Which student loan plan costs least? All 9 compared

Q: Does RAP payment history transfer back to IBR?

No. Payments made on IBR, PAYE or ICR count toward those plans' forgiveness clocks, and switching to RAP forfeits that credit permanently. PSLF credit is tracked separately and survives the switch.

Q: What happens to PAYE and ICR after 1 July 2028?

They end under P.L. 119-21. If you do not choose a plan by then, 34 C.F.R. § 685.209(c)(7)(iii)(A) places you on RAP for whichever loans qualify for it, and on IBR for the loans that do not. Any projection running past that date models that move rather than projecting a plan that no longer exists.

The answer9 of 9 plans open to you

Standard 10-year costs you $746 less than Old IBR over the life of your loans.

RAP starts $206 a month cheaper than Standard 10-year, and ends up $10,345 more expensive.

0 of 7 details — add your loan balances for an exact answer

Nothing entered yet, so this models an example borrower — $38,500 at 6.39% on $55,000 of income. Change any field and the answer above becomes yours.

All nine plans, ranked

9 plans your loans can use, ranked by total lifetime cost. Standard 10-year is first.

Standard 10-yearRecommended
Monthly$435.01
Lifetime cost$52,201
Forgiven$0
Resolves in10 yr
Formula
fixed payment amortising your balance over 120 months at your balance-weighted rate
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$435.01
Payments simulated
120
Paid over the term
$52,201
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$52,201
Resolves
10 yr (paid in full)
Rule set plan-terms-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.208 — repayment plans (Standard, Graduated, Extended), as revised by the RISE final rule (full GPO text, published 1 May 2026)
Old IBR
Monthly$388.25
Lifetime cost$52,947
Forgiven$0
Resolves in10 yr 4 mo
Formula
monthly = 15% × (AGI − 150% of the poverty guideline) ÷ 12, capped at the 10-year Standard payment · forgiveness after 300 payments
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$388.25
Payments simulated
124
Paid over the term
$52,947
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$52,947
Resolves
10 yr 4 mo (paid in full)
Rule set plan-terms-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.209 — income-driven repayment plans, as revised by the RISE final rule (full GPO text, published 1 May 2026)
Graduated
Monthly$249.81
Lifetime cost$55,922
Forgiven$0
Resolves in10 yr
Formula
payment steps up every 24 months across 10 years · the first payment covers at least the accruing interest, the last is at most 3× the first
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$249.81
Payments simulated
120
Paid over the term
$55,922
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$55,922
Resolves
10 yr (paid in full)
Rule set plan-terms-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.208 — repayment plans (Standard, Graduated, Extended), as revised by the RISE final rule (full GPO text, published 1 May 2026)
ICR
Monthly$383.52
Lifetime cost$59,546
Forgiven$0
Resolves in13 yr 7 mo
Formula
monthly = lesser of 20% × (AGI − 100% of the poverty guideline) ÷ 12 and a 12-year fixed amortisation · plan ends 1 Jul 2028, and this projection moves you to RAP on that date if your loans qualify for it, otherwise to IBR
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$383.52
Payments simulated
163
Paid over the term
$59,546
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$59,546
Resolves
13 yr 7 mo (paid in full)
Rule set plan-terms-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.209 — income-driven repayment plans, as revised by the RISE final rule (full GPO text, published 1 May 2026)
Tiered Standard
Monthly$333.06
Lifetime cost$59,949
Forgiven$0
Resolves in15 yr
Formula
fixed payment over a term set by balance: 10 years under $25,000, 15 to $50,000, 20 to $100,000, 25 above
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$333.06
Payments simulated
180
Paid over the term
$59,949
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$59,949
Resolves
15 yr (paid in full)
Rule set tiered-standard-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.208(c)(1)(iii) — Tiered Standard balance brackets for loans made on/after 1 Jul 2026, as revised by the RISE final rule (full GPO text, published 1 May 2026)
New IBR
Monthly$258.83
Lifetime cost$61,659
Forgiven$0
Resolves in14 yr 5 mo
Formula
monthly = 10% × (AGI − 150% of the poverty guideline) ÷ 12, capped at the 10-year Standard payment · forgiveness after 240 payments · first loan on or after 1 Jul 2014
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$258.83
Payments simulated
173
Paid over the term
$61,659
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$61,659
Resolves
14 yr 5 mo (paid in full)
Rule set plan-terms-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.209 — income-driven repayment plans, as revised by the RISE final rule (full GPO text, published 1 May 2026)
RAPSmallest payment
Monthly$229.17
Lifetime cost$62,546
Forgiven$0
Resolves in14 yr 6 mo
Formula
annual payment = AGI × bracket rate (1%–10% by $10,000 band) ÷ 12 − $50 per dependent, floor $10/month · unpaid interest waived, never capitalised · principal falls at least $50/month · forgiveness after 360 payments · no cap at the Standard amount
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$229.17
Payments simulated
174
Paid over the term
$62,546
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$62,546
Resolves
14 yr 6 mo (paid in full)
Rule set rap-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.209 as revised by the RISE final rule — full GPO text (published 1 May 2026, FR Doc. 2026-08556, effective 1 Jul 2026)
PAYE
Monthly$258.83
Lifetime cost$62,672
Forgiven$0
Resolves in14 yr 5 mo
Formula
monthly = 10% × (AGI − 150% of the poverty guideline) ÷ 12, capped at the 10-year Standard payment · plan ends 1 Jul 2028, and this projection moves you to RAP on that date if your loans qualify for it, otherwise to IBR
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$258.83
Payments simulated
173
Paid over the term
$62,672
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$62,672
Resolves
14 yr 5 mo (paid in full)
Rule set plan-terms-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.209 — income-driven repayment plans, as revised by the RISE final rule (full GPO text, published 1 May 2026)
Extended
Monthly$257.32
Lifetime cost$77,192
Forgiven$0
Resolves in25 yr
Formula
fixed payment amortising your balance over 300 months
Inputs used
First monthly payment
$257.32
Payments simulated
300
Paid over the term
$77,192
Balance forgiven
$0
Estimated tax on forgiveness
$0
Total lifetime cost
$77,192
Resolves
25 yr (paid in full)
Rule set plan-terms-2026-07-01 · last verified 15 Aug 2026
34 C.F.R. § 685.208 — repayment plans (Standard, Graduated, Extended), as revised by the RISE final rule (full GPO text, published 1 May 2026)

