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RAP Student Loan Calculator 2026 — Estimate Your Repayment Assistance Plan Payment

The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) is the new income-driven repayment plan created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Estimate your monthly RAP payment from your income and dependents, and see how it compares to the Standard 10-year plan.

Quick answer: The RAP student loan payment estimate depends on income, dependents, and eligible loan rules. Compare the monthly payment with standard repayment and any long-term forgiveness tradeoffs.

Your Estimated RAP Monthly Payment
$275After the $50-per-dependent reduction, with a $10/mo minimum
Your Estimated RAP Monthly Payment
$275After the $50-per-dependent reduction, with a $10/mo minimum
Your RAP Income Rate
6.00%1% for every $10,000 of AGI, capped at 10%
RAP Base Amount (Before Dependents)
$3,900Annual figure — a percentage of your full AGI, or $120 if AGI is under $10k
Standard 10-Year Plan Monthly Payment
$454The fixed-payment plan RAP is measured against
Monthly Difference — Standard minus RAP
$179How much lower your RAP payment is each month than the Standard plan
RAP — Total Paid Per Year
$3,300Recalculated annually when you recertify your income
RAP Payment as a Share of Monthly Income
5.08%What portion of your gross monthly income the RAP payment takes
IBR Reference Monthly Payment
$400Rough legacy IBR reference using 15% of discretionary income
PAYE / ICR Reference Monthly Payment
$267Rough 10% discretionary-income reference; exact eligibility varies
Tiered Standard Reference Payment
$386Approximate early tiered-payment reference; confirm exact term and schedule
PSLF Months Remaining
96 months
Diagnostic

Your estimated RAP payment is $275/mo versus $454/mo on Standard 10-year repayment.

Use the plan comparison and paperwork checklist before refinancing or giving up federal loan protections.

Start a Student Loan Reset in Money Map
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My estimated RAP student loan payment is $275/mo versus $454/mo on Standard repayment.

Student loan plan decisionRAP lowers cash flow
RAP
$275
monthly estimate
IBR ref.
$400
monthly estimate
PAYE/ICR ref.
$267
monthly estimate
Standard
$454
monthly estimate
Tiered ref.
$386
monthly estimate
Next paperwork step

Choose a replacement plan

If you received a SAVE transition notice, compare RAP and other available plans before the servicer deadline.

PSLF check

96 qualifying months remaining if your employment and payments meet program rules.

Forgiveness and tax caveat

RAP may forgive remaining balance after 30 years; forgiven amounts may be taxable unless another rule applies.

What to do next

Start a Student Loan Reset

Your action plan
  1. 1

    Check federal-plan fit first

    Compare RAP with Standard, Tiered Standard, and legacy IDR references before refinancing.

  2. 2

    Confirm PSLF and eligibility

    If you work in public service or have Parent PLUS consolidation history, verify rules before selecting a plan.

  3. 3

    Submit the right paperwork

    Use StudentAid.gov or your servicer to apply, recertify income, or document PSLF employment.

Start a Student Loan Reset

This is an educational estimate, not tax, legal, investment, or lending advice. Tax rules, rates, and eligibility change and depend on your full situation. Confirm with a qualified professional or the provider before acting.

Calculator action path

Turn this result into a decision

Every SwitchWize calculator connects to a product comparison, rate context, guidance, alerts, and Money Map.

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Money Map
Start a Student Loan Reset in Money MapSave the plan comparison next to your budget, debt, and refinance decisions.
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Model payoff speedSee how extra payments change payoff timing and interest before switching plans.
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Check refinance tradeoffsCompare private refinance savings against losing federal protections.
Compare
Measure debt-to-incomeSee whether the payment supports mortgage, auto, or broader debt qualification.
Guide
Use StudentAid.gov before submittingConfirm current plan availability, loan eligibility, and servicer deadlines with the official source.
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Reviewed Jul 6, 2026 · Methodology

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know.

