Student loan repayment calculator
Compare IBR, RAP, Standard and PSLF on your real numbers and see your total lifetime cost and forgiveness — not just the monthly payment. Built on the July 1, 2026 federal rules. Free, no login, no email.
Understand each plan
Plain-language explainers for the plans this calculator compares:
- RAP vs IBR (2026 rules) — which plan is cheaper, and why
- How IDR payments are calculated — discretionary income and the formula
- What counts as a qualifying PSLF employer
- Refinance vs PSLF — the one question that decides it
- MFJ vs MFS for student loans — how filing status changes your payment
- Our methodology — every formula and the federal rules behind it
How the 2026 income-driven plans compare
After the SAVE plan was struck down, current borrowers choose between IBR and the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). RAP is a flat 1–10% of your total income (reaching 10% over $100k) with no payment cap, but it waives unpaid interest so your balance can't snowball. IBR is 10% of your discretionary income — 15% if you first borrowed before July 1, 2014 — and is capped at the 10-year Standard payment. That cap is usually the deciding factor: as your income rises, RAP's payment keeps climbing while IBR's can't exceed the cap. The only honest way to choose is to compare total lifetime cost, including any forgiveness and its taxes — which is exactly what this tool does.
If you work for a nonprofit or government employer, PSLF forgives your remaining balance tax-free after 120 qualifying payments, which usually makes the lowest income-driven payment the cheapest overall path. If you're not pursuing forgiveness, the Standard plan or refinancing privately is often cheaper.