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// the long tail of education debt
Student debt has a long tail.
A standard 10-year plan is one thing; a 25-year extended plan is another entirely. Compare the totals before choosing.
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⚡ What if you paid extra?
save $0Where every dollar paid has gone — principal vs interest
| Year | Principal | Interest | Cum. Interest | Balance |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much interest accrues on a standard 10-year plan?
On $40,000 at 6%, roughly $13,000. Stretch the same balance to 25 years and total interest more than triples — use the term slider to see it.
Do extra payments work on student loans?
Yes — US federal loans have no prepayment penalty. Ensure extra amounts are applied to principal, not advanced as future payments.
Should I pay the highest-rate loan first?
Mathematically yes (the avalanche method): rank loans by rate and direct extra payments at the most expensive one. Run each loan here to rank them.
Does this work for income-driven plans?
Income-driven plans have variable payments, so this fixed-payment model approximates them. It's exact for standard and extended fixed plans.
📖 Related guide: Extra payments vs investing the difference