Student Loan Repayment Calculator 2026
Compare all federal repayment plans side-by-side: Standard 10-year, Graduated, IBR, SAVE, and Extended. See your monthly payment and total interest for each.
Under the SAVE Plan (2026), undergraduate loan payments are capped at 5% of discretionary income above 225% of the federal poverty line. A borrower with $40,000 income and $30,000 in loans might pay $0–$60/month on SAVE vs $345/month on the standard 10-year plan. Forgiveness after 10–25 years depending on loan type.
Which Repayment Plan Is Best?
Standard 10-year minimizes total interest — best if you can afford the payment and want to be debt-free fastest.
SAVE offers the lowest income-driven payment for most borrowers and the best interest subsidy. If your payment doesn't cover accruing interest, the government covers the difference so your balance doesn't grow.
IBR is a solid fallback — widely available and protects borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios. The 20/25-year forgiveness is a backstop if income stays low.
Graduated makes sense if you expect income to grow significantly — lower payments now, rising payments every two years.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
If you work for a government or qualifying nonprofit, PSLF forgives remaining balances tax-free after just 10 years (120 payments) on an income-driven plan. This is far more valuable than standard forgiveness and changes the math entirely — with PSLF eligible employment, maximize IDR plan enrollment.