you may not have to make payments while you’re in school. However, delaying payment until after graduation may cause more interest to accrue and capitalize (meaning the interest is added to the principal balance), so you’ll pay more in interest and be in debt longer.
Payment Plans
Some payment plans, such as income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, base your payments on a percentage of your discretionary income and have longer loan terms. Opting for an alternative payment plan can make your student loan payment amounts more affordable, but you’ll be in debt for much longer.
Loan Deferments and Forbearance
If you lose your job or become ill, you may be eligible for a loan deferment or forbearance and postpone your loan payments. While deferring the payments can give you some short-term relief, it will cause you to be in debt longer. And, if your loans are unsubsidized, more student loan interest will accrue, adding to your total amount.
Loan Consolidation or Refinancing
If you consolidate or refinance your loans, you can choose a new loan term. Opting for a longer term can give you a lower monthly payment, but your loan will be in repayment for more time.
How to Pay Off Your Student Loans Faster
Student loans can take 10 to 30 years to pay off. If you want to pay off your loans faster (and save money on interest), follow these tips:
- Make payments while in school or during the grace period: If you can afford to, make payments toward your loans while you’re still in college or during the loan grace period. Even small payments can chip away at the interest, helping you get out of debt sooner.
- Pay more than the minimum payment amount: Under default repayment plans, you have a fixed monthly payment that stays the same for the duration of the loan. Paying a little extra toward your loans each month — even an extra $10 or $20 — can make a difference over time.
- Sign up for automatic payments: Some lenders offer an interest rate discount if you sign up for autopay, so less interest will accrue over time.
- Use your windfalls: If you get any unexpected windfalls, like a tax refund or a cash gift, apply it to your loans to reduce the amount of interest that builds.
- Refinance your loans: If you have loans with higher interest rates, student loan refinancing could allow you to secure a lower rate and pay off your debt faster. With ELFI, you can check your rates without affecting your credit score.
FAQs
How long do student loans typically take to pay off?
In general, borrowers take 17 years to repay their undergraduate student loans, and graduate student loans take 23 years to repay.
How long does it take to pay off $40,000 in student loans?
How long it will take depends on what payment plan you choose and how much extra cash you can put toward your student loan debt. Typically, you can expect repayment to take more than 10 years with a loan balance of $40,000 or more.
Can you pay off student loans early?
Yes, you can make extra payments and pay off your student loans early without penalty.
