Calculator

Student Loan Calculator

A student loan calculator estimates the standard monthly payment on a fixed-rate education loan. Add an optional extra monthly payment to see how much faster the loan is paid off and how much interest you save.

Advertising disclosure: EmergencyLoaning may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Read the full disclosure.

  • Runs in your browser
  • No sign-up
  • Free

By the EmergencyLoaning Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

Enter your numbers and press Calculate. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

How this calculator works

This calculator estimates the standard monthly payment on a fixed-rate student loan and shows what happens if you add a little extra each month.

Base payment: M = P * r * (1 + r)^n / ((1 + r)^n - 1).

With an extra amount E, the new payment is M + E and the payoff time becomes n = -ln(1 - r * P / (M + E)) / ln(1 + r).

Extra payments go straight to principal, which cuts both the payoff time and the total interest. If the payment does not cover monthly interest, the balance never falls.

Use the rate and term from your own loan agreement; federal and private loans differ.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter your numbers

    Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us.

  2. Read the result

    The result shows the headline figure and the numbers behind it, so you can see where the cost comes from.

  3. Check the rules before you apply

    State caps and licensing decide what a lender may offer you. The state reference lists both with their sources.

Before you apply, run the numbers

The calculators are free and run in your browser. When you are ready to look at real offers, the link below goes to our referral partner.

Advertising disclosure: EmergencyLoaning may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Read the full disclosure.

Frequently asked questions

How do extra payments help?
Extra money reduces the principal faster, so less interest accrues each month. That shortens the payoff time and lowers the total interest paid.
Does this calculator cover income-driven repayment?
No. It models a fixed-rate loan with equal payments. Income-driven plans change the payment over time and need a different model.
What term should I use for a student loan?
Use the term stated in your loan agreement or the standard term you are considering. Terms vary, so enter the one that applies to you.
Why is my balance not falling?
If the payment is smaller than the monthly interest, none of it reduces the principal. In that case the calculator reports that the loan does not pay off.

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