Student loan borrowers who don't leave the so-called SAVE payment pause could see their debt grow from interest and find their progress to loan relief stalled.

If you have federal student loans, you’ve probably heard the buzz: SAVE plans started drawing attention again beginning August 1, 2025. That’s because interest accrual on federal student loans finally resumed after a long pause during the pandemic.

Accruing interest follows year of zero-interest forbearance and comes amid restructuring of the nation's student loan system.