Repaying Your Loan

After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you become responsible for repaying your federal student loans. Remember, federal student loans are real loans, just like car loans or mortgages!

There is a repayment plan, and possibly a loan forgiveness program for you.

The repayment process can be confusing sometimes. If you take a few minutes to learn about your options, you will successfully repay your loans even if there are times when you can’t afford to make a payment. Here are some steps to help you prepare for your student loan repayment and any financial hardships you may experience during repayment. Review this information as early in your student career as possible, and review it often.

Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate Student Cumulative Loan Debt

In 2020–21, the average cumulative loan debt for graduate degree recipients was:

Doctorate

  • Arts and Humanities: $42,670
  • Engineering and Computer Science: $29,077
  • Life Sciences: $24,252
  • Physical Sciences: $13,617
  • Social Sciences: $53,432

Professional Degrees

  • Engineering: $38,056
  • ​Environmental Design/Landscape Architecture: $44,869
  • JD Law: $134,756
  • MA Teacher Ed: $25,949
  • Masters Information Management: $41,872
  • MBA Business: $87,662
  • MPP Public Policy: $44,067
  • MSW Social Welfare: $47,506
  • OD Optometry: $164,900
  • Public Health (MPH/DPH/DrEnv): $41,695
  • Statistics: $53,379