I’m graduating this May. What's the best plan to start repaying my loans?

Great question—and you're already ahead by thinking about this now. After graduation, you have six months before payments begin. Here are five expert tips for making the most of your grace period and choosing a repayment strategy that fits:

1.) Know What You Owe

Before you do anything, take inventory of your student loans. Visit StudentAid.gov and download your full NSLDS file—this is your comprehensive student loan record that includes:

• All federal loans borrowed

• Loan statuses (in grace, repayment, etc.)

• Interest rates and disbursement dates

• Schools attended

Tip: This file contains far more detail than your loan servicer’s website. It is the foundation of any complete repayment strategy and is required to unlock the full capabilities of SDS’s analysis tools.

2.) Estimate Your Monthly Budget

Think ahead to what you’ll be earning, where you’ll live, and what other expenses you’ll have (rent, car, credit cards, etc.). This will also help you set a repayment goal. Do you want to eliminate debt quickly? Or keep payments low while adjusting to life after graduation?

3.) Run Your Scenarios

Connect your NSLDS file to SDS which allows our platform to provide an accurate and comprehensive assessment of your options. This is where the real insight begins. You will be able to compare different types of repayment plans and assess potential forgiveness options, consolidation options, estimated monthly payments. After picking plans, you can use the Repayment Estimate Tool and explore different repayment strategies. This tool can help you discover greater insights into plans you may pick like how your balance might grow or shrink, whether forgiveness is realistic, and how to align repayment with your broader financial goals.

4.) Choose a Repayment Strategy That Works for You

After exploring your options, select a plan that reflects your priorities—whether that’s fast payoff, lower monthly payments, or managing other debts first. You’ll now be informed about:

• Which plans you’re eligible for

• Whether forgiveness is attainable

• How your monthly payments will shift over time

5.) Talk to an Expert

As a paid SDS subscriber, you can access our chat support to get help interpreting your repayment options and strategies for tackling your loans efficiently.

Final Thought

Whether your goal is freedom from debt or financial flexibility, there’s a plan that can work for you—but only if you take the time to understand your options. The good news is that with your NSLDS file, the Repayment Estimate Tool, and access to real experts, you’ve got everything you need to make confident, informed decisions about your student loans. Log in today to explore the best path forward!