I know of no governmental student loan that is interest free. In addition, the options for flexible payments are limited, and generally only available to those

I know of no governmental student loan that is interest free. In addition, the options for flexible payments are limited, and generally only available to those of lower income brackets. There are payment deferral options, but interest accrues and capitalizes during deferral. Terms are comparable to that of a house mortgage, but unlike a mortgage, you can't get out of the loan if it turns out it was a bad idea. You are stuck with that debt for the next 20 years without recourse. It's entirely possible to graduate from college, go to work, lose your job in an economic downturn, put your student loans in deferral (because sorry, you made more than $40,000 last year, you don't qualify for flexible payments) while you try to get back on your feet, only to discover that when your deferral ends because you have a job again, the accrued interest has capitalized a few times, and now you owe more principal than what you originally borrowed. The new bigger minimum monthly payment eats up a comparable portion of your new bigger salary, and you're back where you started.