The Student Loan Restart Federal student loan payments are set to resume in October 2023, more than three years after they were paused because of the pandemic. Millions of borrowers have questions, and we have answers.
Special Series
- Subscribe to Breaking News Alerts
The SAVE plan is becoming a key vehicle for President Biden's student loan debt relief efforts. In a Friday press release, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said, "The Biden-Harris Administration designed the SAVE Plan to put community college students and other low-balance borrowers on a faster track to debt forgiveness than ever before." Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Education Dept. fast-tracks forgiveness for borrowers with smaller student loans
January 12, 2024 In a surprise move, the Biden administration announced it is fast-tracking a change that will erase the debts of many federal student loan borrowers after just 10 years.
Education Dept. fast-tracks forgiveness for borrowers with smaller student loans
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1224265472/1224358068" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
LA Johnson/NPR
COMIC: The year of student loans
December 26, 2023 Millions of Americans have begun paying off their federal student loans again. This is the return to repayment, in the voices of a handful of borrowers we met this year.
Margaret Flatley for NPR
Analysis
Student loan forgiveness isn't dead yet, and other takeaways from 2023
December 21, 2023 What to make of all the student loan news this year? We have three takeaways, and a literary analogy (it's NPR afterall).
Student loan forgiveness isn't dead yet, and other takeaways from 2023
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1218890183/1221942483" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Kurt Panton, his wife, Lizzy, and their daughter, Pauline. His federal student loans have been canceled by a new Biden administration policy meant to remedy past failures with income-driven repayment plans. Patrick Junker for NPR hide caption
toggle caption
Patrick Junker for NPR
A story of student loan forgiveness, 20 years in the making
December 20, 2023 More than 900,000 federal student loan borrowers are seeing their loans erased after being in repayment for two decades or more.
A story of student loan forgiveness, 20 years in the making
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1215880180/1220726017" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Miguel Cardona, the U.S. Education Secretary, announced new efforts to help borrowers hurt by problems with its repayment programs. Arin Yoon/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Arin Yoon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Government efforts to erase student loan debt have now reached 3.6 million borrowers
December 6, 2023 The Education Department said today that changes to a pair of previously troubled programs have recently led to $4.8 billion in loan relief for another 80,000 borrowers.
Government efforts to erase student loan debt have now reached 3.6 million borrowers
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1217552875/1217663405" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Andrew Haener for NPR
Millions could benefit from a new way out of student loan default
November 16, 2023 The U.S. Education Department has a new plan to help the nearly 7 million federal student loan borrowers who are in default rehabilitate their loans. But the clock is ticking.
Millions could benefit from a new way out of student loan default
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1212868047/1213590195" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona talks to reporters during the daily news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on June 30, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Education Department punishes student loan servicer for billing mistakes
October 31, 2023 The department is withholding payment from loan servicer MOHELA as 2.5 million borrowers didn't receive timely billing statements.
Education Department punishes student loan servicer for billing mistakes
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1209464901/1209763264" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Delphine Lee/NPR
Analysis
Student loans for parents can be a debt trap. But there's a loophole
October 4, 2023 Until July 2025, parent PLUS borrowers can paperwork their way into a kinder, gentler repayment plan.
Student loans for parents can be a debt trap. But there's a loophole
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1200775288/1208165081" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Janice Chang for NPR
What a shutdown would mean for student loan borrowers
September 29, 2023 October loan payments will still be due, but an extended shutdown could impact customer service.
What a shutdown would mean for student loan borrowers
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1202638806/1202828739" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
A Spelman College graduate waves during the school's 2023 commencement ceremony on May 21. Recent college graduates are due to make their first student loan payments in the coming weeks. Paras Griffin/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Analysis
How new borrowers can prepare for their first student loan payment
September 26, 2023 When student loan bills begin coming due in October, new borrowers will take their first steps on the long road to paying off their debt. These tools and tips can help ease the journey.
Are you saving enough for college? Here's what to know
September 21, 2023 As the cost of college continues to rise, families have new questions about how to save up. For answers, we turned to Ron Lieber, author of The Price You Pay For College.
