Likely paid off on schedule

Our projection that, at what a program's graduates typically earn, the payments fit and the loan clears as scheduled. Many factors can impact this, check out your results to see what the anticipated payment schedule is to make this happen.

Unlikely to ever be paid off

Our projection that, at typical earnings for a program, payments likely never outrun interest — 30 years of paying, then a write-off and a tax bill.

RAP

The federal income-based repayment plan: your income — not your balance — sets the payment on federal student loans.

The tax bomb

A balance "forgiven" at year 30 counts as income that year — and the IRS taxes it.

Stafford loan

The student's own federal loan — capped by law, income-based plans available, written off after 30 years.

Parent PLUS

A federal loan in the PARENT'S name — higher rate, fixed payments, no income plan, no write-off.

Private loan

A bank loan with none of the federal protections: no cap, no income plan, no forgiveness — usually cosigned by family.

Net price

What you actually pay after scholarships and grants — the only price that matters to the math.

Today's dollars

A dollar in 2060 is worth less than one now — we discount future money so every estimate is one comparable number.

Student loan analysis

Our projection for the student's own federal loans: the amount, the likely payment, and the likely payoff timeline.

Family loan analysis

The same projection for the parents' and private debt — the part with no income-based plan and no write-off.

Foregone wages

The likely paychecks you give up while in school — a real cost of college no award letter shows.