Debt Calculator

How to Pay Off Medical School Debt for Physicians

For example, we can compare the impact of:

Joining an employer with a loan repayment program

Choosing a higher-paying role without repayment benefits

Making extra monthly payments toward your loans

Selecting different repayment plans, including federal options

Exploring forgiveness programs and their long-term outcomes

For many doctors, the question is not whether repayment will take decades, but how to manage debt in a way that preserves financial stability and long-term goals. Some physicians also choose accelerated repayment for personal or religious reasons, preferring a clear, debt-free path as soon as possible.

At Navigate Student Loans, our certified student loan repayment specialists work with physicians to create step-by-step repayment plans. We go beyond basic advice by running personalized projections with our medical school debt calculator. This tool shows how different repayment programs, salaries, and job offers affect your loans over time. By comparing multiple scenarios, you gain the clarity to decide whether enrolling in a physician loan repayment program, choosing a forgiveness option, or aggressively paying off loans will create the best outcome for your finances and your happiness.

Medical School Debt Calculator

Your First Step to a Debt-Free Life

This quick tool lets you compare how job offers or employer repayment benefits might affect your student loans. Just enter a few details and see the difference in your repayment timeline.

Our certified student loan repayment specialists can run a complete 10-year analysis on all your job offers to guide you toward the right choice for your future.

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With payments based on 10% of your income, you could be debt-free within...

Years

...but with expert advice,you could shorten the timeline and save more.

Schedule your free 15-min discovery session today!

Why Medical Professionals Choose Navigate?

Personalized strategies

Tailored to your income, specialty, and career stage

Scenario analysis

Using our medical school debt calculator to project the impact of job offers, repayment plans, and employer benefits

Independent guidance

That is not influenced by loan servicers or lenders

Proven results

Slients saving an average of $40,000 to $400,000 through optimized repayment strategies

Paying Off Medical School Debt Faster

Not every physician wants to wait decades or rely on forgiveness programs. For many, the priority is finding the best way to pay off medical school debt quickly while keeping life goals in balance. Our certified specialists help you create a structured, step-by-step payoff plan that matches your career stage, income, and personal priorities.

Physician Loan Repayment Programs

For many physicians, exploring loan repayment programs is an important part of managing medical school debt. These programs can offer significant financial relief, but they vary in eligibility requirements, service commitments, and long-term benefits.

At Navigate, our certified student loan repayment specialists help you determine whether you qualify for these programs and if they align with your overall repayment strategy. Using our medical school debt calculator, we show how program benefits compare with other options such as refinancing, aggressive payoff, or income-driven repayment. This allows you to make informed choices about whether to pursue a repayment program or focus on alternative strategies that may better serve your financial and lifestyle goals.

Physician Loan Forgiveness Programs & Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Beyond repayment programs, physicians may also consider federal or long-term forgiveness options. These include income-driven repayment plans that may lead to forgiveness after 20 to 25 years of qualifying payments, as well as programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). While these paths can provide substantial relief, recent and upcoming changes to federal repayment programs have made PSLF more uncertain than ever. We are seeing a trend away from PSLF among physicians with strong earning potential, who prefer a simpler, faster strategy that is less dependent on shifting federal rules.

Another factor physicians must prepare for is the end of the current SAVE repayment plan. With over 8 million borrowers affected, every physician using SAVE will need to select a new repayment strategy by July 1, 2026. Our specialists help you evaluate your next steps well before these changes take effect.

Fequently Asked Questions

How can a medical school debt calculator help me?

A medical school debt calculator gives you a clear picture of your repayment options by modeling different scenarios side by side. At Navigate, we use our custom calculator to show how various repayment plans, employer benefits, and forgiveness options impact your loans over 10 years or more. This way, you can make confident decisions about which path best supports your career and lifestyle.

What is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program for physicians?

PSLF may allow physicians working full-time for nonprofit or government employers to have their remaining loan balance forgiven after 120 qualifying payments. However, the rules and eligibility criteria can be complex and are subject to change. Our specialists help you evaluate whether PSLF is worth pursuing and prepare alternative strategies in case the program shifts in the future.

Are there physician loan forgiveness programs besides PSLF?

Yes. Physicians may qualify for federal income-driven repayment forgiveness after 20–25 years of payments, as well as state and specialty repayment programs. Examples include the National Health Service Corps and state-specific initiatives like the Texas Physician Loan Repayment Program. While Navigate does not administer these programs, we help you understand how they compare to other strategies and whether they fit into your long-term plan.

What is the best way to pay off medical school debt faster?

Paying off medical school debt quickly often involves choosing repayment plans with lower interest costs, making targeted extra payments, or refinancing. Our specialists model these options with our calculator so you can see exactly how each strategy shortens your payoff timeline and reduces total interest paid.

Can residents manage their medical school debt during training?

Yes. While residency salaries are lower, there are repayment strategies that keep monthly payments manageable while setting you up for faster payoff later. We help residents evaluate repayment plans and model how those choices affect future income and forgiveness eligibility.

How much debt do most physicians graduate with?

Many physicians graduate with between $200,000 and $400,000 in student loans. With the right strategy, it is possible to reduce this burden significantly through forgiveness programs, repayment benefits, or structured payoff plans.

Are physician assistants or nurses eligible for forgiveness programs too?

Yes. Many forgiveness and repayment programs, including PSLF, are also open to physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare providers. We can help evaluate how these opportunities fit into a broader repayment strategy.

Is refinancing a good option for physicians?

Refinancing can lower your interest rate and reduce overall costs, but it also eliminates federal protections and forgiveness eligibility. Our specialists compare refinancing against federal repayment and forgiveness strategies to help you decide if it is the right move for you.

What if my parents took out Parent PLUS loans for my education?

In many families, parents help cover undergraduate costs with Parent PLUS loans. Rules around these loans are changing dramatically. Physicians often ask if refinancing the loan into their name is possible. The answer is yes, but it is always wise to run the numbers before making this move. We guide you through that evaluation so you can make an informed choice.