Loans & Debt

Student Loan Repayment Calculator

Compare every federal repayment plan available in 2026, including the new Repayment Assistance Plan and Tiered Standard plan plus legacy IBR, PAYE and ICR. See your monthly payment, total paid, forgiveness amount and whether your balance would grow.

Monthly payment

$329

On the Tiered Standard (2026)

Total paid

$59,171

Over up to 10 years

Forgiven

Remaining balance after null years

Every plan you can choose from, side by side

Plan	Monthly	Years paying	Total paid	Forgiven
Tiered Standard (2026)	$329	15.0	$59,171	$0
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)	$325	10.3	$53,742	$0

Lowest monthly payment: Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) at $325. Cheapest overall: Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) at $53,742 total. Forgiven balances may be taxable depending on the rules in force when forgiveness happens — check before relying on the leftover amount.

Details for your selection

Starting balance$38,000

Standard 10-year payment$429

Tiered Standard term for your balance15 years

RAP payment at this income$325 (6% of AGI)

Interest actually covered$21,171

Total out of pocket$59,171

Balance forgiven$0

Year by year

Year	Paid	Interest	Principal	Balance
1	$3,945	$2,383	$1,562	$36,438
2	$3,945	$2,280	$1,665	$34,774
3	$3,945	$2,171	$1,774	$33,000
4	$3,945	$2,054	$1,891	$31,109
5	$3,945	$1,930	$2,015	$29,094
6	$3,945	$1,797	$2,148	$26,946
7	$3,945	$1,656	$2,289	$24,657
8	$3,945	$1,505	$2,440	$22,217
9	$3,945	$1,344	$2,600	$19,617
10	$3,945	$1,173	$2,771	$16,845
11	$3,945	$991	$2,954	$13,891
12	$3,945	$797	$3,148	$10,743
13	$3,945	$589	$3,355	$7,388
14	$3,945	$369	$3,576	$3,812
15	$3,945	$133	$3,812	$0

What changed on July 1, 2026

Federal student loan repayment was restructured by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Borrowers whose loans were all disbursed before July 1, 2026 keep access to the legacy options — standard, graduated, extended and the old income-driven plans. Anyone who takes out a new federal loan on or after that date moves every loan they hold into one of two new plans.

The two new plans are the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and the Tiered Standard plan. Taking even a small new federal loan, or consolidating, triggers the change for your entire balance; if you do not choose, you are placed into Tiered Standard automatically.

RAP — payments are 1% to 10% of adjusted gross income, reduced by $50 per dependent, with forgiveness after 30 years.
Tiered Standard — fixed payments over 10, 15, 20 or 25 years depending on your total balance, with no forgiveness.
Legacy IDR plans — IBR remains available to eligible borrowers; PAYE and ICR end July 1, 2028, and enrollment closes July 1, 2027.

RAP versus the old income-driven plans

The old IDR family calculated payments from discretionary income — your income above roughly 150% of the poverty guideline for your family size. RAP instead takes a percentage of your full adjusted gross income, with no protected floor other than the $10 minimum payment.

That difference cuts both ways. RAP can cost more than IBR at low-to-moderate incomes, because nothing is shielded from the calculation. But RAP also fixes the problem of negative amortization: interest your payment does not cover is never added to the balance, and the government guarantees your principal drops by at least $50 every month.

Under legacy plans other than RAP, an unpaid interest gap capitalizes onto your loan, so balances can grow even while you make every payment. This calculator flags when that happens.

Choosing between the lowest payment and the lowest total cost

The plan with the smallest monthly payment is almost never the cheapest overall. Lower payments extend the timeline, so total interest climbs — and everything left over at forgiveness was still owed by someone, whether it is you or taxpayers.

Decide based on where you actually are. If you need breathing room now and expect income growth, an income-driven plan can be right. If your income is stable and high relative to the balance, paying on the standard schedule minimizes total interest. Always compare both in the table above.

Things worth checking before you enroll

A few details change outcomes more than the choice of plan itself:

Public Service Loan Forgiveness — still available, and RAP counts toward it. Worth far more than any IDR plan if you qualify.
Tax treatment of forgiven balances — forgiven amounts may be taxable depending on the rules in force when forgiveness occurs. Verify before assuming a forgiven balance is free.
Refinancing privately — can cut your rate substantially, but permanently gives up federal protections, income-driven options and forgiveness eligibility.
Recertification — income-driven payments are recalculated yearly from your latest tax return. Missing deadlines can push you onto the standard plan.
Pre-tax contributions — retirement deferrals reduce AGI, which lowers income-driven payments, including your RAP band.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Repayment Assistance Plan?

RAP is the only income-driven plan available to borrowers with new federal loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026. Monthly payments equal 1% to 10% of your adjusted gross income depending on income band, reduced by $50 per dependent claimed on your tax return, with a $10 minimum. Unpaid interest is not added to the balance, the principal falls by at least $50 each month, and any remaining balance is forgiven after 30 years of qualifying payments.

What is the Tiered Standard plan?

It is the fixed-payment replacement for the old standard plan for new borrowers. Your term is set by your total federal balance when you enter repayment: under $25,000 is 10 years, $25,000 to $49,999 is 15 years, $50,000 to $99,999 is 20 years, and $100,000 or more is 25 years. There is a $50 minimum payment and no forgiveness.

Can I still use IBR?

Yes, if none of your federal loans were disbursed on or after July 1, 2026. Newer borrowers pay 10% of discretionary income with forgiveness after 20 years; earlier borrowers pay 15% with forgiveness after 25 years. Payments never exceed what the 10-year standard plan would require, and you no longer need to demonstrate partial financial hardship.

Why would my balance grow while I make payments?

If your income-driven payment is smaller than the monthly interest charge, the shortfall is added to your principal — called negative amortization. RAP prevents this entirely. On other plans the gap is capitalized, which is why some borrowers owe more after years of faithful payments.

Should I refinance instead?

Refinancing privately can lower your rate and total cost, particularly with strong income and good credit. The trade-off is losing access to income-driven plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, deferment and forbearance options. If you might need that flexibility, or you are pursuing PSLF, stay in the federal system.

Is forgiven student loan debt taxed?

Treatment depends on federal law in effect at the time of forgiveness, and that has changed more than once. This calculator reports the amount that would be forgiven but does not apply any tax to it. Check current IRS guidance or ask a tax professional before counting on a forgiven balance.

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Disclaimer: Student Loan Repayment Calculator results are estimates produced from the figures you enter and publicly available reference data. They do not account for every credit, deduction, fee or local rule, and they are not tax, legal or investment advice. Verify anything you plan to act on with a qualified professional or your lender. See our financial disclaimer and privacy policy. Last data review: 2026-10-04.