Student-Athlete Financial Awareness
Before you pick a school,
see what the debt actually costs.
A scholarship offer feels exciting. An acceptance letter feels like a finish line. But the financial decision you make right now will follow you every single month for the next 10 to 25 years. This tool makes that real — before you commit.
The loan
Your future
Monthly payment
$454
every month
Net loan after aid
$40,000
what you actually owe
Total repaid
$54,480
principal + interest
Paid off at age
32
starting at 22
Loan payment as % of monthly take-home
13%
Comfortable <10%
Manageable 10–15%
Stressful 15–20%
Danger >20%
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of your monthly take-home before anything else
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Every month, before rent, groceries, or going out
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Starting 6 months after graduation day
What if you invested that money instead?
If you had no loan debt and put that same monthly amount into an investment account at 7%/year:
After 10 years of investing that same amount
$75,229
vs. $54,480 paid to a lender — a $20,749 difference
You pay the lender
$54,480
total loan cost
You could have built
$75,229
at same monthly amount
Estimates only. Investment returns are not guaranteed. Actual interest rates vary. This tool is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. © 2026 Fifth and Oak Athletic Consulting.
Numbers are one thing.
A plan is another.
We help student-athletes and their families navigate the real cost of college — before it's too late to make a smarter choice. Let's talk through your options together.