Paying for College

Still in school, or helping someone who is? The cheapest student loan is the one you never take. These guides cover federal loans first, private loans only if you need them, and ways to borrow less.

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The guides to read first.

Private student loans

Stafford loans explained

Are loans worth it?

Ways to pay for college

Borrowing for school

Federal loans first, private loans only to fill a gap.

4 guides

College choices and money

Degrees, housing and money habits that cut what you borrow.

4 guides

Explore other topics

Student Loan Basics5 guides Repayment Plans5 guides Forgiveness and PSLF4 guides Behind on Payments2 guides Refinance and Consolidate10 guides Pay Off Faster6 guides Budget While You Repay6 guides Side Income15 guides

BEAT STUDENT LOANSPlain-English help paying off student loans

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Beat Student Loans is the plain-English guide to paying off your student loans. We explain repayment plans, forgiveness, default and refinancing in everyday words, check the rules against official sources like StudentAid.gov, and build free calculators so you can run your own numbers.

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Repayment Plans

PSLF and Forgiveness

Behind on Payments

Calculators and Tools

Resources

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