RAP calculator: estimate your Repayment Assistance Plan payment
Calculate your RAP payment — and compare every option
Most RAP calculators only show one number. Ours runs RAP and IBR, PSLF, and refinancing side-by-side, then tells you which actually costs the least over the life of your loans.
Run my RAP numbers free →What is the RAP plan?
The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) is the new federal income-driven repayment plan created by the 2025 budget reconciliation law (OBBBA). It is replacing older plans like SAVE, PAYE, and ICR for most new borrowers. RAP has three features that matter most:
- Payment as a percentage of your AGI. Unlike older plans that used "discretionary income," RAP charges a tiered percentage of your total adjusted gross income — rising from 1% to 10% as income increases — then subtracts $50 per dependent, with a $10 monthly minimum.
- An interest waiver. If your RAP payment doesn't cover the monthly interest, the government waives the difference. Your balance won't balloon from unpaid interest the way it can on older plans.
- Forgiveness after 30 years of qualifying payments (or tax-free after 120 payments if you qualify for PSLF).
How is a RAP payment calculated?
RAP applies a tiered percentage to your adjusted gross income, not your discretionary income. As your income rises, the percentage steps up toward 10%. The result is reduced by $50 for each dependent, and never falls below a $10 monthly minimum. Because it's based on full AGI rather than income above a poverty threshold, RAP can produce higher payments than older plans for some borrowers — which is exactly why comparing it to your other options matters.
The calculator above runs this formula on your real numbers and then does what a standalone RAP calculator can't: it compares RAP against legacy IBR (with its payment cap), PSLF, and private refinancing, and ranks them by true lifetime cost.
Is RAP better than IBR for physicians?
It depends on your income and goals — and the difference can be six figures:
- High-earning attendings often do better on legacy IBR, because IBR caps your payment at the 10-year standard amount. RAP has no such cap, so a high AGI can push your RAP payment well above the IBR cap.
- Residents and lower earners, or anyone pursuing PSLF, may prefer RAP's lower early payments and interest waiver — more of the balance gets forgiven tax-free at the end.
This is the single most valuable thing the calculator does: it tells you which plan wins for your specific situation, instead of leaving you to guess.
Does RAP count toward PSLF?
Yes. RAP is a qualifying plan for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. If you work full-time for a qualifying nonprofit or government employer, RAP payments count toward the 120 needed for tax-free forgiveness. For a deeper comparison, see our guide on RAP vs IBR for physicians.
Stop guessing which plan is cheapest
Enter your loans, income, and employer once. We'll run RAP, IBR, PSLF, and refinancing and show you the lowest-cost path — free, with no signup required to see your answer.
Calculate my best plan →Educational estimates, not financial advice. The RAP plan is new and still being implemented by the U.S. Department of Education and loan servicers; verify current rules at studentaid.gov. See our methodology and disclosures.