Loan 1
Required
Loan 2
Required
Loan 3
Optional
Side-by-Side Comparison
Break-Even Analysis
Principal vs. Total Interest
How much of your payments go to interest over the life of each loan?
Principal
Interest
Federal vs. Private Loans
Federal loans offer income-driven repayment, deferment, forbearance, and forgiveness options. Private loans may have lower rates but lack these protections.
Refinancing Risk
Refinancing federal loans into private loans permanently forfeits IDR, PSLF, and federal protections. Compare carefully before refinancing.
Capitalized Interest
Interest that accrues during school or deferment gets capitalized (added to principal) when repayment begins, increasing your effective balance.
Break-Even Point
The month when a lower monthly payment loan has saved you enough cash vs. a higher-payment loan to offset its higher total cost.