Per month after $50.00 dependent reduction; $10 floor.
FORM SL-1REV. OCT 2026
Student Loan Repayment Calculator: RAP vs Standard vs IBR
New rules took effect July 1, 2026. Enter your loan balance, income and family size — compare your monthly payment, total cost and forgiveness timeline under every plan you can still use.
Last updated: October 21, 2026
ESTIMATED · NOT ADVICE
TAXBREAK HUBSTUB № SL1-00001
Existing-borrower view: RAP, Tiered Standard and the 10% newer-borrower IBR illustration are shown.
Fixed amortized payment using the entered balance and interest rate.
AGI above 150% of the 2026 poverty guideline; older cohorts may use 15%.
Undergraduate loans only$38,000.00 entered balance
AD SLOT · TOOL · BELOW CALCULATOR · RESERVED HEIGHT, NO LAYOUT SHIFT
How it works
- RAP uses an AGI tier. The rate rises from 1% in the $10,001–$20,000 band to 10% above $100,000; the annual amount is divided by 12, reduced by $50 per dependent, and floored at $10 per month. 20 U.S.C. §1098e-1; Edfinancial
- RAP protects the balance from unpaid interest. Any monthly interest not covered by the required payment is waived rather than capitalized, and qualifying payments can continue for up to 360 months.
- Tiered Standard uses a fixed amortized payment. Its term is 10, 15, 20, or 25 years based on the balance tier; this calculator uses the balance entered as the term-setting proxy. Department of Education; Edfinancial
- IBR remains available to eligible existing borrowers. The estimate uses 10% of AGI above 150% of the 2026 poverty guideline; older IBR cohorts can use 15%, and forgiveness is 20 or 25 years depending on borrower history.
- PSLF is a separate 120-payment path. The PSLF panel appears when you select a qualifying public-service employer; final plan eligibility must be confirmed with Federal Student Aid.
FAQ
What is RAP?
The Repayment Assistance Plan is a federal income-driven plan launched July 1, 2026. Its monthly payment uses an AGI tier, subtracts $50 per dependent, and cannot fall below $10.
Can I still get PSLF?
Yes. Federal Student Aid confirms that qualifying payments under RAP and income-driven plans such as IBR can count toward PSLF's 120-payment requirement when the loan and employment rules are also met.
What if I was on SAVE?
SAVE has ended. Borrowers need to review the repayment plans available for their loan history and should use current Federal Student Aid migration guidance before selecting a replacement.
Is RAP better than IBR?
Neither plan is always lower. RAP uses gross AGI bands and a dependent reduction, while IBR uses discretionary income and borrower-history rules; compare both monthly payment and the potential forgiveness timeline.
What is the Tiered Standard plan?
It is a fixed-payment plan for loans in the new repayment system. The repayment term is 10, 15, 20, or 25 years depending on the applicable balance tier, with no income-based payment calculation.
When do PAYE and ICR end?
Federal Student Aid says PAYE and ICR will be eliminated no later than July 1, 2028. The exact earlier cutoff for new enrollment remains subject to implementation guidance, so check StudentAid.gov before acting.
Methodology
RAP applies these AGI tiers: ≤$10,000: $10 flat; $10,001–$20,000: 1%; $20,001–$30,000: 2%; $30,001–$40,000: 3%; $40,001–$50,000: 4%; $50,001–$60,000: 5%; $60,001–$70,000: 6%; $70,001–$80,000: 7%; $80,001–$90,000: 8%; $90,001–$100,000: 9%; above $100,000: 10%. The annual amount is divided by 12, reduced by $50 per dependent, and floored at $10. The RAP simulation waives monthly unpaid interest and models the statutory principal-support mechanism through a maximum of 360 qualifying payments. Tiered Standard is an ordinary fixed-payment amortization using a 10/15/20/25-year balance tier. The IBR estimate uses 10% of AGI above 150% of the 2026 HHS poverty guideline for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.; the request's 225% figure was not used because Federal Student Aid identifies 150% for IBR. Older IBR borrowers may use 15%, and the 20- versus 25-year timeline depends on borrower history not captured here. Federal Student Aid confirms RAP and IBR payments can count toward PSLF when all loan and employment rules are met. Federal implementation guidance is still evolving; confirm plan eligibility and PAYE/ICR transition dates at studentaid.gov. Last updated: October 2026.Sources: 20 U.S.C. §1098e-1; Federal Student Aid, One Big Beautiful Bill Act Updates, IDR Questions and Answers, and PSLF qualifying-plan guidance; Edfinancial RAP and Repayment Plan Comparison; The College Investor, How the Repayment Assistance Plan Works; TISLA Federal Direct Loan Repayment Options; 2026 HHS Poverty Guidelines — accessed October 2026Last updated: October 21, 2026 · Reviewed against official federal repayment guidance