Before you switch

Caution
RAP has no payment cap
At your income it costs $10,345 more over the life of your loans than the 10-year Standard plan.
Caution
PAYE ends on 1 Jul 2028
PAYE ends on 1 Jul 2028 under P.L. 119-21. If you do not choose a plan by then you are placed on RAP, and this projection models that move. RAP restarts the forgiveness clock at 360 payments; the payments you make before the move count toward it, but nothing you paid before this projection begins does.
Caution
ICR ends on 1 Jul 2028
ICR ends on 1 Jul 2028 under P.L. 119-21. If you do not choose a plan by then you are placed on RAP, and this projection models that move. RAP restarts the forgiveness clock at 360 payments; the payments you make before the move count toward it, but nothing you paid before this projection begins does.

The Fork — where these plans diverge

One track per plan you can use, drawn across the full term.

Scrub the timelineMonth 109 · Yr 10

Every plan at the scrubbed month. Drag the timeline, or use the arrow keys, to change it.
Payment	Balance	Interest waived	Paid to date
$435.01	$4,635	$0	$47,416
$435.01	$6,199	$0	$46,483
$749.43	$7,985	$0	$47,679
$418.62	$20,830	$0	$35,423
$333.06	$19,646	$0	$36,304
$398.52	$22,745	$0	$34,727
$418.62	$25,330	$0	$32,244
$418.62	$24,934	$0	$32,928
$257.32	$30,798	$0	$28,048

