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Loan Repayment Strategies

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Last updated August 11, 2025

It's a good idea to review your student loan repayment strategy regularly to ensure it's still meeting your needs and goals as they change. Here are practical resources that can help you sort through your options. You’ll find short videos—none longer than 12 minutes—and downloadable guides on the topics most relevant to veterinary borrowers.

Student Loan Repayment Is Changing

Student loan policy is evolving in Washington, and it's more important than ever to stay up to date. The resources on this page are kept as current as possible, with dates to indicate time-sensitive information. However, some lag is to be expected when new changes are announced, so check StudentAid.gov for the latest updates.

How to Get the Most from this Information

Start by watching the video module Current Repayment Plans for Federal Student Loans, which provides a foundational overview. After that, choose the topical resources that are most relevant to you.

General Tips for All Borrowers

  • Document and retain all information related to your student loans, including repayment history.
  • Keep your loan servicer in your safe sender list to be sure you don't miss any important emails.

Current Repayment Plans for Federal Student Loans

Start here for an introduction to repayment plan options for federal student loans. You'll come away with an overview of the plan selection process, a description of time-driven and income-driven plans, and an explanation of how payments are calculated and applied.

 

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plans

Considering an income-driven repayment plan? Here are some key features to know if one might be a good fit for your strategy. Learn how payments are calculated, how the balance could be forgiven at the end of the loan term, and what other factors you may want to evaluate.

Additional resource

 

Married Borrowers and Repayment

Whether to file taxes separately or jointly is a big decision for any borrower using income-driven repayment who's married or plans to get married. Learn about potential impacts of your tax filing on your student loan payment and how to run estimates for both scenarios to help you make a more informed decision. This module also includes information on special cases, such as a spouse who's refinancing and considerations for payment calculations in community property states.

 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Are you considering or currently working for a government agency or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? If so, this module is a must-see for the when, where, and how of this highly beneficial loan repayment program designed for you. The federal government reviewed this program in the summer of 2025, and this module includes up-to-date information following that review.

 

Federal Consolidation

Federal student loan consolidation may help you simplify your student loans or maximize your eligibility for advantageous repayment plans and programs. But it might not be necessary and could even negate an aggressive repayment strategy. Learn more about whether this option is a smart one for you and how the consolidation process works.

Additional resource

 

Refinancing Student Loans with a Private Lender

Is refinancing your student loans right for you? This video explains what it means to refinance with a private lender, highlighting key benefits along with important trade-offs. Come away with a helpful list of questions to ask lenders to get the information you need to help make this decision.

 

About the Presenter

Where you get your information is important. The AVMA partnered with student loan expert Paul Garrard to develop these resources. With more than 40 years of experience in higher education and student financial aid, Garrard is one of the most well-known and in-demand educational debt management experts in the nation. His particular expertise is helping medical school students and graduates, including those in veterinary medicine, determine the best student loan repayment strategy based on their debt and income levels, their personal and career goals, and their repayment objectives.