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  • How to Relieve Student Loan Debt Stress with Expert Guidance

How to Relieve Student Loan Debt Stress with Expert Guidance

Stressed about your student loan debt? With the numerous programs, deadlines, and rules, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Let Laurel Road's student loan experts help.

Published April 11, 2025 6 min read
Professional woman learning how to get student loan stress relief with expert guidance Overlay Background

Table of Contents

  • Freedom from student loan stress
  • Qualifying for student loan forgiveness
  • Peace of mind with the help of student loan experts

Having student loan debt can feel like an overwhelming burden on its own, but also having to spend the time to educate yourself about all the potential ways you could manage that debt can add on another layer of stress. Given the complexity of federal programs – such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) – and their frequently changing requirements, it’s especially tough for borrowers to stay up-to-date on what their options are and determine which path is right for them.

Fortunately, there are opportunities for help that can help you de-stress about student loan management and save you time. Laurel Road Student Loan FreedomSM, our comprehensive suite of student loan management solutions, offers borrowers:

  • A free consultation with a student loan specialist who can analyze your student loans, help you understand your eligibility for federal forgiveness programs, and create a personalized plan based for you based on your financial goals.
  • Student loan forgiveness counseling memberships that provide those pursuing forgiveness through PSLF or IDR with ongoing one-on-one access to student loan expertise and help navigating program requirements year after year. And, with a Laurel Road Freedom Plus CheckingSM account, you can easily manage your student loan payments and track your forgiveness progress.
  • Competitive student loan refinancing options that could help you save.

Read on to learn more about the student loan landscape, your potential options, and to how to stress less about your student loan debt.

Explore your options with a student loan expert.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Freedom from student loan stress

Laurel Road’s student loan experts can help you understand the complexities and requirements of PSLF and IDR and determine your eligibility. Here’s a brief overview of both programs.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

For eligible borrowers working full-time for a qualifying nonprofit or government employer, PSLF forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan. Learn more about PSLF here and about forgiveness for nonprofit workers. Your eligibility is primarily based on your employment, and more jobs qualify for PSLF than you may think. But it’s imperative to re-certify each year, and ensure your paperwork, records, and enrollment remains up to date.

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR)

IDR plans cap your monthly federal student loan payments at a percentage of your discretionary income. Applying for the right plan can be crucial for borrowers as they manage their repayment strategy and plan for their financial future. Explore the different IDR plans here and let a Laurel Road student loan counselor help you choose which one is best for your situation.

Explore your options with a student loan expert.

Ready to free yourself from student loan stress and confusion? Talk to a student loan expert today to get started.

Schedule a Free Consultation

IDR Comparison Chart

Applications for IDR plans and loan consolidation are available on http://studentaid.gov. You can also submit a PDF application to your loan servicer by uploading it to your servicer’s website or mailing it to them. Expect a delay in processing times.
Plan Monthly Payments Repayment Period Status
Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
  • 10-15% of your discretionary income (and your spouse’s if filing jointly)
  • Never more than federal 10-year Standard Repayment Plan amount
20-25 years, depending on when you become a new borrower Accepting new enrollments.
Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)

The lesser of the following:

  • 20% of your discretionary income or
  • What you would pay on a repayment plan with a fixed payment over the course of 12 years, adjusted according to your income
25 years Accepting new enrollments.
Pay as You Earn (PAYE)
  • 10% of your discretionary income (and your spouse’s if filing jointly)
  • Never more than federal 10-year Standard Repayment Plan amount
20 years Accepting new enrollments.

Qualifying for student loan forgiveness

Eligibility for student loan forgiveness depends on several factors, including income, family size, employment type, and loan type. Laurel Road’s experts can help you understand these factors and determine your eligibility. Learn more about who qualifies for student loan forgiveness here.

The application process can be daunting, but Laurel Road can help simplify it for you. If you’re already in the right repayment plan, their membership can help you stay on track to forgiveness year after year. This includes keeping up with income or family size changes to ensure your IDR payments remain manageable and eligible.

If your ultimate goal is student loan forgiveness, then Laurel Road can help you achieve it with less stress. Visit these resources for more help understanding how to apply and qualify for student loan forgiveness programs:

  • How to Apply for Student Loan Forgiveness
  • How to Get Student Loan Forgiveness with IDR
  • How to Apply for an IDR Plan

Peace of mind with the help of student loan experts

Laurel Road’s experts can tailor solutions to your unique circumstances, helping you save money and make progress toward student loan freedom. Our student loan specialists can help you put the puzzle pieces together and provide you with the tools to understand and leverage the available programs. Focus on your life and career, not your student loan debt.

Tools to help you manage your path to forgiveness

Through ongoing PSLF/IDR counseling, Laurel Road Student Loan Freedom can help borrowers track their path to forgiveness with ease. The new Laurel Road Freedom Plus CheckingSM account is specifically designed for student loan borrowers pursuing forgiveness, with a dashboard that keeps you organized by displaying your estimated forgiveness amount and date, and tracking your qualifying student loan payments each month. The Forgiveness Payment Tracker lets you see your forgiveness progress online or in your mobile banking app. And when you add an account during enrollment and make qualifying checking activities, you’ll receive an additional discount on your annual forgiveness counseling membership.

Talk to a student loan expert – for free

If you’re ready to free yourself from student loan stress and confusion, get started with a free consultation. Learn more about the Laurel Road’s forgiveness counseling memberships, Freedom Plus Checking account, and other services here. Take the first step toward financial freedom today.

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    Disclaimers

    All Laurel Road lending products are subject to credit approval.

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please note that if you refinance qualifying federal student loans with Laurel Road, you may no longer be eligible for certain federal benefits or programs and waive your right to future benefits or programs offered on those loans. Examples of benefits or programs you may not receive include, but are not limited to, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Driven Repayment plans, forbearance, or loan forgiveness. Please carefully consider your options when refinancing federal student loans and consult Federal Student Aid for the most current information.

    Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice, legal, financial, or tax advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regard to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues. Calculators do not include the fees and restrictions that certain products may have. This calculator does not indicate whether you would qualify for a Laurel Road loan. Please visit the applicable banking product pages on laurelroad.com for specific terms and conditions.

    This information provided is for informational purposes only and does not substitute consultation with a legal, tax or investment professional for important financial decisions. Laurel Road assumes no liability for loss or damage incurred by use of the information provided. Please visit laurelroad.com for full product details, terms and conditions.