What is a student loan grace period?

One significant benefit is that it gives you time to find employment after graduating and to choose a repayment plan that best fits your unique situation. However, a downside is that interest may continue to be added to the loan if you don’t repay your loans earlier.

Benefits of a student loan grace period

A grace period is an extra buffer before you have to start making payments on your student loans. Many graduates appreciate the time after graduation to secure a job that allows them to make the payments. Once you get a job, a grace period allows you to assess your monthly income, craft your budget and determine whether you need to request a different repayment plan once the grace period ends.

A grace period particularly benefits borrowers who have Direct Subsidized Loans. These loans do not accrue interest until after the grace period ends, so there is little downside to taking advantage of the grace period.

Downsides of a student loan grace period

In cases where you’re still getting on your feet financially, a student loan grace period can be helpful. But there are drawbacks to consider, including the fact that a grace period can exacerbate your debt.

For certain loans, interest still accrues during the grace period, which in turn, increases the overall amount of money you have to repay. Often the debt that accrues during this time will ultimately be capitalized, meaning added to your principal balance. Not only does this make your debt larger, but it also means you’re now paying interest on the interest charges that accrued.

Increasing the amount of your debt can also negatively impact your credit score, which can have ramifications for many other areas of your life. This includes your ability to obtain approval for a mortgage or to borrow money for any other purpose. You may also face higher interest rates when seeking to borrow money in the future if your credit score is impacted.

How long is a typical student loan grace period?

A grace period is generally six months long, but it varies depending on the type of student loan you took out.

How long is the federal student loan grace period?

Most federal student loans offer a six-month grace period:

• Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan borrowers get a six-month grace period.
• PLUS loans used for graduate or professional students will automatically be enrolled in a six-month deferment.
• Parent PLUS loan borrowers can request to be enrolled in a six-month deferment after their child graduates or drops below half-time enrollment.

With the exception of Direct Subsidized Loans, federal student loans will accrue interest during your grace period or post-graduation deferment.

How long is the private student loan grace period?

Many private student loan lenders try to give borrowers the same grace period that federal student loan borrowers receive. Examples include:

• Sallie Mae: Six months.
• Earnest: Nine months.
• Citizens Bank: Six months.
• College Ave: Six months for undergraduate loans and nine months for graduate loans.

If you’re unsure if you have a grace period, review your loan agreement or contact your lender.

Can you extend the grace period on student loans?

In almost every instance, you can’t extend your student loan grace period. The only time a grace period can be extended on federal student loans is if:

• You return to at least half-time enrollment before your grace period is up.
• You’re called to active military duty before your grace period is up.

If your grace period is already up but you need more time to get your affairs in order, you can request to put your loans in deferment or forbearance. Both of these temporarily pause your federal student loans for a set number of months. Interest will continue to accrue, but you won’t be penalized if you don’t make payments.

If a private student loan lender offers a grace period, you’ll need to check with your individual lender to see if it offers any deferment opportunities. Some lenders offer this on a case-by-case basis.

Should you make payments during the grace period?

While the grace period is nice to have, the main downside of one is that most loans will accrue interest during that time — so when you enter repayment, all of that accrued interest will be added to your principal loan balance.

The good news is that you can choose to make payments during your grace period if your finances allow for it. You might want to make payments during the grace period if:

• You get a job straight out of college that gives you enough income to make payments.
• You have unsubsidized, parent PLUS or private student loans that accrue interest during your time in school as well as during the grace period.
• You’re up to date on your other bills and have enough money to start making payments early.
• You want to lower your total interest owed by making interest-only payments.

The bottom line

Most federal student loans come with six-month grace periods. Private student loan grace periods vary by lender but can last up to nine months.

Making payments during your grace for most student loans can stop your balance from growing. If you can’t make payments, you should use this time to research repayment options and create a budget so you’ll be ready once the student loan repayment begins.