The Fork, as a table: what each eligible plan costs over the life of your loans, and when each one changes rank.
Plan	First monthly payment	Crossover	Forgiveness	Resolves	Total lifetime cost
Standard 10-year — recommended	$435.01	no crossover	paid in full, nothing forgiven	10 yr	$52,201
Old IBR	$388.25	costs more than Standard 10-year from Dec 2036, ending $746 higher	paid in full, nothing forgiven	10 yr 4 mo	$52,947
Graduated	$249.81	costs more than Standard 10-year from Oct 2035, ending $3,721 higher	paid in full, nothing forgiven	10 yr	$55,922
ICR	$383.52	costs more than Standard 10-year from Jan 2039, ending $7,345 higher	paid in full, nothing forgiven	13 yr 7 mo	$59,546
Tiered Standard	$333.06	costs more than Standard 10-year from Oct 2039, ending $7,748 higher	paid in full, nothing forgiven	15 yr	$59,949
New IBR	$258.83	costs more than Standard 10-year from Apr 2039, ending $9,458 higher	paid in full, nothing forgiven	14 yr 5 mo	$61,659
RAP	$229.17	costs more than Standard 10-year from Aug 2039, ending $10,345 higher	paid in full, nothing forgiven	14 yr 6 mo	$62,546
PAYE	$258.83	costs more than Standard 10-year from Jul 2039, ending $10,471 higher	paid in full, nothing forgiven	14 yr 5 mo	$62,672
Extended	$257.32	costs more than Standard 10-year from Aug 2043, ending $24,991 higher	paid in full, nothing forgiven	25 yr	$77,192

crossover · cumulative cost over 25 yr, tax on forgiveness included.

Graduated is $7,050 ahead of Standard 10-year at its best, in year 6. From Oct 2035 it has cost more, and by the end it costs $3,721 more.

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Full answer

The workings

rules verified 15 Aug 2026

Under RAP a single borrower earning $55,000 pays about $229 a month — 5% of AGI divided by 12, minus $50 per dependent, floor $10. RAP has no cap at the 10-year Standard payment, so a high income on a moderate balance can make it the costliest of the nine.

Rules verified 15 Aug 2026Ruleset rap-2026-07-01 + plan-terms-2026-07-01 + poverty-guidelines-2026 + tax-202634 C.F.R. § 685.209 as revised by the RISE final rule — full GPO text (published 1 May 2026, FR Doc. 2026-08556, effective 1 Jul 2026)

The numbers behind every plan on this page
RAP payment	1%–10% of AGI ÷ 12
RAP floor	$10 / month
RAP reduction per dependent	$50 / month
RAP principal match	$50 / month minimum
RAP forgiveness	360 payments
New IBR forgiveness	240 payments
Old IBR forgiveness	300 payments
PSLF forgiveness	120 payments, untaxed
PAYE and ICR end	1 Jul 2028
New loans restricted from	1 Jul 2026
Assumed tax on non-PSLF forgiveness	22%

Why is the cheapest monthly payment often the most expensive plan?

A smaller payment stretches repayment across more years of interest. On plans with no interest waiver that unpaid interest compounds against you, so a plan that starts cheaper each month can finish tens of thousands of dollars more expensive. The engine simulates every plan month by month — payment, interest, waiver, principal — and ranks by total lifetime cost, including the estimated tax on any forgiven balance. The two rankings disagree often; the toggle above the results table shows both, and the Fork marks the month the cheaper payment becomes the costlier plan.

Can RAP cost more than the Standard plan?

Yes. RAP has no cap at the 10-year Standard payment, and IBR does^{[1] Source 1: 34 C.F.R. § 685.209 as revised by the RISE final rule — full GPO text (published 1 May 2026, FR Doc. 2026-08556, effective 1 Jul 2026), verified 15 Aug 2026}. At $120,000 AGI with one dependent RAP is about $950 a month whatever the balance, which on a $30,000 loan is nearly three times the Standard payment. High income with a moderate balance is exactly the profile where an income-driven plan quietly becomes the expensive choice, and the engine flags the crossover whenever it appears in your own numbers.

