Federal student loans default to a 10-year Standard Repayment plan, but extended terms up to 25 years are available — and most calculators only show you one schedule at a time, hiding the real tradeoff.
Federal student loan interest rate 2026, the actual numbers
For loans first disbursed between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, the US Department of Education set rates at 6.52% for undergraduate Direct Loans, 8.07% for graduate Direct Loans, and 9.07% for PLUS loans — all fixed for the life of the loan.
Student loan repayment term comparison, side by side
On a $30,000 undergraduate loan at 6.52%: the 10-year Standard plan costs $340.95/month with $10,913.92 in total interest. Stretch to 25 years and the payment drops to $202.94/month — nearly $140 less — but total interest climbs to $30,881.17, almost triple.
Extended repayment vs standard repayment calculator, the real decision
Neither term is universally "better" — a lower payment can make monthly budgeting easier or free up cash for other goals, while the shorter term saves nearly $20,000 in this example. Seeing 10, 15, 20, and 25-year terms together, rather than one at a time, makes that tradeoff concrete instead of abstract.
