On Wednesday we discussed various loan and scholarship options for funding a B-school education. But what happens after you graduate and you must begin to repay those debts? Today we offer a few insights into managing your debts once you have earned your degree.

Loan Payment Plans

Schedule your loan payments around your budget. You can be in control of your repayment plan.

Debt management is an intractable issue associated with financing one’s education. Most loan providers are flexible in that a payment schedule can be worked out based on the graduate’s income; different providers will have different options and it is vital that these be understood. In some cases payment can be extended to 25-30 years after graduation. Sallie Mae, a major loan provider, requires on average a 10-year payment schedule with principal and interest fees due every month.

Tax Breaks

In some cases, an MBA can be tax deductible. This must be understood on a case-by-case basis, but typically if the student can prove that their MBA education supplements the career that they are currently engaged in, then their education can be tax deductible. For example, if a non-profit executive pursues and MBA in non-profit management, they could write off their fees. If a software engineer does the same they will not be able to prove that their MBA will enhance their ability in their current position, and they will not be able to write off their fees.