How Long Will It Take to Pay Off Student Loans? Timelines for $10K – $200K

Paying off student loans can take anywhere from five to 30 years, depending on your loan type, balance, and repayment plan. Federal loans often default to a 10-year term, while private loans vary by lender. In this guide, you’ll see example repayment timelines for balances from $10,000 to $200,000, learn what affects how long repayment takes, and explore strategies to pay off your loans faster.

No matter how much you owe, understanding your repayment timeline helps you plan. Let’s look at how long it could take to pay off your student loans—and how to shorten that time if you want to be debt-free sooner.

Average student loan repayment time

How long does it actually take to pay off student loans?

A report from the Education Data Initiative (EDI) shows the repayment timeline varies widely depending on loan type, amount, and degree pursued.

• The average borrower takes 20 years to repay student loans.
• 43% of borrowers are on a standard plan targeting repayment in 10 years or less with fixed payments.
• Professional graduates often take more than 45 years to repay their loans, particularly in medicine and law, where debt loads are high relative to early-career salaries.
• 21% of borrowers see their total debt balance increase within the first five years of repayment, often due to interest accrual under income-driven plans or forbearance use.

Undergraduate repayment examples (Class of 2024)

*10% of typical starting gross income. †10% of typical starting net income. Example assumes $37,850 average debt at 5.50% APR. (EDI, July 2024)

Historical vs. recent repayment timelines

• In 2013, a national study found the average repayment length was 21.1 years. (EDI citing 61,000 respondents)
• More recent surveys show repayment times have shortened slightly to ~18.5 years, though these polls included only ages 26–45 and may not capture older borrowers. (EDI, 2024)

How long does it take me to pay off different student loan amounts?

The tables below show example monthly payments and total interest for common student loan amounts at 6% interest rates, based on repayment terms of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years. These are estimates only.

$10,000 student loan repayment timeline

$20,000 student loan repayment timeline

$30,000 student loan repayment timeline

$40,000 student loan repayment timeline

$50,000 student loan repayment timeline

$100,000 student loan repayment timeline

$200,000 student loan repayment timeline

Extra payments: The fastest way to pay off your loans

If you want to pay off your student loans faster:

• Pay extra each month: Even small extra payments reduce principal and interest costs.
• Make biweekly payments: Paying half your monthly repayment amount every two weeks results in one extra full payment per year.
• Apply windfalls: Tax refunds, bonuses, or gifts can significantly cut your balance.
• Refinance to a shorter term: This increases monthly payments but reduces your payoff time and total interest.

What affects how long it takes to pay off your student loans?

How long it takes to pay off student loans depends on your repayment plan, loan amount, income, and interest rate.

Repayment plan

Your repayment plan has the biggest impact. Federal standard plans take 10 years, but extended or income-driven plans can stretch up to 30 years. Private loans have set terms, usually five to 25 years.

Compare term lengths:

Loan amount

The more you borrow, the longer it often takes to pay off. Smaller loans accrue less interest, making faster repayment easier. For example, paying off a $10,000 loan over 10 years costs ~$2,728 in interest, while paying off a $50,000 loan over 10 years costs ~$13,639. If high payments are unaffordable, extending your term lowers payments but increases total interest.

Income

Income affects both repayment plan eligibility and your ability to pay extra. Higher earners may pay off loans faster, while those with lower incomes often rely on income-driven plans with longer timelines.

Interest rates

Higher interest rates increase total repayment costs. For example, a $40,000 loan at 10% costs ~$424/month, while at 12%, it jumps to ~$574/month. If payments are too high, extending the term lowers monthly costs but increases total interest paid.

How to shorten or extend your repayment timeline

Your repayment plan and loan terms may determine how long it takes to pay off your student loans, but you can take several steps to shorten or extend the time frame.

What can shorten your repayment term?

• Pay more than the minimum each month
• Refinance to a shorter term (Note: Monthly payments will be higher, but you’ll pay off loans faster). If you’re exploring this option, Credible is a top student loan refinance marketplace where you can compare offers from multiple lenders in minutes.
• Make payments while in school to reduce accrued interest
• Use windfalls (bonuses, tax refunds) for extra payments
• Make biweekly payments to reduce interest faster

What can lengthen your repayment term?

• Choose an extended or income-driven repayment plan
• Consolidate loans for new 10- to 30-year terms
• Refinance to a longer term (Note: This often means higher total interest)
• Defer payments or use forbearance (federal loans only; private lender options vary)

What’s the right repayment timeline for you?

There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline. Consider your loan balances, interest rates, income, expenses, and financial goals. Shorter terms mean higher payments but less interest paid, while longer terms lower monthly payments but increase total cost.

If you’d like help figuring out the right repayment timeline for you, check out our student loan payoff calculator. 

With this tool, you can plug in your current loan balance, interest rate, and term, and then compare how much you’ll pay by changing your repayment timeline. You can also check out strategies to help you pay off your student loans faster.