When Do Student Loan Payments Start?

For many borrowers, understanding when student loan payments begin is as important as knowing how much they’ll pay. Payment timing depends on the type of loan, your repayment plan, and recent policy changes — especially in the United States where federal student loans went through a long pause during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Federal Student Loans — General Timeline

A. Standard Payments After School

Under normal rules (before COVID-19 and in the absence of ongoing special forbearance), federal student loans enter repayment after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. Most borrowers receive a 6-month grace period after school before payments begin — though interest accrues during that period on unsubsidized loans.

So, if you graduated in May and your grace period ends in November, your first payment might be due in November or December of that year. This applies to:

• Direct Subsidized Loans

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans

• PLUS Loans (may differ)

This remains the foundational rule outside of special pauses or extensions.

2. Pandemic Pause and Recent Federal Changes (U.S.)

A. COVID-19 Payment Pause (2020–2023)

Starting in March 2020, the U.S. federal government paused payments, froze interest, and suspended collections on federal student loans due to the pandemic. This emergency relief was extended multiple times and affected tens of millions of borrowers.

B. Resumption of Payments (October 2023)

After that extended pause, federal student loan payments officially restarted in October 2023 for most borrowers — meaning the first post-pause payments were due that month. Interest began accruing slightly earlier (September 2023).

This historic reset didn’t affect everyone the same way:

• People who had graduated long before 2020 and had old loans were returning to normal repayment schedule after years off.

• Some borrowers who finished school during the pause simply never had a monthly payment due until October 2023.

3. Income-Driven Plans and the SAVE Forbearance Situation

A. SAVE Plan & Complex Transitions

Many borrowers were enrolled in the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) income-driven repayment plan when the traditional pause ended. Due to legal and technical complexities — including a settlement and phase-out of certain policies — payments for some SAVE borrowers have not started yet or have been delayed beyond standard post-pause deadlines.

Recent updates suggest:

• Interest may have resumed earlier (e.g., August 1, 2025, for some borrowers on SAVE).

• However, monthly payment obligations under modified or replacement plans may not be due until later in 2025 — including December 2025 for many borrowers as servicers build accurate billing systems.

This means that for certain borrowers — especially those in restructured income-driven plans — your first payment could be due later in 2025 rather than October 2023. The exact date often depends on:

• Which repayment plan you’re on

• Whether your servicer has finished setting up billing

• How the government implements new repayment rules after litigation and policy changes

Because this is still evolving, your specific due date may differ from general guidance.

4. Defaulted Loans and Collections

For borrowers whose federal loans went into default — meaning they missed many payments before or during the pause — the government restarted collections and wage garnishment in May 2025. This doesn’t just mean paying monthly installments — it also enables actions like:

• Wage garnishment

• Tax refund offsets

• Social Security benefit intercepts

This phase of enforcement underscores that defaulted loans don’t simply stay paused forever; they become subject to stronger collection actions once normal repayment enforcement resumes.

5. Private Student Loans

Unlike federal loans, private student loans follow the lender’s own schedule. There was no nationwide pause on private student loan payments tied to COVID-19, so their payment start dates and grace periods vary by lender. Always check your promissory note or contact the private lender to confirm.

6. How to Know Your First Payment Date

Here’s how to pinpoint your exact payment start date:

A. Check Your Loan Servicer Account

Log into your account at your loan servicer’s website. Servicers handle billing and will list:

• Your due date

• Your monthly payment amount

• Your repayment plan details

For federal loans, you can also log in at StudentAid.gov to find servicer info and payment schedules.

7. What to Do Before Your First Payment

Whether your first payment is in 2025 or later:

A. Update Your Contact Information

Make sure the Department of Education and your servicer have your current email and mailing address so you receive bills and notices.

B. Review Repayment Options

You may be able to switch repayment plans — especially into income-driven plans — which can lower monthly payments based on your income.

C. Budget Ahead

Monthly payments can be a shock if you haven’t paid in years. Build a budget forecast now to prepare.

D. Handle Hardship Proactively

If you genuinely cannot afford payments, contact your servicer before you miss any bills to explore deferments, forbearances, or recalculation under income-driven plans.

8. Summary — Key Dates to Remember

Final Takeaway

In the U.S., federal student loan payments for most borrowers resumed in October 2023 after a five-year pause. However, due to litigation and changes in income-driven repayment plans like SAVE, some borrowers’ first payment obligations have been delayed into late 2025 or later. If you have federal loans, your payment start date depends on your specific situation and repayment plan — so check with your servicer or the federal student aid portal.