US repayment plans
Every federal repayment plan that still exists, who can get on it, whether its payments count towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and what happens at the end.
Counts for PSLF
Repayment Assistance Plan
The income-driven plan that replaced the others. A share of adjusted gross income set by a bracket, with unpaid interest waived and a discharge after 360 payments.
No PSLF credit
Tiered Standard
Fixed payments over a term set by the size of the balance. The automatic default for anyone entering repayment with a loan from 1 July 2026, and it earns no credit towards public service forgiveness.
Counts for PSLF
Income-Based Repayment
Ten percent of discretionary income, capped at the ten-year Standard payment, forgiven after twenty years. Still open indefinitely to borrowers with no loan disbursed since 1 July 2026.
Counts for PSLF
Pay As You Earn
Ten percent of discretionary income, capped at the ten-year Standard payment, forgiven after twenty years. Closed to new loans and eliminated entirely in 2028.
Counts for PSLF
Income-Contingent Repayment
The only income-driven route a consolidated parent PLUS loan ever had. Eliminated in 2028, after which those borrowers move to IBR rather than to RAP.
Counts for PSLF
Standard
Fixed payments over ten years. The cheapest way to repay in total, and the one the income-driven caps are measured against.
No PSLF credit
Graduated
Payments that start low and rise every two years over ten. Costs more in total than Standard and earns no public service credit.
No PSLF credit
Extended
Up to twenty-five years of fixed or graduated payments, for borrowers with a large balance. Lower payments, considerably more interest, and no public service credit.
Sources
- Repayment plans and important definitions, U.S. Department of Education. Checked on . Backs which plans are open to which borrowers from 1 July 2026; the Tiered Standard term brackets and its $50 minimum; the effect of a single post-cutover disbursement on all of a borrower's loans.
- Income-driven repayment plans, U.S. Department of Education. Checked on . Backs the IBR, PAYE and ICR formulas and forgiveness horizons.
- Court actions affecting income-driven repayment, U.S. Department of Education. Checked on . Backs the status of SAVE after the 10 March 2026 order; the 1% automatic debit reduction; that income-driven payment counters are not currently displaying.
- Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE): Federal Student Loan Program, final regulations, Office of the Federal Register. Checked on . Backs the regulation implementing the plan changes, effective 1 July 2026.