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How to Repay Education Loan Faster: 7 Pro Tips for Indian Students

How to Repay Education Loan Faster: 7 Pro Tips for Indian Students

When you take an education loan, you get the financial aid needed to pay for your course and achieve your dreams. However, once your course is over, you need to focus on finding the fastest way to pay off student loans, as staying in debt is never a desirable thing to do. Fortunately, there are some easy ways in which you can do so. 

Take a look at this article to learn more about how to pay education loans faster while staying within your budget too.

How to Repay Education Loan Faster: Top Strategies

A student loan is handy as it gives you the required funds at the right time, with the help of which you can complete your higher education. This is why you should be very disciplined and always know how to repay education loans faster. 

Here are some great ideas for you:

Choose the Right EMI Scheme

Most modern-day lenders offer flexible EMI schemes. You need to choose a repayment structure that suits your financial capacities. Say, for example, you earn a monthly salary of Rs 50,000, and you can consider paying an EMI of around Rs 15,000 towards your student loan. This will help you to pay the EMI comfortably each month without it becoming a financial challenge.

There is nothing worse than missing an EMI, as that puts a brake on your attempts to clear the dues. The fastest way to pay off student loans is to stick to the EMI plan without defaulting, and by choosing a comfortable EMI structure, you can easily achieve this. In fact, you can change the tenure and the EMI as well to suit your requirements.

Alternatively, you could set a standing instruction for auto-pay at your bank for deducting the EMI on time so that there is no default and additional charges for missing your payments.

Increase Your EMI Amount When Possible

How to repay an education loan faster? A simple answer to this is by repaying more each month. Basically, you should look to increase the volume of your EMI. You can do this if you get a very good job with a high salary, or you get an increment and earn more now.

If you were previously paying Rs 15,000 as your student loan EMI each month, try to increase it to Rs 25,000, and that will help you to pay the loan off faster. However, only apply this method if you are financially capable. Do not agree to an unrealistically large EMI, as that will put a huge financial burden on you.

There is nothing worse than defaulting on a loan, so try to be practical as well as smart with the repayment, and you will know exactly how to pay student loans fast.

Moreover, you can pre-pay your loan with all windfall gains and bonuses and increments that you receive.

Increase Your Income

If you have some free time on your hands after your work hours, you can consider some part-time employment to increase your monthly income. When you have higher disposable income, you would have a higher repayment capacity for your education loan and would be able to repay it faster.

There are many options available here. You can offer tuition classes to the kids in your building. You can handle the cash counter of a small restaurant in your neighbourhood. You can drive an app-based cab. You can even explore the many online freelance employment options.

Find a vocation that suits you and put in a few hours into a part-time job till you have a good financial plan and confidently know how to pay student loans fast.

Seek Employer Assistance for Loan Repayment

If you are looking for ways to repay student loans faster, turn to your employer for help. Many employers in India (and in some other countries as well) have schemes that allow employees to take internal loans to clear off their student loans.

Check with your employer if such a financial scheme is available in the organization. You can get the loan at a lower rate of interest, and the EMIs would directly be deducted from your salary in a smooth and convenient way.

You can borrow the entire sum from your employer and close the student loan. There is usually no prepayment charge on student loans in India, so this would definitely work in your favor.

Consider Refinancing or Balance Transfer

If you are wondering how to pay student loans faster, you could consider refinancing options. Since you have started working after your education is completed, your chances of availing a better interest rate are high. So, you could check options with modern lenders such as education loan with a better rate of interest, especially if you can provide collateral.

Pay the Interest During the Moratorium Period

One of the most effective tips for student loan repayment is to start paying the interest even during the moratorium period. Although full EMIs are not required at this stage, servicing the interest prevents it from being added to the principal, which reduces the overall loan burden. 

This is among the smart ways to repay your education loan faster because it lowers the outstanding amount before regular repayment begins. As part of long-term strategies for education loan repayment, early interest payments can significantly cut total interest outgo and shorten your repayment tenure.

Use Windfalls and Extra Earnings Effectively

Any unexpected inflow, such as bonuses, tax refunds, incentives, or freelance income, can become a powerful tool in your repayment plan. Instead of spending these windfalls, channel a portion towards your outstanding balance to reduce your principal faster and save on interest. 

