RAP vs. Old IDR Plans Comparator
If you're on a federal student loan income-driven repayment plan — or deciding whether to switch to the new Repayment Assistance Plan — this runs the actual statutory math for each option side by side. You'll need your adjusted gross income, loan balance, interest rate, and household size; the result shows which plan is currently cheaper for your specific numbers, not just in general.
RAP vs. old IDR plans — payment comparator
Compares an estimated monthly payment under the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) against the surviving income-driven plans — IBR, PAYE, and ICR — using each plan's actual statutory formula. This is an estimate for planning purposes, not your official payment amount; your loan servicer calculates that from your actual tax return and loan records.
| AGI | RAP | IBR / PAYE | ICR |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $41.67 | $8.83 | $150.67 |
| $35,000 | $87.50 | $92.17 | $285.05 |
| $45,000 | $150.00 | $175.50 | $285.05 |
| $60,000 | $250.00 | $300.50 | $285.05 |
| $80,000 | $466.67 | $325.58 | $285.05 |
| $110,000 | $916.67 | $325.58 | $285.05 |
At this balance, RAP is cheaper up to roughly $65,000 AGI and more expensive above it — IBR and PAYE cap out at the 10-year standard payment ($325.58/month on this balance), and RAP has no equivalent cap, so a higher-income borrower on a modest balance can end up paying substantially more under RAP.
This tool uses the 2026 HHS guideline, 48 contiguous states + DC. If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, the federal poverty guideline is higher there and this estimate will overstate your IBR/PAYE/ICR payments — check the current HHS guidelines directly for your state's figure.
RAP is the only plan available for federal loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026. If you're already repaying an older loan, your loan servicer's notice will list which of these plans you can actually choose among. PAYE and ICR both stop accepting new enrollments after July 1, 2028. Not financial or legal advice — see RAP vs. SAVE for the plain-language rundown, or studentaid.gov for your official numbers.
Questions about this calculator
Which plan will actually give me the lowest payment?
It depends on your income and balance, not a fixed rule — RAP doesn't have the balance-based payment cap that IBR, PAYE, and ICR do, so a high-income, low-balance borrower can end up paying more under RAP than under an older plan. Run your own numbers above rather than assuming RAP is automatically cheaper just because it's newer.
— US Debt Compass Editorial Team
Am I required to switch to RAP?
Only if you're taking out a new federal loan or a new consolidation loan on or after July 1, 2026 — RAP is mandatory for those. If you're already in repayment on an older loan, you generally get to choose among RAP and the surviving older plans once your own 90-day switch notice arrives. See RAP vs. SAVE for the full timeline.
— US Debt Compass Editorial Team
Does switching plans affect my progress toward forgiveness?
It can — income-driven forgiveness timelines are plan-specific, and RAP's forgiveness mechanics differ from the plans it's replacing. Compare your current plan's progress against what RAP would actually offer before switching, rather than assuming credit carries over identically.
— US Debt Compass Editorial Team