RAP · NEW 2026
$160.00
30 yrs (360 payments)
A worked example · nothing is stored
What would you pay this month?
SAVE has ended. RAP and IBR are the two income-driven plans left. For one borrower with $32,000 owed and $48,000 of AGI, the statute comes to about $160.00 a month on RAP for 30 years, and about $200.50 a month on IBR for 20 years. Which is lower depends on this month or the total. Change the two numbers and both figures follow.
Total paid $57,600.00
IBR · CLASSIC
$200.50
20 yrs (240 payments)
Total paid $48,120.00
- 34 CFR 685.209
- OBBBA §80503
- HHS 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- FSA DCL 18 Jul 2025
- CRS IF13075
Why the rules changed
In March 2026 the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the SAVE plan, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of July 2025 already ordered SAVE, PAYE, and ICR to be phased out by July 1, 2028. Going forward, income-driven borrowers have exactly two choices: Income-Based Repayment (IBR), the old plan based on discretionary income, or the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), based on a tiered percentage of total income.
Big change: the SAVE plan was struck down in March 2026, and its borrowers are being moved to IBR or the new RAP plan.
You have 90 days after your servicer's notice to choose — otherwise you're auto-enrolled in RAP.
Independent and unaffiliated. Estimates for information only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Last updated: September 29, 2026.
A worked example · nothing is stored
The rest of the explanation
Short pages. The source sits under the paragraph.
Notice
The SAVE plan ended
What the March 2026 ruling changed, the 90-day choice, and the July 1, 2028 cutoff.
Statute
What RAP is
A percentage of your whole income, a $10 floor, and forgiveness after 30 years.
Table
Payments by income
The statutory bands, from $10 a month up, before the dependent reduction.
Your balance and income are enough. Open Refine to adjust the rate, family, or state. Usual defaults are already filled in.
A worked example is already filled in. Change either number — nothing is saved.
A worked example is already filled in. Change either number — nothing is saved.
Last updated September 29, 2026. Sources: StudentAid.gov and 34 CFR 685.209.
RAP and IBR, from the same figures
RAP is about $40.50 less per month ($160.00 vs $200.50), and IBR costs about $9,480.00 less in total (RAP $57,600.00, IBR $48,120.00).
Last updated: September 29, 2026. Formulas follow 34 CFR 685.209 and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21) §80503; IBR partial-financial-hardship removal per FSA Partners Dear Colleague Letter (July 18, 2025); poverty lines are the HHS 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines (91 FR 1797); matching principal per 34 CFR 685.209(o)(2) and CRS IF13075 / R48727. Transition deadlines per Department of Education guidance and CNBC (Sept 2026). This site is independent, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, and provides estimates for informational purposes only — not legal, tax, or financial advice.
The rest of the explanation
Short pages. The source sits under the paragraph.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
The five questions every borrower asks us.
RAP payments are a tiered percentage (1%–10%) of your total AGI, with a $10 monthly minimum, a $50/dependent reduction, waived unpaid interest, and 30-year forgiveness. IBR payments are 10% or 15% of discretionary income (AGI minus 150% of the poverty line for your family size), can be as low as $0, are capped at the 10-year standard amount, and forgive after 20 or 25 years.
Picking wrong can cost thousands per year or add a decade to your forgiveness timeline — so it pays to run the numbers first.
SAVE has ended. RAP and IBR are the two income-driven plans left. For one borrower with $32,000 owed and $48,000 of AGI, the statute comes to about $160.00 a month on RAP for 30 years, and about $200.50 a month on IBR for 20 years. Which is lower depends on this month or the total. Change the two numbers and both figures follow.