This is one of the most practical tips for student loan repayment, as even small lump-sum payments can shorten your tenure meaningfully. Among the smart ways to repay your education loan, disciplined use of extra earnings stands out. It’s also one of the most effective education loan repayment tips and strategies for education loan repayment over time.

Set Up Automatic Payments to Avoid Missed EMIs

One of the simplest strategies for education loan repayment is setting up auto-debit for your EMIs. It ensures timely payments, protects your credit score, and saves you from late fees. This is among the most effective tips for student loan repayment, especially for busy professionals. 

A smart way to repay your education loan, automation builds discipline and consistency . These are two essentials in any list of reliable education loan repayment tips.

Pros and Cons of Paying Off Education Loan Early

Paying off your education loan ahead of schedule can be one of the smart ways to repay your education loan when planned well. As part of effective education loan repayment tips and strategies for education loan repayment, it offers real benefits, but it isn’t without trade-offs.

Pros

  • Lower total interest cost: Clearing the balance early reduces the overall interest you pay over time. 
  • Improved financial freedom: Becoming debt-free sooner gives you headroom to save or invest for other goals. 
  • Better credit profile: Early repayment can boost your credit history and borrowing credibility. 

Cons:

Understanding how to repay student loan early with both pros and cons helps you choose the right balance in your tips for student loan repayment strategy.

Smart Considerations Before Paying Off Your Student Loan Early

Paying off your education loan early can feel like a big financial win. But before you rush in, it’s worth pausing and planning. These tips for student loan repayment help ensure you’re choosing the smartest path forward, not just the fastest one.

  • Check for prepayment charges: Some lenders levy fees on early closures. Factor this in before deciding how to repay student loan early.
  • Maintain an emergency fund: Don’t use up all your savings just to close the loan. Liquidity matters more than speed.
  • Compare interest vs returns: If your investments earn more than your loan interest, prepaying may not be the smartest choice.
  • Prioritise high-interest debt first: Credit cards or personal loans should usually be cleared before education loans.
  • Review tax benefits: Education loan interest offers tax deductions. It’s important to note that closing your education loan early could reduce this advantage.

These strategies for education loan repayment help balance peace of mind with long-term financial health, ensuring you truly learn how to repay education loans faster, the smart way.

Conclusion

However, you need to understand that even though everyone is in a hurry to repay debt, and it is a good idea, an education loan is one of the good loans available in India as you also get tax benefits along with it under section 80E of the Income Tax Act. Also, education loans are usually cheap, with a high repayment tenure of about 8 years and a moratorium of 12 months.

Remember that loan is another product and if you have got your education loan there is no real harm in continuing the same as long as you can avail tax benefits. However, if you can manage to pay off your education loan earlier than the scheduled duration through pre-payment, your credit score will surely improve. Also, you can invest the EMI amount thereafter towards investing for your future financial goals. Thus, being debt-free is crucial, but not at the cost of being financially burdened. This could help you build a healthy investment portfolio for you in the long run.

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FAQs

Is it wise to repay education loan early in India?

Yes, it can be wise, if planned carefully. Early repayment reduces interest but may affect liquidity, tax benefits, or investments. Evaluate how to repay education loan faster using smart ways to repay your education loan without straining finances.

Can I prepay my student loan without penalty in India?

Prepayment penalties differ with lenders in India. Always confirm lender terms first and follow education loan repayment tips on how to pay off your student loans quickly.

What is the fastest way to pay off education loan?

The fastest way is to make regular prepayments whenever possible, increase EMIs after income growth, and avoid missed payments. These are practical tips for student loan repayment and strategies for education loan repayment that show how to repay education loan faster.

How does repaying a student loan fast affect my credit score?

Repaying faster usually improves your credit score by reducing outstanding debt and showing disciplined repayment. However, avoid closing your oldest credit line too quickly. Explore the education loan repayment tips and smart ways to repay your education loan mentioned above to decide how to pay my student loans faster.

Should I invest or clear my education loan first?

If your loan interest is higher than expected investment returns, focus on how to repay student loan early. Otherwise, balanced investing may help while you plan how to pay off your student loans quickly without straining your cash flow.