Blog For EmployersYour Guide to Employer Student Loan Repayment

Employer Student Loan Repayment: The Ultimate Guide

Curious about Student Loan Repayment Benefits but not sure where to start? In this post, we share key resources and go over the basics so you can get your benefit up and running in no time.

by Samantha Park

Mar 17, 2025 • 5 min read

Employer student loan repayment the ultimate guide

Key Takeaways

An Employer Student Loan Repayment Benefit allows employers to make payments toward an employee’s student loan debt.
The benefit can be set up for monthly payments or on-demand payments.
Offering student loan assistance increases retention, enhances recruitment, supports employee wellbeing, and has tax advantages.
Paidly’s experts are here to help you create a Student Loan Repayment Benefit and help you manage it every step of the way

Employer Student Loan Repayment Benefit Overview

A Student Loan Repayment Benefit allows employers to make payments toward an employee’s student loan debt. Think of it like a 401(k) or 529 contribution, but rather than building employee savings for the future, you’re paying down debt so they can live more comfortably now.

Helping employees with their student loans lessens their financial stress at home so they can be happier and more present at work.

Employee student loan assistance services

Easily offer student loan repayment benefits. Download our free guide or visit our employer benefit page to learn how to relieve employee financial stress.

Help your Employees gain financial freedom

Payments can be monthly or on-demand

Student Loan Repayment Benefits don’t have to be a monthly contribution. Paying out bonuses or making one-time contributions is a great way to test out the benefit or support your staff on a budget.

See what impact a
Student Loan Repayment Benefit could have on your employees.

Understanding the Student Debt Crisis

As of early 2025, student loan debt in the United States totals $1.77 trillion. The average graduate owes tens of thousands of dollars and it takes most of them decades to pay it off, causing 71% of borrowers to delay milestones like homeownership, parenthood, and continuing education.

The following articles explore why higher education is so expensive and how it’s affecting borrowers long-term.

The Hidden Costs of College: Why Tuition Keeps Rising
Debt vs. Service: The Dilemma of America's Essential Workers
Debt vs. Service: The Personal Cost of Teaching (for more on delaying homeownership)
Debt vs. Service: The Healthcare Worker Tradeoff (for more on delaying further education)
Debt vs. Service: The Struggle in Nonprofits (for more on delaying parenthood)

Why Employers should offer a Student Loan Repayment Benefit

There are many reasons employers should consider offering a Student Loan Repayment Benefit, including enhanced recruitment, increased retention, supporting employee wellbeing, improved DEI, and tax advantages. See the subtopics below to dive deeper into each of these reasons.

Recruitment & Retention

86% of employees say they’d commit to a company for at least five years if the employer helped pay down their student loans. That’s a huge deal since employees who feel their student debt is a heavy burden are twice as likely to leave their jobs for other opportunities.

On top of that, 77% of employees report they would be more likely to accept a job offer from an employer willing to help pay down their student loans, making student loan assistance a standout employer benefit for both your current and incoming workforce. Here are some resources on how adding this benefit could help you attract the best talent and help you keep them.

Create an informed employee retention strategy

See what your return on investment could look like when offering a Student Loan Repayment Benefit

Employee Wellbeing

Financial stress from student loan debt negatively impacts employee productivity, engagement, mental health, and interpersonal relationships. Student debt also disproportionately burdens women, people of color, immigrants, and first-generation college students.

Visit the articles below to see how a Student Loan Repayment Benefit will positively impact your employees.

Tax Benefits

Through December 2025, employers can contribute up to $5,250 in student loan payments tax-free through the CARES Act. See the articles below to learn more about how you can take advantage of this benefit.

Want to create a Section 127 plan? Paidly's experts can guide you through the process and help you implement a compliant, effective educational assistance program. Talk to an Expert today to learn more.

How to ask for an Employer Student Loan Repayment Benefit

Are you an employee looking for student loan assistance? Here’s how you can make the case for a Student Loan Repayment Benefit to your employer.

Getting a Student Loan Repayment Benefit started

The first steps to starting a Student Loan Repayment Benefit are to create a budget and identify eligible employees. Paidly can guide you through the rest, including setting up the benefit and distributing payments on your schedule.

How to Start a Student Loan Repayment Benefit

Ready to get started?

A Student Loan Repayment Benefit expert is ready to help.

Are you a broker? Learn how to Offer Student Loan Repayment Benefits Through Your Brokerage.

Want to know more about how Paidly can support your workforce? Schedule a demo or send us an email at [email protected].

Samantha Park

Samantha Park is a writer with a background in public service work. She recently earned a M.S. in Professional Writing from Towson University where she focused on writing for the private and public sectors, and has previously graduated with an A.A. in Psychology from Anne Arundel Community College and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Maryland College Park. Samantha has worked within and alongside the public sector for the past decade and cares deeply about empowering marginalized youth, expanding access to opportunity through education, and increasing community involvement.

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