Loanweek

Standard (10-year) vs extended (25-year) student loan repayment

$184.02/month difference in monthly payment

$26,623 difference in total interest

10-year standard: $454.60 a month. 25-year: $270.58 a month.

Source: 2026-27 federal undergraduate rate, 6.52%, fixed. The Extended plan needs more than $30,000 in older Direct Loans; new loans use the Tiered Standard plan. An average, not an offer.

Side by side

10-year standard25-year
Amount borrowed$40,000$40,000
Rate6.52%6.52%
Monthly payment$454.60$270.58
Paid off in10 years25 years
Total interest$14,552$41,175
Balance remaining: 10-year standard vs 25-yearLoan balance at the end of each year for both options.10-year standard25-year$0$10k$20k$30k$40kStartYear 12Year 2510-year standard, Start: $40k10-year standard, Year 1: $37.1k10-year standard, Year 2: $33.9k10-year standard, Year 3: $30.6k10-year standard, Year 4: $27k10-year standard, Year 5: $23.2k10-year standard, Year 6: $19.2k10-year standard, Year 7: $14.8k10-year standard, Year 8: $10.2k10-year standard, Year 9: $5.3k10-year standard, Year 10: $010-year standard, Year 11: $010-year standard, Year 12: $010-year standard, Year 13: $010-year standard, Year 14: $010-year standard, Year 15: $010-year standard, Year 16: $010-year standard, Year 17: $010-year standard, Year 18: $010-year standard, Year 19: $010-year standard, Year 20: $010-year standard, Year 21: $010-year standard, Year 22: $010-year standard, Year 23: $010-year standard, Year 24: $010-year standard, Year 25: $025-year, Start: $40k25-year, Year 1: $39.3k25-year, Year 2: $38.6k25-year, Year 3: $37.9k25-year, Year 4: $37.1k25-year, Year 5: $36.2k25-year, Year 6: $35.3k25-year, Year 7: $34.4k25-year, Year 8: $33.3k25-year, Year 9: $32.2k25-year, Year 10: $31k25-year, Year 11: $29.8k25-year, Year 12: $28.4k25-year, Year 13: $27k25-year, Year 14: $25.4k25-year, Year 15: $23.8k25-year, Year 16: $22.1k25-year, Year 17: $20.2k25-year, Year 18: $18.2k25-year, Year 19: $16.1k25-year, Year 20: $13.8k25-year, Year 21: $11.4k25-year, Year 22: $8.8k25-year, Year 23: $6.1k25-year, Year 24: $3.1k25-year, Year 25: $0

Questions

Which has the lower monthly payment?

25-year, by $184.02 a month ($454.60 vs $270.58).

Which costs less overall?

10-year standard saves $26,623 in interest ($14,552 vs $41,175).

What rates are these figures based on?

2026-27 federal undergraduate rate, 6.52%, fixed. The Extended plan needs more than $30,000 in older Direct Loans; new loans use the Tiered Standard plan.

Can I compare a different amount?

Yes: change the amount above and press Compare. The page recalculates with the same rates.

Sources

Numbers on this page last changed September 26, 2026. How they are calculated: methodology.