What's inside
- Standard, Extended and Graduated plans for the same loan: payment, debt-free date, total interest and total paid
- Graduated plan math: payments rise every 2 years, with the starting payment solved so the loan is paid off on time, and a warning if it breaks the federal rules
- Your plan: any of the three plus extra every month, once a year and a one-time lump sum; interest saved and how much sooner you're debt-free
- A 360-month schedule for all four plans, and a balance chart
- Sample file: $48,500 at 6.05%. Standard costs $16,260 of interest; Extended $45,691. Adding $250 a month and $1,500 each April clears it in 5 years 3 months and saves $8,204
Checked, not just designed: 7,769 formulas, zero errors, and every figure and all 360 balances of every plan were simulated independently in 9 scenarios per file. All matched to the cent.
Federal loans made from July 1, 2026 use a tiered Standard plan (10 to 25 years by balance): set the Standard years to match. Works in Excel and Google Sheets. Doesn't cover income-driven plans or forgiveness. A calculator, not financial advice.