Version 2026.1 · published Oct 18, 2026 · rules checked Oct 17, 2026
RAP vs IBR vs Standard: what borrowers pay, by income and household
We ran the federal repayment formulas for 836 combinations of income ($20,000 to $200,000), household (11 types) and balance ($20,000 to $120,000). Every figure is computed, none typed in, and the full table is free to download.
Download the full table (CSV, 836 rows)
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Monthly = year one; total = everything paid until the loan is paid off or forgiven. * a balance is left to forgive at the end. Lines starting with # in the CSV are notes on the source and assumptions. RAP, IBR and 10-year Standard columns assume all loans were paid out before July 1, 2026; Tiered Standard is the fixed plan for anyone with a newer loan (IBR is then closed).
Single, no dependents: year-one monthly payment at a $40,000 balance
| AGI | RAP | IBR (10%) | Standard (10 yr) | Tiered Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $16.67 | $0.00 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $40,000 | $100.00 | $133.83 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $50,000 | $166.67 | $217.17 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $60,000 | $250.00 | $300.50 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $80,000 | $466.67 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $100,000 | $750.00 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $120,000 | $1,000.00 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $140,000 | $1,166.67 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $160,000 | $1,333.33 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $180,000 | $1,500.00 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $200,000 | $1,666.67 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
Single filer, 3 dependents: year-one monthly payment at a $40,000 balance
| AGI | RAP | IBR (10%) | Standard (10 yr) | Tiered Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $10.00 | $0.00 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $40,000 | $10.00 | $0.00 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $50,000 | $16.67 | $0.00 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $60,000 | $100.00 | $87.50 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $80,000 | $316.67 | $254.17 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $100,000 | $600.00 | $420.83 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $120,000 | $850.00 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $140,000 | $1,016.67 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $160,000 | $1,183.33 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $180,000 | $1,350.00 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $200,000 | $1,516.67 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
Married filing jointly, 2 dependents: year-one monthly payment at a $40,000 balance
| AGI | RAP | IBR (10%) | Standard (10 yr) | Tiered Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $10.00 | $0.00 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $40,000 | $10.00 | $0.00 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $50,000 | $66.67 | $0.00 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $60,000 | $150.00 | $87.50 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $80,000 | $366.67 | $254.17 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $100,000 | $650.00 | $420.83 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $120,000 | $900.00 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $140,000 | $1,066.67 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $160,000 | $1,233.33 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $180,000 | $1,400.00 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
| $200,000 | $1,566.67 | $454.60 | $454.60 | $348.88 |
IBR’s $0 line
IBR charges nothing on income up to 150% of the poverty guideline. RAP never goes below $10. For a single filer in the 48 states, using the 2026 guidelines:
| Household | IBR payment is $0 up to |
|---|---|
| Single, no dependents | $23,940 AGI |
| Single filer, 1 dependent | $32,460 AGI |
| Single filer, 2 dependents | $40,980 AGI |
| Single filer, 3 dependents | $49,500 AGI |
| Single filer, 4 dependents | $58,020 AGI |
| Single filer, 5 dependents | $66,540 AGI |
Method
- Formulas: RAP and IBR from 34 CFR 685.209 and Public Law 119-21; 10-year Standard and Tiered Standard from 34 CFR 685.208. Same engine as our calculator, which matches StudentAid.gov’s Repayment Calculator to the dollar for RAP and the standard plans on the cases we tested (methodology).
- Inputs: interest 6.52% (the 2026–27 undergraduate rate); income grows 3% a year; 2026 HHS poverty guidelines for the 48 states, growing 2.5% a year; IBR at the 10% rate for borrowers who first borrowed after July 1, 2014; all payments on time and in full; unsubsidized loans just entering repayment; married couples file jointly and the spouse has no federal loans.
- Simulation: month by month until the loan is paid off or forgiven (RAP after 360 payments, IBR after 240). RAP’s interest waiver and $50 principal match are applied every month.
- Not included: taxes on forgiveness, PSLF, deferment or forbearance, the 1-point auto pay rate cut, state differences in the poverty guideline (Alaska and Hawaii are higher).
- Updates: we recompute when a rule or the poverty guideline changes and publish a new version; earlier versions stay listed on Research.
Not financial or legal advice. These are estimates from the published formulas for typical cases. They don’t say which plan anyone should choose.