# Student Loan

*Borrowing & Credit — Finicade finance glossary*

A student loan finances education, and unlike other consumer debt, repayment often starts after study and government versions carry real protections.

A student loan finances education, and it is unusual among consumer debts in two ways: repayment often doesn't start until after study, and government-issued versions carry protections private lenders don't offer — income-driven plans, deferment, and forgiveness routes. That gap is why refinancing federal loans privately for a slightly lower rate can be an expensive trade. Student debt is also very hard to discharge in bankruptcy, which is what makes it uniquely persistent.

**Also known as:** student debt, education loan

**Related terms:** [Installment Loan](https://finicade.com/glossary/installment-loan), [Deferment](https://finicade.com/glossary/deferment), [Forbearance](https://finicade.com/glossary/forbearance), [Discretionary Income](https://finicade.com/glossary/discretionary-income), [Loan Modification](https://finicade.com/glossary/loan-modification)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/student-loan