Income-Driven Repayment Plan Calculator

Calculate Your IDR Payments

Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans set your monthly federal student loan payment based on your income and family size rather than your loan balance. Enter your details below to see estimated payments under each available plan.

Understanding Income-Driven Repayment Plans

Income-driven repayment plans are designed to make federal student loan payments more affordable by tying your monthly payment to your discretionary income. Discretionary income is the difference between your adjusted gross income and a percentage of the federal poverty guideline for your family size. Each plan uses a slightly different calculation, resulting in different monthly payment amounts.

RAP (Repayment Assistance Plan) — Replacing REPAYE/SAVE

The Repayment Assistance Plan is the newest IDR option, created under the 2026 OBBBA legislation to replace both the SAVE and REPAYE plans. RAP sets payments at a percentage of discretionary income with updated formulas. Borrowers previously enrolled in REPAYE or SAVE have been automatically transitioned to RAP. Key features include a discretionary income threshold of 225% of the federal poverty guideline for undergraduate loans and a payment cap of 10% of discretionary income. Forgiveness occurs after 20 years for undergraduate-only borrowers and 25 years for graduate borrowers.

IBR (Income-Based Repayment)

IBR comes in two versions based on when you first borrowed. New borrowers (after July 1, 2014) pay 10% of discretionary income with forgiveness after 20 years. Older borrowers pay 15% of discretionary income with forgiveness after 25 years. Discretionary income is calculated using 150% of the poverty guideline. IBR has a payment cap: your payment will never exceed what you would pay under the Standard 10-year plan.

PAYE (Pay As You Earn)

PAYE limits payments to 10% of discretionary income (using 150% of the poverty guideline) with forgiveness after 20 years. To be eligible, you must be a new borrower as of October 1, 2007, and have received a Direct Loan disbursement on or after October 1, 2011. Like IBR, PAYE has a payment cap at the Standard plan amount. PAYE generally results in the same or lower payments compared to IBR for newer borrowers, but eligibility is more restrictive.

ICR (Income-Contingent Repayment)

ICR is the oldest and most broadly available IDR plan. Payments are the lesser of 20% of discretionary income or what you would pay on a fixed 12-year plan, adjusted according to income. ICR uses 100% of the poverty guideline for discretionary income calculation, which means discretionary income is higher and payments are typically larger than other IDR plans. However, ICR is the only income-driven plan available to Parent PLUS loan borrowers (after consolidation), making it a critical option for parents.

How to Choose the Right IDR Plan

For most borrowers, the plan with the lowest monthly payment is the best choice, especially if you are pursuing PSLF or expect significant loan forgiveness. Compare the monthly payment amounts using the calculator above. Consider your loan types (ICR is the only option for consolidated Parent PLUS loans), your borrowing dates (PAYE has eligibility restrictions), and your forgiveness timeline (20 vs 25 years).

If you are pursuing PSLF, the lowest-payment IDR plan maximizes the amount forgiven tax-free after 120 payments. If you are not pursuing PSLF, weigh the total amount paid plus any tax liability on forgiveness against what you would pay under the Standard plan or through refinancing.

Annual Income Recertification

All IDR plans require annual income recertification. You must submit updated income and family size information each year, typically through your loan servicer or StudentAid.gov. If you fail to recertify on time, your payment may temporarily increase to the standard amount, and any unpaid interest may capitalize. Set a calendar reminder to recertify at least two weeks before your annual deadline.

IDR Plan Eligibility Requirements

2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines for IDR

Your IDR payment is based on your discretionary income, which is calculated using the federal poverty guideline for your family size. For 2026, the poverty guidelines used in IDR calculations are:

Not Pursuing IDR Forgiveness?

If you have stable income and strong credit, refinancing your student loans may result in lower total costs than 20-25 years of IDR payments plus the tax bomb on forgiveness.