Short answerAvalanche targets the highest interest rate first and costs the least in interest. Snowball targets the smallest balance first and delivers wins sooner. Both beat paying minimums everywhere. Automate every payment so the plan survives busy months.
List every loan
Write down each loan with three numbers: balance, interest rate, minimum payment. Your servicer shows all three. You cannot plan what you cannot see.
Avalanche, plainly
Pay minimums on every loan. Send every extra dollar to the highest rate. When that loan is gone, roll its payment into the next highest rate.
This method costs the least in total interest. It rewards patience with math.
Snowball, plainly
Pay minimums on every loan. Send every extra dollar to the smallest balance. When that loan is gone, roll its payment into the next smallest.
This method clears loans fastest, and early wins keep momentum high. It costs a bit more interest than avalanche.
Automate everything
Set autopay for at least the minimums on every loan. Add the extra payment as a separate automatic transfer.
A plan that runs itself survives busy months and forgotten logins.
Point extra money at the plan
Decide in advance where windfalls go: raises, refunds, side income. Money without a job gets spent. Money with a job kills loans.