PSLF (forgiveness)
- True total cost
- $178K
- Time to done
- 10 yrs
- Total paid
- $178K
- Monthly
- $4K/mo
Forgiven (~$242K tax-free)
The tool
Run your numbers.
PSLF vs refinance vs aggressive payoff, side-by-side. 16 specialty presets. Charts redraw the moment a number changes.
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Med School Debt Simulator
PSLF vs refinance vs aggressive payoff · 16 specialty presets
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Your best strategy
Standard repayment.
Your inputs sit between the PSLF sweet spot and the aggressive-payoff sweet spot — standard 10-year repayment is a safe baseline. Compare all three strategies side-by-side below.
via MGMA + AAMCvia studentaid.gov
Estimated timeframe
Debt resolved in ~17 yrs
Monthly payment range
$3K – $4K
Key assumption
Assumes income stays roughly on the projected trajectory and no major life events (kids, partner income) materially change cash flow.
Quick scenarios
Strategy comparison
All three paths, side by side.
Same inputs — three different repayment philosophies. The recommended row is the one our engine picked for your scenario.
via studentaid.govvia IRS guidance
| Strategy | Total paid | True total cost | Time to done | Monthly | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSLF (forgiveness) | $178K | $178K | 10 yrs | $4K/mo | Forgiven (~$242K tax-free) |
Standard repaymentRecommended | $485K | $485K | 17 yrs | $4K/mo | Fully paid off |
Aggressive payoff | $433K | $568K | 13 yrs | $6K/mo | Fully paid off |
Standard repayment
Recommended- True total cost
- $485K
- Time to done
- 17 yrs
- Total paid
- $485K
- Monthly
- $4K/mo
Fully paid off
Aggressive payoff
- True total cost
- $568K
- Time to done
- 13 yrs
- Total paid
- $433K
- Monthly
- $6K/mo
Fully paid off
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Assumptions to sanity-check
What your inputs imply.
High income may shrink the PSLF advantage
At your projected attending salary, IDR payments often equal or exceed standard 10-year amortization — PSLF still works mechanically, but the dollar savings shrink. Run the comparison above to see the exact gap.
Longer training improves PSLF’s relative value
More qualifying training years means more low-income IDR payments counting toward the 120-month threshold — every extra residency or fellowship year tilts the math further in PSLF’s favor.
Time to payoff
17 yrs
Standard 10-yr amortization
Monthly payment
$4K
Residency ≈ $259
Total interest
$235K
Total paid $485K
Net-worth crossover
Yr 9
First year back in the black
Loan balance
What you owe, year by year
Standard repayment plotted against the PSLF projection when enabled.
Net worth
When you turn the corner
After 32% tax · minus living expenses · minus loan payments.
Opportunity cost
$0
If the $0 you paid above IDR minimums had been invested instead, it would grow to roughly this over the payoff horizon.
Assumes monthly contribution of the “extra” and compound growth at your assumed market return.
Audit trail
Year-by-year snapshot
First 12 years
Audit trail
Year-by-year snapshot
| Year | Income | Paid | Balance | Net worth | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | — | — | $250,000 | -$250,000 | residency |
| Year 1 | $65,000 | $3,111 | $263,139 | -$258,050 | residency |
| Year 2 | $67,958 | $3,407 | $275,981 | -$264,989 | residency |
| Year 3 | $71,050 | $3,716 | $288,515 | -$270,748 | residency |
| Year 4 | $74,282 | $4,040 | $300,725 | -$275,254 | residency |
| Year 5 | $82,786 | $4,890 | $312,085 | -$274,947 | fellowship |
| Year 6 | $86,553 | $5,267 | $323,068 | -$273,071 | fellowship |
| Year 7 | $90,491 | $5,661 | $333,658 | -$269,537 | fellowship |
| Year 8 | $500,000 | $45,463 | $309,161 | -$28,956 | attending |
| Year 9 | $527,875 | $45,463 | $283,023 | $230,258 | attending |
| Year 10 | $557,304 | $45,463 | $255,135 | $509,225 | attending |
| Year 11 | $588,374 | $45,463 | $225,380 | $809,125 | attending |