Use this student loan calculator to estimate your monthly payment, see how extra payments shorten your loan, and compare the federal repayment plans available in 2026: the 10-year Standard plan, the new tiered Standard plan and the income-based Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).
Monthly payment
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Compare federal repayment plans
| Plan | Payment | Paid off in | Total paid | Forgiven |
|---|
RAP is estimated for a single filer. Payments are recalculated each year from your income; married borrowers filing jointly may pay differently.
Balance over time by plan
Estimates only. Federal plan rules are set by the U.S. Department of Education and can change; check StudentAid.gov or your loan servicer before choosing a plan. Forgiven balances may be taxable.
How to use this student loan calculator
- Total loan balance and interest rate: add up your loans and use your weighted average rate. You’ll find both on StudentAid.gov for federal loans or from your servicer.
- Repayment term and extra payment: see your fixed monthly payment and how much paying extra saves.
- Income details: your adjusted gross income (AGI), dependents and expected income growth are used to estimate a RAP payment.
Example: $30,000 in loans at 6.52% on a 10-year plan costs $340.95 a month, with $10,914 in total interest. Adding $100 a month saves $3,359 in interest and pays the loans off 2 years and 10 months sooner.
Federal student loan interest rates for 2026–27
Federal student loan rates are fixed for the life of each loan and reset every July for new loans. For loans first disbursed between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, the Department of Education set these rates:
| Loan type | Interest rate |
|---|---|
| Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized (undergraduate) | 6.52% |
| Direct Unsubsidized (graduate and professional) | 8.07% |
| Direct PLUS (parents and graduate students) | 9.07% |
Older loans keep the rate they had when they were disbursed. Private student loan rates depend on your credit. Compare options in our guide to the best student loans for college.
Federal repayment plans in 2026
Federal repayment changed on July 1, 2026. If you take out a new federal loan on or after that date, you can choose between two plans: a new Standard plan and the Repayment Assistance Plan. Borrowers with older loans in SAVE, PAYE or ICR must move to another plan by July 1, 2028, or they’ll be placed in RAP.
Standard plan (10 years)
Fixed payments that pay off the loan in 10 years. It has the highest payment but the lowest total cost. This is the traditional plan for loans taken out before July 1, 2026; ask your servicer which plans your loans qualify for.
New tiered Standard plan
For loans taken out on or after July 1, 2026, the Standard plan’s length depends on how much you owe: 10 years for balances under $25,000, 15 years for $25,000 to $49,999, 20 years for $50,000 to $99,999, and 25 years for $100,000 or more. A longer term lowers the payment but raises the total cost. On $30,000 at 6.52%, the 15-year plan costs $261.66 a month but $47,099 in total, compared with $40,914 on a 10-year plan.
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)
RAP is the new income-driven plan. Your payment is a percentage of your AGI, from $120 a year if you earn $10,000 or less up to 10% of AGI above $100,000, minus $50 a month for each dependent, with a $10 minimum. The rate rises by one percentage point for each $10,000 of income: 1% for $10,001 to $20,000, 2% for $20,001 to $30,000, and so on.
| AGI (single, no dependents) | Estimated RAP payment |
|---|---|
| $25,000 | $41.67/mo |
| $40,000 | $100.00/mo |
| $60,000 | $250.00/mo |
| $85,000 | $566.67/mo |
| $120,000 | $1,000.00/mo |
RAP has two protections. If your payment doesn’t cover the month’s interest, the unpaid interest is waived so your balance doesn’t grow. And if your payment reduces principal by less than $50, the government makes a matching principal payment of up to $50. After 30 years (360 qualifying payments), any remaining balance is forgiven, though the forgiven amount may be taxable.
With $30,000 at 6.52% and a $60,000 income growing 3% a year, RAP starts at $250 a month and pays the loan off in about 9 years 8 months. At a $40,000 income, it starts at $100 a month, but takes about 19 years 4 months and costs $50,890 in total. Lower payments today usually mean paying more over time.
Should you pay off student loans early?
Extra payments go straight to principal and cut your total interest, and federal loans have no prepayment penalty. Paying early makes the most sense on higher-rate loans, such as graduate and PLUS loans, once you have an emergency fund. If you’re working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, paying extra usually doesn’t help, since any remaining balance is forgiven after 10 years of qualifying payments.
Refinancing federal loans into a private loan can lower your rate if you have strong credit, but you lose access to RAP, PSLF and federal deferment options. Your credit matters for private loans, so check your credit report first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the monthly payment on $30,000 in student loans?
At 6.52%, $30,000 costs about $340.95 a month on a 10-year plan or $261.66 on a 15-year plan. On the income-based RAP plan, the payment depends on your income; at a $60,000 AGI with no dependents it would be about $250 a month.
What are federal student loan interest rates for 2026–27?
For loans first disbursed from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027: 6.52% for undergraduate Direct loans, 8.07% for graduate Direct Unsubsidized loans, and 9.07% for PLUS loans. Rates are fixed for the life of each loan.
How is the RAP payment calculated?
RAP charges a percentage of your adjusted gross income, from $120 a year at $10,000 or less up to 10% above $100,000, divided by 12. It then subtracts $50 a month for each dependent, with a minimum payment of $10.
What is the new Standard repayment plan?
For federal loans taken out on or after July 1, 2026, the Standard plan length depends on your balance: 10 years under $25,000, 15 years for $25,000 to $49,999, 20 years for $50,000 to $99,999, and 25 years for $100,000 or more.
Is it better to pay extra on student loans?
Paying extra lowers your total interest and gets you out of debt sooner, and federal loans have no prepayment penalty. It usually isn’t worth it if you expect Public Service Loan Forgiveness, since any remaining balance is forgiven.
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial or tax advice. Federal rules can change; confirm details on StudentAid.gov or with your servicer. Sources: Federal Student Aid: 2026–27 Direct Loan interest rates; Edfinancial (federal servicer): Repayment Assistance Plan; James Madison University: Direct Loan repayment changes.