# What will your student loan payments be? > Student loan repayment calculator: monthly payment, total paid and balance over time on the standard plan vs the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), 2026–27. - Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition - Page (interactive calculator): https://www.collegesref.com/tools/student-loan-repayment - Rules: 2026–27 federal student aid year, checked 2026-11-05 - Results are estimates, not an official determination by the U.S. Department of Education or a college. ## How it works ### Standard plans Loans first paid out from July 1, 2026 use the Tiered Standard Plan, a fixed payment over a term set by your balance (under $25,000: 10 years; $25,000 to under $50,000: 15 years; $50,000 to under $100,000: 20 years; $100,000 or more: 25 years). Older loans use the 10-year standard plan, with a payment of at least $50 a month. ### Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) RAP charges 1% to 10% of your whole adjusted gross income (an AGI of $10,000 or less pays $120 a year), divided by 12, minus $50 a month for each dependent, and never less than $10 a month. Interest your payment does not cover is waived, and if a payment cuts principal by less than $50, the Department of Education adds the difference (up to your payment). What is left after 360 qualifying payments is forgiven. ### 2026–27 interest rates Loans first paid out July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 carry fixed rates of 6.52% (undergraduate), 8.07% (graduate Unsubsidized) and 9.07% (PLUS). ## Worked example 1. Balance $27,000 at 6.52%, first paid out after July 1, 2026: the Tiered Standard term is 15 years, so the payment is $236 a month, $42,389 in total. 2. On RAP with an AGI of $45,000 and no dependents: 4% × $45,000 ÷ 12 = $150 a month in the first year. 3. The calculator follows both month by month to show when each one is paid off and whether anything would be forgiven. ## Assumptions and limits - All loans are federal Direct Loans at one fixed rate. Parent PLUS loans cannot use RAP. - Repayment starts with the balance you enter. Interest that built up during school or a grace period is not added. - Your income grows at the rate you pick (or stays flat) and your dependents do not change. RAP is recalculated every year from your tax return. - Every payment is made in full and on time. Any auto-pay interest rate discount is not included. ## Frequently asked questions ### How is the RAP student loan payment calculated? Take 1% to 10% of your adjusted gross income, depending on your income band (for example 4% for $40,001–$50,000), divide by 12, then subtract $50 for each dependent. The payment is never below $10 a month. Married couples filing jointly use combined income. ### What is the minimum payment under RAP? $10 a month. Borrowers with an AGI of $10,000 or less pay $120 a year. ### How long is the new standard repayment plan? For loans first paid out from July 1, 2026, the Tiered Standard Plan term depends on the balance: under $25,000: 10 years; $25,000 to under $50,000: 15 years; $50,000 to under $100,000: 20 years; $100,000 or more: 25 years. ### What are federal student loan interest rates for 2026–27? 6.52% for undergraduate Direct Loans, 8.07% for graduate Unsubsidized Loans and 9.07% for PLUS loans, fixed for the life of loans first paid out July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. ### Does RAP forgive student loans? Yes. Any balance left after 360 qualifying monthly payments (30 years) is forgiven. Because unpaid interest is waived and principal falls every month, the balance never grows on RAP. ### Can Parent PLUS loans use RAP? No. Parent PLUS loans, and consolidation loans that include one, are not eligible for the Repayment Assistance Plan. ### Do I have to switch to RAP or the Tiered Standard Plan? Borrowers who take out a new loan or consolidate on or after July 1, 2026 repay all their Direct Loans under RAP or the Tiered Standard Plan. Loans made earlier can stay on their current plans for now; your servicer can confirm your options. ## Official sources - [Interest Rates for Federal Direct Loans First Disbursed Between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 (GENERAL-26-33, June 4, 2026)](https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2026-06-04/interest-rates-federal-direct-loans-first-disbursed-between-july-1-2026-and-june-30-2027) - [Lower Payment Options: Tiered Standard Plan and standard plan (Edfinancial, studentaid.gov)](https://edfinancial.studentaid.gov/lower-payment-options) - [Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), Edfinancial, a federal loan servicer on studentaid.gov](https://edfinancial.studentaid.gov/income-driven-repaymentinformation-center/rap) --- Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/tools/student-loan-repayment. Shared result links (https://www.collegesref.com/tools/student-loan-repayment?…) hold only calculator inputs.