The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) replaces the SAVE plan starting July 1, 2026, as the primary income-driven repayment option for federal student loans. RAP calculates your monthly payment as a percentage of discretionary income — defined as your AGI minus 225% of the federal poverty level. This calculator estimates your RAP payment, shows your path to forgiveness, and compares it to the old SAVE plan.
About the RAP Plan
RAP takes effect July 1, 2026. Final rules may differ from projections. Contact your loan servicer for official payment amounts. This calculator uses the proposed formula and 2026 federal poverty guidelines.
RAP Payment Calculator
Enter your income and loan details to estimate your monthly payment.
Income Details
Student Loan Details
Undergraduate and graduate balances should add up to your total balance.
Estimated Monthly RAP Payment
$0
Payment Breakdown
Forgiveness Projection
Forgiveness Timeline
20 years
Total Paid
$0
Estimated Forgiveness
$0
Forgiveness projection assumes constant income and family size. Actual forgiveness depends on years of qualifying payments and remaining balance at that time.
RAP vs Old SAVE Plan
| Metric | RAP (2026) | SAVE (Old) |
|---|
2026 Federal Poverty Level Reference
| Family Size | FPL | 225% of FPL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,650 | $35,213 |
| 2 people | $21,150 | $47,588 |
| 3 people | $26,650 | $59,963 |
| 4 people | $32,150 | $72,338 |
| 5 people | $37,650 | $84,713 |
| 6 people | $43,150 | $97,088 |
| 7 people | $48,650 | $109,463 |
| 8 people | $54,150 | $121,838 |
Continental US poverty levels for 2026. Alaska and Hawaii have higher thresholds. Add $5,500 for each additional person beyond 8.
How to Use the RAP Plan Calculator
The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) is the new income-driven repayment option for federal student loans, replacing the SAVE plan effective July 1, 2026. This calculator helps you estimate your monthly payment, understand how much you will pay over the life of the plan, and see how much of your balance may be forgiven. Use it to compare options and plan your finances before the transition takes effect.
Step 1: Enter Your Income
Start by entering your adjusted gross income (AGI) — this is typically found on line 11 of your most recent Form 1040. Your AGI determines your discretionary income, which is the key input for the RAP payment formula. Also select your family size, which affects the federal poverty level threshold used in the calculation. A larger family size means a higher threshold, which reduces your discretionary income and lowers your payment.
Step 2: Enter Your Loan Details
Enter your total federal student loan balance and split it between undergraduate and graduate loans. This breakdown matters because the RAP plan charges different rates: 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans and 10% for graduate loans. If you have both types, the calculator computes a weighted average rate based on your balance proportions. If all your loans are undergraduate, you only need to enter the undergraduate balance.
Step 3: Review Your Results
After clicking "Calculate RAP Payment," you will see your estimated monthly payment, discretionary income, and the blended IDR rate applied to your loans. The payment breakdown shows each step of the calculation so you can understand exactly how your payment was determined. The forgiveness projection shows how much you would pay over the full repayment period and the estimated balance that would be forgiven.
Step 4: Compare with SAVE (Optional)
Toggle the "Compare with old SAVE plan" switch to see a side-by-side comparison of your RAP payment versus what you would have paid under the old SAVE plan. Both plans use the same 225% poverty level threshold and the same 5%/10% rates, so in most cases the payments are similar. The comparison helps you understand the transition and verify that the new plan aligns with your expectations from the previous program.
Understanding the Forgiveness Timeline
Under RAP, loan balances are forgiven after 20 years of qualifying payments for undergraduate-only borrowers and 25 years for those with graduate loans. Borrowers with original balances of $12,000 or less may qualify for accelerated forgiveness after as few as 10 years. Keep in mind that forgiven amounts may be treated as taxable income depending on current tax law. This calculator assumes constant income and family size for its projection — in reality, your payment will be recertified annually based on your latest tax return.
FAQ
Is this RAP plan calculator free to use?
Yes, this calculator is completely free with no ads or signup required. All calculations run locally in your browser — no personal financial data is ever sent to any server.
Is my financial data safe when using this calculator?
Absolutely. Everything runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No income, loan balance, or personal data is ever transmitted or stored. You can disconnect from the internet and the calculator will still work.
What is the RAP plan and how does it replace SAVE?
The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) is a new income-driven repayment plan that takes effect July 1, 2026, replacing the SAVE plan. Like SAVE, RAP bases payments on discretionary income — the amount your adjusted gross income exceeds 225% of the federal poverty level. Undergraduate borrowers pay 5% of discretionary income and graduate borrowers pay 10%.
How is discretionary income calculated for RAP?
Discretionary income is your adjusted gross income (AGI) minus 225% of the federal poverty level for your family size. For example, a single person in 2026 has a poverty level of $15,650, so 225% is $35,213. If your AGI is $50,000, your discretionary income is $14,787. If your AGI is below the 225% threshold, your payment is $0.
What happens if I have both undergraduate and graduate loans?
If you have a mix of undergraduate and graduate loans, your RAP payment percentage is a weighted average based on your balances. For example, if 60% of your balance is undergraduate (5% rate) and 40% is graduate (10% rate), your blended rate would be 7%. This weighted approach ensures your payment reflects your actual loan composition.
When does student loan forgiveness happen under RAP?
Under RAP, remaining balances are forgiven after 20 years of qualifying payments for undergraduate-only borrowers and after 25 years for anyone with graduate loans. Borrowers with original balances of $12,000 or less may qualify for forgiveness after as few as 10 years, with the timeline increasing by one year for each additional $1,000 borrowed.
How does RAP compare to the old SAVE plan?
RAP uses similar calculations to SAVE: the same 225% poverty level threshold, the same 5% rate for undergraduate loans, and the same 10% rate for graduate loans. The key differences are in administrative details and implementation. Toggle the SAVE comparison in this calculator to see how your payment would have compared under the old plan.
Are these payment estimates exact?
These estimates are based on the proposed RAP formula and 2026 federal poverty levels. Final rules may differ from projections. Your actual payment will be determined by your loan servicer using your verified AGI from your most recent tax return. Always contact your servicer for official payment amounts.