You've picked a venue, puzzled over the playlist and set the date. But there's a less glamorous topic to consider: what happens to student loans when you get married?
The reality of managing debt together can be overwhelming. The good news? Getting married to someone with student loan debt doesn't mean you're automatically responsible for repayment. Typically, the debt stays with the original borrower.
That said, marriage can impact how you manage your student loans. You may find that your monthly payments change, and you might not qualify for certain tax deductions or tax credits. Plus, taking on new debt may mean sharing responsibility for repaying the loan.
Here's how tying the knot can affect your student loan debt.
Who is responsible for student loans after marriage?
In most cases, you are solely responsible for your student loans. Your spouse usually is not legally required to make payments on loans in your name, even if you took them out after you were married. This is generally still true after a divorce, and the debt stays with the borrower.
There are a few key exceptions:
- You cosigned a loan application: If your spouse took out new loans and you cosigned the loan application, you're legally responsible for your spouse's student loans. If your spouse doesn't make the payments, the lender can pursue you for the payments instead. And, missed payments can hurt your credit score.
- You live in a community property state: If you live in a community property state, which is Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, any debt you take out after you're married is jointly owned, meaning both people are responsible. However, even in these states, the debt you took out prior to getting married remains separate.
What happens if a borrower dies?
It's the last thing a newly-engaged or married couple wants to consider, but in the case of federal student loans, you're protected by federal death discharge when a borrower dies. The remaining balance is wiped out, so the surviving spouse isn't responsible for the loans.
With private student loans, some lenders will discharge them, but student debt discharge policies vary by lender.
How marriage affects federal student loan repayment plans
Getting married can impact how much you have to pay each month toward your federal student loans. Some repayment plans, particularly income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, base your monthly payments on your income and family size. Depending on how you file your taxes, your new joint income could cause your payments to change.
For example, say you owe $20,000 in Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $40,000 per year. Under the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), which the U.S. Department of Education will launch in July 2026, your monthly payment would be $100 per month, and you'd be in repayment for up to 30 years.
If you're married and file your taxes jointly, your loan servicer will consider your spouse's income as part of the calculation for your payment amount. Supposing your spouse's income brings your combined AGI to $60,000, your monthly payments would jump to $250.
When you file your taxes as married filing separately, your spouse's income won't impact your payments. But there may be other tradeoffs, such as potentially paying higher taxes.
Are payments prorated if both spouses have loans?
The current IDR plans are income-based repayment (IBR), income-contingent repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE), but they are phasing out and ending by July 1, 2028. These plans take your marital status and your spouse's debt into consideration. If your spouse has outstanding student loans, your loan servicer may reduce your payment amount so you each pay a proportional amount toward your combined debt.
The RAP works differently. As of April 2026, this program has what some may call a "marriage penalty." The current structure doesn't account for spousal debt for those married filing jointly, so married student loan borrowers may pay much higher amounts.
Some politicians have submitted a proposal to amend the RAP to provide relief to married borrowers by changing how payments are calculated, but the proposal hasn't been voted on or taken effect as of June 2026.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and marriage
Marriage doesn't change your eligibility for PSLF, but it can affect your payment amount. Depending on your tax status and income, your payments could go up, which could result in you paying off your debt before you meet the eligibility requirements for student loan forgiveness.
If you're looking to maximize loan forgiveness, consider filing your taxes separately so only your income is considered in setting your payment amount.
Marriage and the student loan interest deduction
When you submit your tax return, you can claim the student loan interest tax deduction to lower your taxable income by deducting the actual amount of student loan interest you paid or $2,500, whichever is less, during the tax year.
However, you're only eligible for the deduction if you're single or are married filing jointly. Those who are married and file separately don't qualify.
The student loan interest tax deduction also has income restrictions. For the 2025 tax year, you can't claim the deduction if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is $100,000 or more ($200,000 if you're married filing jointly), so getting married could cause you to lose your eligibility for the deduction.
What about private student loans when you're married?
Unlike federal student loans, private student loans aren't eligible for IDR plans, so income changes due to marriage don't affect your payment amounts.
With private loans, the key consideration is whether your spouse is a cosigner. If your partner cosigns the loan, they are legally responsible for it, even if you divorce or pass away.
Carefully review the terms of any existing loans and weigh the pros and cons of cosigning a new loan application.
Tips for managing your student loans after marriage
After you get married, it's important for you and your new spouse to manage your finances and student loan debt together. These tips can help you get started:
- Review your loans: Review your credit reports and check your Federal Student Aid (FSA) accounts to see all loans in your name, the current loan balances and payment due dates. Knowing exactly what you owe and what types of loans you have can help you come up with a repayment strategy as a couple.
- Consider your repayment options: Depending on your loans and income, you may be eligible for an IDR plan. Use the federal repayment simulator to see how getting married affects your payment amounts and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of filing your taxes jointly. It may make sense to evaluate all your repayment options, especially if you were taking advantage of income-based repayment, forbearance or deferment before marriage.
- Talk about refinancing: If you have high-interest debt, student loan refinancing could be a smart way to lower your interest rate and adjust your repayment terms. If your spouse has a good credit score, your partner could cosign the loan and help you qualify for more favorable rates than you'd get by yourself. You can also discuss if consolidating vs. refinancing makes sense for your financial situation.
- Consult a tax professional: Figuring out which tax filing status is right for you and your new spouse can be complicated, so consider working with a certified public accountant (CPA) or credentialed tax professional. They can review your information and student loan debt and help you determine the best path forward.
Building your financial future together
Once you're married, your filing status and combined income can affect your student loan repayment options. As you plan for your big day, talk with your future spouse about your student loan debt and develop a plan to manage it going forward.
In some cases, student loan refinancing can make sense, helping you save on interest and simplify repayment. Explore options for refinancing your student loans with Citizens.†