Federal student loan borrowers prepare to resume repaying their loans
September 18, 2023 For more than three years, no one had to pay their federal student loans. Payments are due again in October, but some borrowers are seeing their debts eliminated.
Federal student loan borrowers prepare to resume repaying their loans
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1200076867/1200076868" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Hanna Barczyk for NPR
Student loan borrowers are spending a lot of time on hold, says federal watchdog
September 11, 2023 The head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says many borrowers are struggling to get through to the companies that get paid to answer their questions.
Student loan borrowers are spending a lot of time on hold, says federal watchdog
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198760888/1198805533" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Student loan payments are back. Now what?
September 3, 2023 After three and a half years, the pause on federal student loan payments is coming to an end. Payments will be due starting in October.
Student loan payments are back. Now what?
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197497456/1197501790" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
A big group of student loan borrowers are learning their debt has been forgiven
August 31, 2023 Federal student loan borrowers are expected to resume payments this fall. But more than 800,000 borrowers are finding out that their loans have suddenly been forgiven.
A big group of student loan borrowers are learning their debt has been forgiven
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197122000/1197153138" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Student loan borrowers who've been repaying for about 20 years got some good news
August 31, 2023 Federal student loan borrowers are expected to resume payments this fall. But more than 800,000 borrowers are finding out that their loans have suddenly been forgiven.
Student loan borrowers who've been repaying for about 20 years got some good news
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1196943539/1196943540" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Maria Grejc for NPR
Analysis
12 things student loan borrowers should know about the return to repayment
August 31, 2023 October's coming, and we're here to help you get ready.
College graduation cap and gown made of $100 bill LA Johnson/NPR hide caption
toggle caption
LA Johnson/NPR
Borrowers can now apply for new, income-based student loan repayment
August 22, 2023 More than 20 million borrowers are eligible under the new repayment plan, and many will see lower payments.
Borrowers can now apply for new, income-based student loan repayment
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1195141913/1195291876" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We The 45 Milli
Planet Money
The new Biden plan that could still erase your student loans
August 11, 2023 This summer, the Supreme Court struck down Biden's plan to forgive student loan debt for millions of borrowers. Except, on the same day Biden first announced that plan, he also unveiled another, the SAVE plan. And though SAVE sounded less significant than Biden's big forgiveness pledge, it's still alive and could erase even more student debt.
The new Biden plan that could still erase your student loans
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1192703211/1198959328" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
More than 800,000 borrowers are eligible to benefit from student loan forgiveness
July 15, 2023 The Biden administration has announced it will forgive debts held by 800,000 federal student loan recipients for low-income borrowers.
More than 800,000 borrowers are eligible to benefit from student loan forgiveness
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1187929868/1187929869" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
More than 800,000 borrowers will receive federal student loan forgiveness
July 14, 2023 The debt erasure applies to long-time borrowers who should have qualified for loan forgiveness under the rules of the government's income-driven repayment plans, but haven't received it.
More than 800,000 borrowers will receive federal student loan forgiveness
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1187665283/1187677517" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
LA Johnson/NPR
Student loan forgiveness is on the way for more than 800,000 borrowers
July 14, 2023 The loan forgiveness comes after past mishandling of income-driven repayment plans, which were designed for low-income borrowers. The move will erase $39 billion in federal student loan debt.
Student loan forgiveness is on the way for more than 800,000 borrowers
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1187660793/1187847562" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
Graduates attend Tennessee State University's commencement ceremony in Nashville on May 7, 2022. Under a new repayment plan, millions of student loan borrowers will see their monthly repayment amounts cut in half or more. Jason Davis/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Jason Davis/Getty Images
You could still be eligible for student loan forgiveness under this plan
July 14, 2023 The Supreme Court may have struck down a sweeping plan for student loan debt forgiveness, but under President Biden's new income-driven repayment plan, SAVE, borrowers stand to pay thousands less.
Cecilia Castelli for NPR
'There is no trust now': Student loan borrowers respond to Supreme Court decision
July 1, 2023 In the wake of Friday's Supreme Court decision striking down Biden's relief plan, borrowers lament the path forward.
More from The Student Loan Restart
Browse archive or search npr.org
