$
%
2026–27 undergraduate rate: 6.52%
$
From your tax return
Lower your RAP payment
For IBR
More options· Income growth 3% a year
%
Income-driven payments rise with income
Your RAP payment
$229.17/mo
Standard plan: $305.27 a month for 15 yr
- RAP: paid off in
- 13 yr 6 mo
- Total paid under RAP
- $55,642
What this means
RAP payments are a share of your income, not your balance: here $229.17 a month. If a payment doesn’t cover the interest, the rest is waived, and if it cuts your balance by less than $50, the government adds the difference.
The standard (15 years) costs the least overall ($54,949), because the loan is gone sooner. Lower monthly payments usually mean paying for longer.
Plans compared
| Plan | First payment | Time | Total paid | Forgiven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (15 years) | $305 | 15 yr | $54,949 | – |
| Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) | $229 | 13 yr 6 mo | $55,642 | – |
How RAP payments are set
- 1% to 10% of your AGI: 1% for income from $10,001 to $20,000, rising by 1% for each $10,000, up to 10% over $100,000.
- Minus $50 a month for each dependent, with a minimum payment of $10.
- Forgiveness of anything left after 30 years of payments (10 years for Public Service Loan Forgiveness).
Assumptions in this estimate
- For federal Direct loans. Income-driven payments are recalculated each year as your income grows; the interest rate stays the same.
- Forgiven balances may count as taxable income. Private loans aren’t eligible for these plans.
- The poverty guidelines are the 2026 figures ($15,960 for one person, plus $5,680 for each extra person).