You need to consider all of the repayment options that are available to federal student loan borrowers, because you'll need to decide which one is best suited to fit your own needs. There are various options available, and you have the flexibility to change your repayment plan annually throughout your repayment period to accommodate changes in your financial situation.

To change your payment plan log into Manage Your Loans^SM and find the one that best fits your needs. Here's a brief description of the options to choose from:

Level (Standard) Repayment		The most common payment arrangement is a level payment option where every payment is the same amount (except for the final). Under this option, the payment amount will be fixed in order to repay the loan obligation.
Graduated Repayment		Many lenders and secondary markets allow you to begin repayment with smaller monthly payments and gradually increase the payment amount over time. The graduated repayment plan assumes that your income will grow to cover the increasing payment amounts. Total interest paid on this repayment option will be somewhat higher than the level repayment option, because interest accrues on a higher balance for a longer period of time.
Income Sensitive Repayment		Income Sensitive Repayment (ISR) amounts are determined by utilizing your gross monthly income. ISR payments must equal at least the monthly, accrued interest and are granted in 12-month increments for a maximum of 60 months.
Extended Repayment		Eligible borrowers receive payment relief through a lengthened repayment term of up to 25 years.