Student Loans
Federal vs. private loans, repayment plans, and how interest actually accrues while you're still in school.
How Does Student Loan Interest Work?
Daily interest accrual, the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans, and how capitalization works.
What Is Income-Driven Repayment for Student Loans?
How IDR plans calculate a payment as a share of discretionary income, and the annual recertification requirement.
How Do the New Federal Student Loan Repayment Plans Work?
An overview of current federal student loan repayment plan options and how they differ from each other.
How to use these student loans answers
Start with the question closest to the decision you are making, then follow the linked calculators, official sources, and related explanations for the numbers behind it. The 3 answers in this collection are written to separate general rules from the details that depend on your circumstances.
Compare dates, eligibility requirements, fees, rates, and assumptions before acting. Financial rules and product terms can change, so each answer highlights the facts worth confirming and points you toward a practical next step instead of treating a broad rule of thumb as personal advice.