Old Student Loan Rates Set for 2025-2026: Plan Your Payments
Published Date: 3/2/2026
Notice
Summary
If you have an old federal student loan made before July 1, 2010, your interest rate for the next year (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026) has been set. These rates can change every year and affect how much you pay. This notice tells you the new rates so you can plan your budget and payments with confidence.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual FFEL variable rates announced
If you have a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) made before July 1, 2010, your variable interest rate for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 has been set. The notice explains rates are set from Treasury yields and reports key yields: the 91-day Treasury bill bond-equivalent rate is 4.36% (May 27, 2025), the weekly average one-year Treasury yield is 4.09% (week ending June 26, 2025), and the average 91-day T‑bill rate for the quarter ending June 30, 2025 is 4.34%.
Stafford loan variable rates for 2025–2026
If you have a variable-rate Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford loan made under FFEL, the notice lists cohort-specific interest rates for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. For example, Stafford loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1998 and before July 1, 2006 have rates of 6.06% (in-school, grace, deferment status) and 6.66% (any other status), while other Stafford cohorts shown in Chart 1 have interest rates including 6.86% and 7.46% depending on the cohort and status.
PLUS and SLS loan rates set at ~7.19–7.34%
If you have a variable-rate PLUS or Federal Supplemental Loan for Students (SLS) from the FFEL Program, your interest rate for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 is based on the one‑year Treasury yield (4.09%) plus statutory add-ons. The charts show resulting interest rates of 7.19% for several PLUS and SLS cohorts and 7.34% for cohorts first disbursed before October 1, 1992.
Consolidation loan portions: HEAL vs non‑HEAL rates
If you have a Federal Consolidation Loan with variable rates, the notice lists separate rates for portions that repaid non‑HEAL loans and portions that repaid HEAL loans for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. For the portion that repaid loans other than HEAL (applications received after 11/13/1997 and before 10/01/1998), the rate shown is 7.46%. For the portion that repaid HEAL loans (application received after 11/13/1997), the rate shown is 7.34%, and that HEAL portion has no statutory maximum interest rate.
Converted variable‑rate Stafford loan rates listed
If you have a ‘‘converted’’ variable‑rate Stafford loan (an older loan that later converted to a variable rate), this notice lists cohort-specific interest rates for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Chart 3 shows converted Stafford loan interest rates including 7.46% for several cohorts and 7.61% for other cohorts depending on the original fixed rate and cohort dates.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-15019, Rescinding Portions of the Department of Education Title VI Regulations To Align With the Statutory Text and Conform to Executive Order 14281
The Department of Education is changing its rules to stop punishing unintentional discrimination under Title VI, focusing only on intentional discrimination instead. This update, effective July 24, 2026, will make things clearer, cut costs for schools and organizations getting federal money, and follow a new executive order about fairness and opportunity. If you receive federal funds, these changes affect how you follow civil rights rules.
2025-15665, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program
The government wants to change the rules for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to stop people working for shady employers from getting loan forgiveness. This means if your job is with an organization involved in serious illegal activities, you won’t qualify for loan help anymore. These changes protect taxpayers and make sure the program is fair, coming soon to keep things on the up and up.
2026-17081, Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Higher Education Act (HEA) Title II Report Cards on State Teacher Credentialing and Preparation
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).
2026-17001, Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization: The Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting Agencies: Institutional Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended, Student Assistance General Provisions
The Department proposes to revise the existing accrediting agency recognition regulations at 34 CFR part 602 to implement the directives set forth in Executive Order 14279, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education, and other Administration priorities, align the regulations more closely with statute, and reduce regulatory burden.
2026-17006, Final Waiver and Extension of the Project Period With Funding for Arts in Education National Program
The Secretary waives the requirements in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations that generally prohibit extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds. The waiver and extension enables one project under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.351A to receive funding for an additional period, not to exceed September 30, 2027.
2026-16596, Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions
The Secretary of Education publishes an l agenda of Federal regulatory and deregulatory actions. The agenda is issued under the authority of section 4(b) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review. The purpose of the agenda is to encourage more effective public participation in the regulatory process by providing the public with early information about the regulatory actions we plan to take.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-04065, Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Fixed-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
Starting July 1, 2025, new fixed-rate federal student loans will have updated interest rates that affect students borrowing under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. These rates stay the same for the life of the loan, so borrowers know exactly what to expect. If you’re planning to take out a Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or PLUS Loan between July 2025 and June 2026, these new rates will apply and impact your repayment costs.
Next: 2026-04067, Sunshine Act Meetings
The Farm Credit Administration is holding a public meeting on March 12, 2026, where they’ll review past minutes, discuss land values, and propose new rules about administrative costs. Anyone interested can join in person or online by registering a day ahead. This keeps things transparent and lets the public see how decisions affecting farm credit and money are made.