How many student loan repayment plans are available in 2026?

In 2026, the primary federal student loan repayment plans are: RAP (Repayment Assistance Plan), IBR (Income-Based Repayment) for both new and old borrowers, Standard 10-Year Repayment, Graduated Repayment, and Extended Repayment. PSLF is a forgiveness program that works alongside qualifying repayment plans. The SAVE, PAYE, and ICR plans are being phased out.

Which repayment plan has the lowest monthly payment?

It depends on your income and family size. IBR can offer $0 monthly payments for very low-income borrowers because it uses discretionary income. RAP has a $10 minimum payment. For moderate-income borrowers, RAP often produces lower payments due to its tiered bracket system. Use our RAP vs IBR calculator to compare for your specific situation.

Which plan offers the fastest loan forgiveness?

PSLF offers the fastest forgiveness at 10 years (120 payments) for qualifying public service employees. Among IDR plans alone, New IBR offers 20-year forgiveness, Old IBR offers 25-year forgiveness, and RAP offers 30-year forgiveness. However, RAP's interest subsidy and principal match may mean less total debt at forgiveness.

Can I switch between repayment plans?

Yes. You can generally switch between repayment plans once per year during your annual income recertification. However, switching may affect your forgiveness timeline and benefits. Carefully compare plans before switching, and confirm the impact with your loan servicer.

What happened to the SAVE, PAYE, and ICR plans?

SAVE was vacated by court rulings and is being replaced by RAP. PAYE and ICR are also being phased out under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. All three plans will be fully closed by July 1, 2028. Borrowers on these plans must transition to RAP or IBR.

Do all repayment plans qualify for PSLF?

No. Only income-driven repayment plans (RAP, IBR, PAYE, ICR) and the 10-Year Standard Plan qualify for PSLF. Graduated and Extended repayment plans do not qualify. Since PAYE and ICR are being phased out, RAP and IBR will be the primary IDR options for PSLF going forward.

Which plan is best for high-income borrowers?

High-income borrowers often benefit most from the Standard 10-Year plan or refinancing to a lower interest rate. IBR caps your payment at the standard plan amount, which can be beneficial. RAP has no cap and charges 10% of AGI above $100k, which could exceed the standard payment. Consider refinancing if you don't need federal protections.

Is forgiveness taxable under all plans?

IDR forgiveness (RAP, IBR) is generally taxable as ordinary income under current law. The temporary tax exemption expired December 31, 2025. PSLF forgiveness is always tax-free regardless of the underlying repayment plan. Standard repayment does not involve forgiveness — you pay off the full balance.

What if I have both undergraduate and graduate loans?

All your eligible Direct Loans can be enrolled in the same repayment plan. RAP applies the same bracket rates regardless of loan type. Under the old SAVE plan, undergraduate and graduate loans had different rates, but RAP simplifies this with a single tiered structure based on your AGI.

Should I refinance or use an IDR plan?

If you have a stable high income, don't need forgiveness, and can qualify for a lower interest rate, refinancing may save you money. However, refinancing converts your federal loans to private loans, permanently forfeiting IDR plans, forgiveness programs, and federal protections. If you might benefit from forgiveness, PSLF, or income-based payments, keep your federal loans.

Student Loan Repayment Plans Comparison 2026

A complete guide to every federal student loan repayment plan available in 2026, including the new RAP plan, IBR, Standard, and PSLF. Find the best plan for your situation.

All Plans at a Glance

The table below compares the key features of every major repayment plan available for federal student loans in 2026.

Feature	RAP	New IBR	Old IBR	Standard
Payment basis	% of total AGI	10% of disc. income	15% of disc. income	Fixed amortization
Payment rate	1% – 10%	10%	15%	N/A
Repayment term	Up to 30 years	Up to 20 years	Up to 25 years	10 years
Forgiveness	After 30 years	After 20 years	After 25 years	None (paid in full)
PSLF eligible	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Interest subsidy	Yes (full)	No	No	No
Principal match	$50/mo	None	None	None
$0 payments	No ($10 min)	Yes	Yes	No
Payment cap	None	Standard amount	Standard amount	N/A
Dependent benefit	$50/mo per dependent	Included in FPL	Included in FPL	None
Forgiveness taxable?	Yes*	Yes*	Yes*	N/A

*IDR forgiveness is taxable under current law. PSLF forgiveness is always tax-free. Disc. income = discretionary income (AGI minus 150% of FPL).

