Can I Deduct Student Loan Interest? What Gen Z Needs to Know

Key takeaways

Depending on your income, you may be able to reduce your taxable income by $2,500.

To qualify, the loan must be in your name, and you can’t be claimed as a dependent. 

Interest from other loans, including mortgages, personal loans, or credit cards, doesn’t qualify for the deduction.  

I was minutes away from hitting “file” on my tax return when my roommate told me I could deduct my student loan interest.

A quick check later, I realized I could lower my taxable income by up to $2,500 — just for paying my loans.

If you’re already making student loan payments, this is one of the easiest deductions to miss. Here’s what to know before you claim it.

What is the student loan interest deduction?

The student loan interest deduction allows qualified borrowers to deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest payments from their taxable income. 

If you qualify, you can take the student loan interest deduction whether you’re taking the standard deduction or itemizing your deductions.

Whether you can claim the full $2,500 depends on a few things, including:

Your income

Your filing status

How much student loan interest you paid in 2025

Do I qualify for the student loan interest deduction? 

You may qualify for the student loan interest deduction if: 

You have a public or private higher education student loan in your name

You paid required or voluntary prepaid interest on a student loan in the year of the filing

Your status is single, or married, filing jointly (your status can’t be married, filing separately)

You (or your spouse if you’re filing together) aren’t being claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s return

Just how much of the student loan interest deduction you qualify for will also depend on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Here’s how it breaks down:

Not sure what your MAGI is? Don’t stress — tax software calculates for you.

How does the student loan interest deduction work? 

If you meet the qualifications above, there’s a good chance you can claim the student loan interest deduction. 

In 2025, if you paid:

$2,500 or more in student loan interest, you can take the maximum $2,500 deduction.

Less than $2,500 in student loan interest, you can deduct the exact amount of interest you paid. 

If you paid $600 or more in student loan interest, your loan servicer will send you Form 1098-E, which shows exactly how much interest you paid during the year.

Remember, this is a deduction — not a credit — which means it lowers your taxable income. That can reduce the amount of tax you owe.

Deductions, made easy

Some deductions are hiding in plain sight, while others can take a pro to find. Discover every deduction you qualify for — including student loan interest — and see how it impacts your return. Get started with TurboTax Deluxe.