2026 federal rates: 6.53% undergrad, 8.08% grad, 9.08% PLUS
Income-Driven Inputs
Poverty line (1): $15,060
Monthly Payment
Standard (10 yr) · 6.54% APR · $35,000 balance
Total Interest
$12,776
37% of principal
Total Paid
$47,776
Payoff Time
10 yr
Payoff Date
Plan Comparison
Side-by-Side Summary
| Plan | Monthly | Interest | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $398 | $12,776 | 10 yr |
| IBR | $270 | $25,876 | 18 yr 10 mo |
| SAVE | $176 | $57,225 | 25 yr |
Amortization Schedule
120 total payments| Mo | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $398.13 | $207.38 | $190.75 | $34,793 |
| 2 | $398.13 | $208.51 | $189.62 | $34,584 |
| 3 | $398.13 | $209.65 | $188.48 | $34,374 |
| 4 | $398.13 | $210.79 | $187.34 | $34,164 |
| 5 | $398.13 | $211.94 | $186.19 | $33,952 |
| 6 | $398.13 | $213.09 | $185.04 | $33,739 |
| 7 | $398.13 | $214.26 | $183.88 | $33,524 |
| 8 | $398.13 | $215.42 | $182.71 | $33,309 |
| 9 | $398.13 | $216.60 | $181.53 | $33,092 |
| 10 | $398.13 | $217.78 | $180.35 | $32,875 |
| 11 | $398.13 | $218.96 | $179.17 | $32,656 |
| 12 | $398.13 | $220.16 | $177.97 | $32,435 |
Estimates only. Income-driven repayment (IBR, PAYE, SAVE) payments are calculated using 2026 federal poverty guidelines. SAVE plan details are subject to ongoing litigation — verify current rules at studentaid.gov. Forgiven amounts are typically taxable income unless covered by PSLF. Consult your loan servicer for official payment amounts.
Federal student loan repayment is not one-size-fits-all. The US Department of Education offers six major repayment plans, each with dramatically different monthly payments, total interest costs, and forgiveness timelines. A $50,000 loan at 6.5% APR costs about $567/month under Standard (10 years, $18,000 total interest) but may cost only $150–$200/month under SAVE — with the remaining balance potentially forgiven after 20 years. This calculator computes all six plans simultaneously so you can identify the plan that fits your cash flow without overpaying in total interest.
Standard (10-year): Uses the standard amortization formula — equal monthly payments over 120 months. This always produces the lowest total interest but the highest monthly payment.
Graduated (10-year): Payments start lower and increase approximately 10% every two years, ending at the same 10-year term. Useful for borrowers expecting income growth early in their career.
Extended (25-year): Same formula as Standard but spread over 300 months — significantly lower monthly payment but nearly 2.5x more total interest.
Income-Driven Plans (IBR, PAYE, SAVE): Monthly payment is capped at a percentage of discretionary income, where discretionary income = AGI minus a multiple of the federal poverty guideline for your family size. IBR and PAYE use 150% of the poverty guideline; SAVE uses 225%. All three cap payments at 10% of discretionary income (IBR can be 15% for pre-2014 borrowers). Any balance remaining after 20–25 years of qualifying payments is forgiven.
Extra payments are applied directly to principal, reducing the balance on which interest accrues each month. The interest savings and time savings are computed precisely against the baseline calculation for the same plan without the extra payment.
A 2025 grad with $45,000 in undergraduate loans at 6.53% APR comparing Standard vs SAVE to decide how much to allocate from their first paycheck.
A law school graduate with $180,000 at 8.08% checking whether PAYE + PSLF forgiveness (10 years) beats aggressive Standard repayment in total out-of-pocket cost.
A borrower who received a $5,000 annual raise deciding how much extra to put toward their loan each month to pay off before the 10-year forgiveness window.
A family of 4 on $70,000 AGI calculating how SAVE vs IBR monthly payments differ given the different poverty guideline multipliers.
Scope note: Calculations use 2026 federal poverty guidelines and current repayment plan rules. SAVE plan is subject to ongoing federal court litigation — its availability and exact terms may change; verify at studentaid.gov before making financial decisions. IDR payment calculations use simplified annual income and do not model annual income recertification changes. PSLF eligibility (which makes forgiveness tax-free after 10 years) requires qualifying employment and is not modeled here. This tool covers federal Direct Loans only — FFEL loans, Perkins Loans, and private student loans have different rules. Always confirm your repayment plan and payment amount with your loan servicer.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on publicly available tax slabs and formulas. Consult a qualified Chartered Accountant, tax professional, or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation. Built and maintained by the WOWHOW Team with 14+ years of software development experience.
Enter your total student loan balance and interest rate (APR)
Select a repayment plan — Standard, Graduated, Extended, IBR, PAYE, or SAVE
For income-driven plans, enter your annual income and family size
Optionally add an extra monthly payment to see how much interest it saves
Compare plans side by side and view the full amortization schedule
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