Understanding Each Plan

RAP — Repayment Assistance Plan

The newest IDR plan, created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. RAP uses a tiered bracket system (1%–10% of AGI) rather than discretionary income. Unique benefits include a full interest subsidy that prevents balance growth, a $50/month government principal match, and a $50/month per-dependent deduction. Forgiveness comes after 30 years. Best for borrowers who want predictable payments and want to stop their balance from growing.

Learn more about RAP →

IBR — Income-Based Repayment

IBR calculates your payment based on discretionary income: your AGI minus 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. New borrowers (loans after July 1, 2014) pay 10% of discretionary income with 20-year forgiveness. Old borrowers pay 15% with 25-year forgiveness. IBR caps your payment at the standard plan amount, so your payment never exceeds what a 10-year plan would charge. Best for borrowers with large families or very low incomes who need $0 payments.

Compare RAP vs IBR →

Standard 10-Year Repayment

The default repayment plan. Fixed monthly payments calculated to pay off your entire balance in 10 years (120 payments). No forgiveness because the loan is fully repaid. This plan results in the least total interest paid but has the highest monthly payment. Best for borrowers with higher incomes who want to pay off loans quickly and minimize total cost.

PSLF — Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Not a repayment plan itself, but a forgiveness program that works with qualifying plans (RAP, IBR, Standard). After 120 qualifying payments (10 years) while working full-time for a government or nonprofit employer, your remaining balance is forgiven tax-free. Best for public service workers with large loan balances who benefit from lower IDR payments.

RAP and PSLF guide →

SAVE, PAYE, ICR — Being Phased Out

These plans are no longer accepting new enrollees and will be fully closed by July 1, 2028. SAVE was vacated by court rulings. PAYE and ICR are being retired under the new law. Borrowers on these plans must transition to RAP or IBR before the deadline.

SAVE to RAP transition guide →

Which Plan Is Right for You?

Choose RAP if you…

✓Want your balance to stop growing (interest subsidy)
✓Want the $50/month principal match
✓Have moderate income ($30k – $70k AGI)
✓Are pursuing PSLF (both qualify, but RAP has extra benefits)

Choose IBR if you…

✓Need $0 payments during periods of low income
✓Want faster forgiveness (20 or 25 years)
✓Have a large family (higher FPL exclusion)
✓Want a payment cap at the standard plan level

Choose Standard if you…

✓Can afford the highest monthly payment
✓Want to pay off your loan in 10 years
✓Want to minimize total interest paid
✓Don't need forgiveness or income-based flexibility

Consider refinancing if you…

✓Have a stable high income and strong credit
✓Can qualify for a lower interest rate
✓Don't need forgiveness, PSLF, or IDR protections
✓Understand you'll lose all federal loan benefits

Find Your Best Plan

Use our free RAP Calculator to compare your monthly payment across plans. All calculations run in your browser — we never store your data.

Try the RAP Calculator

Student Loan Repayment Plans Comparison 2026

All Plans at a Glance

Understanding Each Plan

RAP — Repayment Assistance Plan

IBR — Income-Based Repayment

Standard 10-Year Repayment

PSLF — Public Service Loan Forgiveness

SAVE, PAYE, ICR — Being Phased Out

Which Plan Is Right for You?

Choose RAP if you…

Choose IBR if you…

Choose Standard if you…

Consider refinancing if you…

Find Your Best Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

More RAP Tools & Guides

RAP Calculator

RAP vs IBR Comparison

RAP vs Refinancing

Eligibility Checker

What Is RAP?

SAVE to RAP Transition