5 Strategies to Pay Off Student Loan Debt

According to an analysis of more than 91,000 borrowers who requested rates to refinance their graduate school student loan debt through the loan debt service Credible, veterinary graduates have the second highest student loan debt-to-income ratio. Credible found that veterinarians have an average income of $85,000 and an average monthly student loan payment of $891, which translates to a monthly debt-to-income ratio of 12.6%. In 2016, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) estimated the average educational debt for veterinary school graduates to be $143,757.

New graduates must be strategic about how they will tackle student loan debt as they enter the workforce. Yes, it can be done. Consider these 5 strategies to get started.

1. Create (and Stick to) a Monthly Budget

Establish strong financial habits as soon as possible to set yourself up for success. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to add more to your workload. Smartphone apps like Mint make it easy to create and stick to a reasonable monthly budget.

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Within a few weeks (or maybe just a few days) of using a budgeting app, you will start to notice where you’re overspending and where it’s easiest to stay on track. Adhering to a budget will take some sacrifice—you may have to skip that extra latte from time to time—but it’s much easier to get a handle on your finances when you know where your paycheck is being spent.

2. Find a Repayment Plan That Works for You

A variety of tools and repayment options can assist in creating a roadmap for how your loans will be repaid. The AVMA recommends that new veterinary graduates check their eligibility for a few particular repayment plans, such as:

• Standard and Extended Repayment: These plans assume that the loan will be repaid in equal monthly installments through standard loan amortization, typically over 10 to 25 years. The Standard and Extended plans calculate federal education loans and most private student loans.
• Income-Based Repayment (IBR): This plan offers 2 options, 15% and 10%. The 15% option was established by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. Monthly loan payments are capped at 15% of discretionary income with forgiveness of any remaining debt after 25 years. The 10% option was established by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which established an improved version of the income-based repayment plan for new borrowers of loans taken on or after July 1, 2014. The plan cuts the monthly loan payments to 10% of discretionary income and accelerates loan forgiveness from 25 to 20 years.
• Income-Sensitive Repayment: This repayment structure was designed to make it easier for borrowers with lower-paying jobs to make their monthly loan payments. The monthly loan payment is pegged to a fixed percentage (4% to 25%) of gross monthly income. The percentage is determined by the borrower and the resulting monthly payment must be at least as much as the interest that accrues.
• Graduated Repayment: In these plans, payments start at a low level (usually interest only) and gradually increase until the balance is paid. The loan term is 12 to 30 years, depending on the total amount borrowed.

3. Consolidate and Refinance

Debt consolidation allows you to combine multiple loans into a single, larger piece of debt. By doing so borrowers are typically able to find more favorable payoff terms, such as a lower interest rate, lower monthly payment, or both. If you are not interested in consolidating, at least inquire about paying lower interest rates on your loans.

4. Earn Extra Money

It may not be the ideal solution, but if you are strapped for cash and your bills are mounting you may want to look for ways to supplement your income. You may find part-time work in an animal-related industry, such as with a local dog groomer, or pursue something completely different, such as writing for a local website or becoming a personal trainer.

5. Pay More When You Can

If you find that some months you have some extra money in your bank account, consider putting that toward some of your student loans in an effort to pay down the principal or interest further. It’s still important to save, however, even while paying student loans. Find a balance that works for you—and the budget you’ve created.