What is the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)?
RAP is a new income-driven repayment plan for federal student loans, created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It takes effect July 1, 2026 and becomes the main income-driven option for new federal Direct Loans. Your payment is a percentage of your adjusted gross income, reduced by $50 per dependent, with a $10 monthly minimum.
How is a RAP payment calculated?
RAP charges a percentage of your full adjusted gross income — roughly 1% for every $10,000 of income, rising in steps and capped at 10%. That base amount is divided by 12, then reduced by $50 for each dependent. If the result is below $10, you pay the $10 monthly minimum. Married borrowers filing jointly use combined AGI.
When does RAP take effect and who does it affect?
RAP takes effect July 1, 2026. New federal Direct Loans borrowed on or after that date can use only RAP among income-driven plans. Existing borrowers will need to move off SAVE, PAYE, and ICR — being phased out by 2028 — and choose between RAP and IBR. If you do not choose, a plan may be selected for you.
Is RAP better than the SAVE or IBR plan?
It depends on your income and family size. RAP removes negative amortization and guarantees some principal reduction, which can help. But it uses your full AGI rather than discretionary income, has no payment cap, and forgives only after 30 years — longer than some older plans. Lower earners may pay less; higher earners often pay more. Compare your specific numbers.
Does RAP qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
RAP is expected to be a qualifying repayment plan for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, meaning on-time RAP payments would count toward the 120 payments needed. Confirm current rules with your loan servicer, since program details are still being implemented. This calculator is an estimate, not financial or legal advice.
Is the RAP Student Loan Calculator 2026 — Estimate Your Repayment Assistance Plan Payment free to use?
Yes. SwitchWize calculators are free, and you do not need an account to run scenarios or view the result.
Does using the RAP Student Loan Calculator 2026 — Estimate Your Repayment Assistance Plan Payment affect my credit score?
No. Using a calculator does not trigger a credit check. A credit impact can occur only if you apply directly with a lender, card issuer, or provider.
Are the results personalized financial advice?
No. Calculator outputs are educational estimates based on the inputs you enter. Review assumptions and confirm terms directly with providers before making a financial decision.
What should I do after seeing the result?
Use the recommendation module on this page to start a student loan reset, or run Money Map to compare this debt payoff decision with your other opportunities.
How does SwitchWize choose related offers?
Related offers are matched by the calculator surface (student) and ranked using SwitchWize data such as rate, fees, trust signals, product fit, and switching friction. Paid relationships do not change organic ranking order.
How fresh are the rates and offers shown?
Rate and offer data is reviewed on a recurring cadence and every offer module shows review context or links to the methodology and disclosure pages.
Where can I see the ranking methodology?
The SwitchWize methodology page explains how rate freshness, editorial review, affiliate disclosure, and category ranking factors work.
Can Money Map use this result?
Yes. Money Map is the broader diagnostic path: it compares savings, mortgage, cards, and debt so you can see whether this calculator result is your highest-impact next move.

Why This Matters

RAP launches July 1, 2026 and becomes the only income-driven plan for new federal loans borrowed after that date. The SAVE plan is ending, and PAYE and ICR are being phased out by 2028 — tens of millions of borrowers will have to choose between RAP and IBR. RAP works differently from the plans it replaces: instead of discretionary income, it charges a flat percentage of your full adjusted gross income, from 1% up to 10%, minus $50 per dependent, with a $10 monthly minimum. It has no payment cap, so payments climb steadily as income rises. Knowing your number before the deadline is the difference between a deliberate choice and a default one.

How to Use It

  1. 1Enter your adjusted gross income — line 11 of your Form 1040
  2. 2Enter your number of dependents — each one cuts the payment by $50/month
  3. 3Enter your total loan balance and average interest rate for the comparison
  4. 4See your estimated RAP payment next to the Standard 10-year payment
  5. 5Check the payment as a share of your income to gauge affordability
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