Student loans for general surgeons: your 2026 repayment strategy
Find your lowest-cost repayment path
Enter your real numbers and we'll compare PSLF, RAP, capped IBR, and refinancing — ranked by true lifetime cost. Free, no signup to see your answer.
Run my numbers →The key question for general surgeons
A long residency means more years of low payments that can count toward PSLF at an academic center — but high attending income means refinancing often wins in private practice.
How the decision usually breaks down
- If you work for a nonprofit or government employer: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is often the lowest-cost path — 120 qualifying payments, then tax-free forgiveness. How PSLF works →
- If you're in private practice or a for-profit group: PSLF usually isn't available, so the choice is between an income-driven plan (RAP) and refinancing to a lower rate. Compare refinance lenders →
- If your debt is modest relative to your $420,000 income: refinancing to the shortest term you can afford often wins, because little would be forgiven anyway.
- If your debt is high relative to income: income-driven forgiveness (and the tax-free version, PSLF) becomes far more valuable.
What about the new RAP plan?
As of July 1, 2026, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) is the new federal income-driven option. For general surgeons, whether RAP beats legacy IBR or refinancing comes down to your income and PSLF eligibility — which is exactly what our calculator sorts out. RAP vs IBR explained →
Stop guessing — see your actual numbers
Every general surgeon's situation is different. Run yours free and get a ranked, explainable recommendation in two minutes.
Calculate my best plan →Educational estimates, not financial advice. Income and debt figures are representative ranges, not your specific numbers. Verify program rules at studentaid.gov. See our methodology and disclosures.