Government-issued student loans are repaid over a specific time period via regular payments, but you don’t have to start making payments while you’re still in school. You may also be granted a grace period once you graduate. But after that grace period ends, you’ll need to start making regular payments until the outstanding balance is paid in full.  Payments made in the first 6 months following graduation will go directly to the principal portion of the loan. If you manage to pay the loan off during this time period, you won’t pay any interest.