Does RAP payment history transfer back to IBR?

No — and this is the decision to get right the first time. Payments made on IBR, PAYE or ICR count toward those plans’ forgiveness clocks, and switching to RAP forfeits that credit permanently. Enter 34 prior qualifying payments and you will see IBR’s clock shorten by 34 months while RAP’s does not. PSLF credit is tracked separately and survives the switch.

What happens to PAYE and ICR after 1 July 2028?

They end^{[2] Source 2: P.L. 119-21 § 30021 — PAYE/ICR sunset and post-2026 plan restriction, verified 8 Aug 2026}. If you do not choose a plan by then, the Department places you on RAP for whichever loans qualify for it and on IBR for the loans that do not. Any projection running past that date models that move rather than pretending the plan survives. If your plan dies mid-projection, the results say so and the warning names both the date and the plan you land on.

Is forgiven student loan debt taxable?

Outside PSLF, yes, under current federal law^{[3] Source 3: 26 U.S.C. § 108(f)(5) — ARPA exclusion for discharged student debt expired 31 Dec 2025, verified 8 Aug 2026}. A balance forgiven under RAP or IBR is income in the year it is discharged, which is the part borrowers are most often blindsided by, so it is added into every lifetime cost on this page rather than mentioned in a footnote. PSLF forgiveness is not taxed. State treatment varies and is not modelled.

Where do these numbers come from?

Every rate, bracket and threshold lives in a versioned rule file citing a primary source — the regulation, the statute, the Federal Register — with the date it was last verified. Read the methodology, check the sources, or follow the changelog for rule changes. No AI computes any number here; the simulation is deterministic arithmetic you can audit.

Sources

[1] 34 C.F.R. § 685.209 as revised by the RISE final rule — full GPO text (published 1 May 2026, FR Doc. 2026-08556, effective 1 Jul 2026) · verified 15 Aug 2026
[2] P.L. 119-21 § 30021 — PAYE/ICR sunset and post-2026 plan restriction · verified 8 Aug 2026
[3] 26 U.S.C. § 108(f)(5) — ARPA exclusion for discharged student debt expired 31 Dec 2025 · verified 8 Aug 2026

Where to go next

Guides

Terms used here

Discretionary income
FPLFederal poverty level, properly the HHS poverty guidelines
IBR (new)Income-Based Repayment, post-2014 borrower terms
IBR (old)Income-Based Repayment, pre-2014 borrower terms
ICRIncome-Contingent Repayment
PAYEPay As You Earn
PSLFPublic Service Loan Forgiveness
RAPRepayment Assistance Plan
SAVESaving on a Valuable Education

The workings

Rules verified 2026-08-15 · 34 C.F.R. § 685.209 · How every plan is simulated →

This is an independent decision engine, not your loan servicer and not financial or tax advice. Estimates run under current federal rules — confirm any plan change with your servicer before acting. Your loan data never leaves your browser.

Pre-launch build. Three things here are not fully settled and are worth knowing before you act on a ranking. The tax on a forgiven balance is estimated at a flat assumed marginal rate, which is a modelling choice and not a regulatory figure — it is labelled as an assumption wherever it is used. The eligibility test for PAYE models only part of the two-part new-borrower rule, so the engine can show PAYE to a borrower a servicer would turn down. And the Tiered Standard step interval is a servicer convention rather than a term the regulation prescribes. Each is set out on methodology.

Standard 10-year costs you $746 less than Old IBR over the life of your loans.

Your loans — step 1 of 3

All nine plans, ranked

Before you switch

The Fork — where these plans diverge

Why is the cheapest monthly payment often the most expensive plan?

Can RAP cost more than the Standard plan?

Does RAP payment history transfer back to IBR?

What happens to PAYE and ICR after 1 July 2028?

Is forgiven student loan debt taxable?

Where do these numbers come from?

Sources

Where to go next