PSLF (forgiveness)
- True total cost
- $371K
- Time to done
- 10 yrs
- Total paid
- $371K
- Monthly
- $5K/mo
Forgiven (~$21K 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 · 21 specialty presets
Live
StrategyCustom
All settings below are manually controlled. Adjust any input to build a custom scenario.
Your data never leaves your device. We don't store, track, or sell anything you type in.
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 Marit Health 2026 + AAMCvia studentaid.gov
Estimated timeframe
Debt resolved in ~15 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
Standard repayment
Recommended- True total cost
- $445K
- Time to done
- 15 yrs
- Total paid
- $445K
- Monthly
- $4K/mo
Fully paid off
Aggressive payoff
- True total cost
- $398K
- Time to done
- 11 yrs
- Total paid
- $396K
- Monthly
- $5K/mo
Fully paid off
Real-world tracking
PSLF Progress Tracker
Track your path to 120 qualifying payments and tax-free forgiveness. Distinct from the modeled PSLF projection above.
PSLF requires employment at a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or government organization. Private practice does not qualify.
0 / 120 qualifying payments
Estimated forgiveness date
July 2036
120 payments remaining · based on 5yr residency + 1 payment/month
Reminder: Submit your Employment Certification Form (ECF) annually and whenever you change employers. Use the PSLF Help Tool at studentaid.gov.
This tracker stays on your device — nothing is saved or sent.
76/ 100
Moderate
A few optimizations could make a big difference.
Focus area: Interest cost (Moderate)
Based on your debt-to-income ratio, payment affordability, payoff timeline, and interest efficiency.
Debt-to-incomeExcellent
Your debt ($250K) is less than your annual income — well below the typical physician ratio.
Payment affordabilityComfortable
Payments are under 8% of gross income — leaves substantial room for retirement savings and lifestyle.
Time to payoffExtended
15.0-year payoff horizon. Each extra year of debt is a year of compounding you can't access.
Interest costModerate
Interest will add 78% to your total repayment — consider refinancing if rate > 5%.
Free guide: PSLF vs. Refinancing Decision Framework
4-page PDF — the 3-question flowchart, real numbers by specialty, and a 5-step action plan. Plus our monthly doctor-finance digest.
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
15 yrs
Standard 10-yr amortization
Monthly payment
$4K
Residency ≈ $259
Total interest
$195K
Total paid $445K
Net-worth crossover
Yr 6
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 | $77,662 | $4,378 | $312,597 | -$278,431 | residency |
| Year 6 | $660,000 | $42,594 | $289,647 | $76,053 | attending |
| Year 7 | $696,795 | $42,594 | $265,159 | $455,228 | attending |
| Year 8 | $735,641 | $42,594 | $239,031 | $860,545 | attending |
| Year 9 | $776,653 | $42,594 | $211,154 | $1,293,538 | attending |
| Year 10 | $819,952 | $42,594 | $181,409 | $1,755,831 | attending |
| Year 11 | $865,664 | $42,594 | $149,673 | $2,249,140 | attending |
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