Which IDR plan is best for me?

The best IDR plan depends on your income, loan balance, and loan type. SAVE typically offers the lowest payments for undergraduate borrowers (5% of discretionary income vs 10% for other plans). PAYE and IBR cap payments at the standard 10-year amount. ICR has the highest payments but is the only option for Parent PLUS borrowers after consolidation. Use this calculator to compare all plans with your specific numbers.

How is discretionary income calculated for IDR plans?

Discretionary income is your adjusted gross income (AGI) minus a percentage of the federal poverty guideline for your family size and state. SAVE uses 225% of FPL, PAYE and IBR use 150% of FPL, and ICR uses 100% of FPL. For 2026, the poverty guideline for a single person in the contiguous US is $15,650. Alaska and Hawaii have higher guidelines.

When are student loans forgiven under IDR plans?

Remaining balances are forgiven after 20 years for undergraduate loans (SAVE, PAYE, IBR) or 25 years for graduate loans (SAVE, ICR). IDR forgiveness is currently tax-free through the American Rescue Plan extension. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) can forgive loans after just 10 years of qualifying payments while working for government or nonprofits.

Does filing status affect IDR payments?

Yes. If you file taxes jointly with a spouse, your combined household AGI is used to calculate IDR payments, which typically results in higher payments. Filing separately uses only the borrower's income, which can lower IDR payments — but may increase your overall tax bill. Married borrowers should compare both filing scenarios.

What is the SAVE plan and how does it differ from REPAYE?

SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) replaced REPAYE in 2023. Key improvements: undergraduate borrowers pay only 5% of discretionary income (down from 10%), the income protection threshold increased to 225% of FPL (from 150%), and unpaid interest no longer capitalizes. SAVE is generally the most affordable IDR plan for most borrowers.

Income-Driven Repayment Calculator 2026

Compare SAVE, PAYE, IBR, and ICR plans side by side. See payments, forgiveness, and total cost vs standard repayment.

History

Your calculations will appear here

Annual income (AGI)

Family size

Filing status

Federal loan balance

Avg interest rate

Loan type

State of residence

Income growth rate

Annual salary increase

SAVE has both the lowest total cost and the lowest monthly payment.

SAVE

Best value

$82/mo

Formula5% of disc. income

Total paid$38,681

Total interest$32,102

Repayment term20 yr

Forgiven$28,421

vs Standardsave $6,900

PAYE

$263/mo

Formula10% of disc. income

Total paid$49,287

Total interest$14,287

Repayment term20 yr

IBR

$263/mo

Formula10% of disc. income

Total paid$49,287

Total interest$14,287

Repayment term20 yr

ICR

$333/mo

Formula20% of disc. income

Total paid$47,889

Total interest$12,889

Repayment term25 yr

Plan	Monthly	Total paid	Interest	Forgiven	Term	vs Standard
Standard (10yr)	$380	$45,581	$10,581	--	10 yr	--
SAVEbest	$82	$38,681	$32,102	$28,421	20 yr	−$6,900
PAYE	$263	$49,287	$14,287	--	13 yr	+$3,705
IBR	$263	$49,287	$14,287	--	13 yr	+$3,705
ICR	$333	$47,889	$12,889	--	13 yr	+$2,308

Based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Assumes new borrower rates for IBR (post-July 2014). Does not constitute financial advice.

How IDR plans work

Income-driven repayment plans set your monthly federal student loan payment based on your discretionary income — the amount your AGI exceeds a multiple of the federal poverty guideline for your family size. Each plan uses a different percentage and poverty line threshold:

SAVE: 5% of discretionary income for undergrad loans, 10% for graduate. Income under 225% of FPL is fully protected. Unpaid interest does not capitalize. Forgiveness after 20 years (undergrad) or 25 years (graduate).

PAYE: 10% of discretionary income above 150% of FPL. Payments capped at the standard 10-year amount. Forgiveness after 20 years. Available to new borrowers who received a disbursement after Oct 1, 2011.

IBR: 10% of discretionary income above 150% of FPL (for new borrowers after July 2014). Payments capped at the standard 10-year amount. Forgiveness after 20 years.

ICR: The lesser of 20% of discretionary income (above 100% FPL) or a 12-year fixed payment adjusted for income. Forgiveness after 25 years. The only IDR plan available for Parent PLUS loans (after consolidation).

This calculator projects your income growth over the full repayment period and models how payments increase as income rises. The comparison table shows total cost versus standard 10-year repayment so you can see exactly how much each plan saves or costs.

FAQ

What are the 4 income-driven repayment plans?

SAVE (replaced REPAYE), PAYE, IBR, and ICR. Each ties your payment to a percentage of discretionary income. SAVE is usually the most affordable for most borrowers.

Which IDR plan saves the most money?

SAVE typically has the lowest payments for undergraduate borrowers (5% of discretionary income). For total cost, it depends on your income trajectory and whether forgiveness kicks in. Compare your specific numbers above.

SAVE vs IBR vs PAYE — what's the difference?

SAVE protects more income (225% FPL vs 150%) and charges undergrad borrowers only 5% vs 10%. PAYE and IBR cap payments at the standard amount; SAVE does not. SAVE does not capitalize unpaid interest; PAYE and IBR do.

Does filing status affect my IDR payment?

Yes. Filing jointly uses combined household income, raising payments. Filing separately uses only the borrower's income but may increase your tax bill. Compare both scenarios to see which saves more overall.

Is student loan forgiveness taxable?

PSLF forgiveness is always tax-free. IDR forgiveness is currently tax-free under the American Rescue Plan extension. After the extension expires, forgiven balances under IDR may be taxed as ordinary income. Check current law when your forgiveness date approaches.

How does Alaska or Hawaii affect IDR payments?

Alaska and Hawaii have higher federal poverty guidelines. This means more of your income is protected as non-discretionary, resulting in lower IDR payments compared to the same income in the contiguous 48 states.

Related tools

Student Loan Calculator — compare standard vs income-driven repayment
Debt Payoff Calculator — plan payoff for all your debts
Paycheck Estimator — see your take-home pay after taxes
FIRE Calculator — plan your path to financial independence

Based on current federal repayment plan rules and 2026 poverty guidelines. Plan rules may change. Does not account for private loans. Consult your loan servicer for official payment amounts.