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Using a student loan calculator

Updated

Students use a student loan calculator to calculate monthly loan payments and how much they can save on total loan costs by paying a little extra each month.

Big idea

The total amount you pay for a student loan depends on three things: the amount you borrow, the interest rate, and how many years you take to pay back the loan.

Essential questions

  • How does a student loan get repaid?
  • What can you do to reduce the total amount you have to pay back for a student loan?

Objectives

  • Use loan data to calculate the monthly payment and total amount paid for a student loan
  • Understand how paying more than the minimum payments can reduce the total cost of the loan

What students will do

  • Use an online calculator to determine how much the monthly payments for federal student loans would be for a recent graduate described in a scenario.
  • Explore how paying extra on a loan can reduce the loan’s total cost.
  • Reflect on what they learned about repaying student loans.

Download activity

Teacher guide

cfpb_building_block_activities_using-student-loan-calculator_guide.pdf

Student materials

cfpb_building_block_activities_using-student-loan-calculator_worksheet.pdf

Note: Please remember to consider your students’ accommodations and special needs to ensure that all students are able to participate in a meaningful way.