Student Loans · 13 guides · 4 tools
Know the rate and the payment before you borrow.
Federal and private loans compared, the repayment plans open now, and what forgiveness still covers. Rates and limits come from Federal Student Aid.
Guides by question
What do you need to know?
Which loan should I take?
How federal and private loans differ on rates, repayment and forgiveness.
- Federal vs Private Student Loans: 2026-27 Rules Federal loans first: 2026-27 undergrad loans carry a fixed 6.52% rate, no credit check and income-based repayment. Here's when a private loan makes sense. 9 min read · Updated Ends in the aid check
- Parent PLUS loan limit 2026: $65,000 per student New Parent PLUS loans are capped at $20,000 a year and $65,000 per student across all parents. Who keeps the old limits, and what a four-year plan looks like. 6 min read · Updated Ends in the aid check
Borrowing for grad school
What a master’s or professional degree can borrow under the 2026 limits.
- How much can you borrow for a master's in 2026? New graduate borrowers can take $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total in federal loans. Grad PLUS closed July 1, 2026. What that covers and how to fill the gap. 7 min read · Updated Ends in the Grad Loan Gap Check
- Nursing master's loan limits in 2026: MSN and DNP Since a June 24, 2026 court order, MSN and DNP programs get professional-degree loan limits: $50,000 a year, not $20,500. Why it may change, and how to plan. 6 min read · Updated Ends in the ROI Calculator
Repaying now
The plans open now, the SAVE exit and the auto pay rate cut.
- Going back to school with old loans: the 2026 RAP rule Take one new federal loan after July 1, 2026 and every Direct Loan you hold, old ones too, must be repaid under RAP or Tiered Standard. What changes for you. 8 min read · Updated Ends in the aid check
- SAVE plan status in 2026: what borrowers do now A March 10, 2026 court order ended SAVE. Borrowers in its forbearance must pick RAP, IBR, PAYE or ICR. See 2026 payment math for each plan. 7 min read · Updated Ends in the Loan Repayment Calculator
- Leaving SAVE: RAP vs Tiered Standard in real numbers SAVE borrowers have 90 days from their notice to pick a new plan, or the servicer picks for them. RAP, Tiered Standard and IBR payments worked out. 8 min read · Updated Ends in the Loan Repayment Calculator
- Student loan auto pay rate reduction: deadline Dec. 31, 2026 Enroll in auto pay by Dec. 31, 2026 and your Direct Loan rate drops 1 point through June 30, 2028. Who qualifies, what it saves and how to sign up. 6 min read · Updated Ends in the Loan Repayment Calculator
- In-school deferment at half time: what it costs in 2026 Enroll at least half time and federal loans go into in-school deferment, usually automatically. What it costs in interest, and what it does to forgiveness. 6 min read · Updated Ends in the aid check
Forgiveness and taxes
The programs that still forgive a balance, PSLF Buyback and what a discharge costs at tax time.
- Student loan forgiveness in 2026: what still works PSLF has forgiven $96.4 billion through August 2026. Here's who qualifies for PSLF, income-driven discharge and Teacher Loan Forgiveness now, and what's taxed. 7 min read · Updated Ends in the Loan Repayment Calculator
- PSLF Buyback is closed for RAP months: what to know Months spent on RAP or Tiered Standard can't be bought back for PSLF credit. Who loses the safety net, which months still qualify and what to do first. 7 min read · Updated Ends in the Loan Repayment Calculator
- Is student loan forgiveness taxable in 2026? It can be Income-driven forgiveness after Jan. 1, 2026 can count as federal income again. PSLF stays tax-free. Who owes, what it costs and how to plan for it. 7 min read · Updated Ends in the Loan Repayment Calculator
Behind on payments or in default
How to get a defaulted loan back in good standing and your federal aid back.
Tools for this topic
- What will I owe? Loan Repayment Calculator Monthly payment and total cost under the federal repayment plans. See my payment
- Going to grad school? Grad Loan Gap Check See how much of a master’s or professional program federal loans still cover since July 2026, and the gap left. Check my gap
- Already have an offer? Aid Letter Decoder Split an award letter into free money, loans and what you’d still owe. Decode my letter
Where these figures come from
Every number links to the page it came from.
We quote the government source directly and note the date we last read it. A top amount is labelled as a top amount, never as what you’ll get.
- Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) Interest rates, fees, annual limits, repayment plans
- U.S. Department of Education Forgiveness program rules
Find out what’s free before you borrow.
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