!
🔄 Deadlines extended — October update: Autopay 1% rate cut extended to Dec 31. SAVE 90-day notices still going out in waves. Trump admin moving student loans to Treasury. What changed →
🔄 Deadlines extended — Updated October 1, 2026

Your student loans just got a lot more complicated. We'll fix that.

6 million SAVE borrowers must pick a new plan — 90-day notices going out in waves through 2027. Autopay 1% rate cut extended to Dec 31, 2026. Get your personalized path in 60 seconds, free.

Find my best strategy → Get my full personalized report →
43M
Americans with federal student debt
$37K
Average borrower balance
78%
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Answer 5 questions. Get a personalized plan that accounts for the 2026 changes, your income, and your career goals.

What's your approximate loan balance?
Federal student loans only — we can't discharge private loans
Under $25,000
Standard or RAP may work well
$25,000 – $60,000
IBR or PSLF likely best
$60,000 – $120,000
PSLF or IBR strongly recommended
Over $120,000
Multiple strategies may apply
✓ Your personalized strategy
Your Best Path: PSLF + $0/month IBR
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Our AI analyzes all 2026 repayment options — PSLF, IBR, Borrower Defense, NIH LRP, bankruptcy — and ranks what works for you.
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The law keeps changing. We update our recommendations weekly as new rules take effect in 2026.

Federal student loans in 2026: key facts

Last reviewed October 15, 2026
RAP payment
1%–10% of your adjusted gross income, minus $50 a month per dependent. Minimum $10 a month. Forgiveness after 30 years. Started July 1, 2026. RAP calculator →
IBR payment
10% of discretionary income (15% for loans before July 1, 2014). $0 if your income is at or below 150% of the poverty line: $23,940 for a single borrower in 2026. $0 payment limits →
Autopay rate cut
Enroll in autopay by December 31, 2026 to get a 1% interest rate cut through June 30, 2028 (normally 0.25%). How to enroll →
SAVE plan
Ended. Borrowers get a 90-day notice to pick IBR or RAP; notices continue through the end of 2026. Miss your deadline and you're placed on a standard-type plan. Find your deadline →
July 1, 2028
Borrowers on PAYE or ICR must choose IBR or RAP or be moved to RAP. IBR borrowers can stay on IBR. What changes →
PSLF
120 qualifying payments while working full-time for government or a qualifying nonprofit. Forgiveness is tax-free. IBR and RAP payments both count. PSLF in 2026 →
Missed payments
Delinquent the day after a missed payment, reported to credit bureaus at 90 days, default at 270 days. Full timeline →
Default & garnishment
Collections on defaulted loans have been paused since January 2026, with no restart date announced. Garnishment is generally capped at 15% of disposable pay. Is it paused? →

Not legal or financial advice. Rules change; confirm your details on StudentAid.gov or with your loan servicer.

2026 Repayment Landscape

Every option explained, plainly

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act rewrote the rules. Here's where every plan stands today.

★
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)
New in 2026. Payments are 1–10% of AGI. Forgiveness after 30 years. Replaces SAVE for new borrowers after July 1, 2026.
New July 2026 Calculate your RAP payment →
✓
Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
Still available for existing borrowers. Payments capped at 10–15% of discretionary income. Must switch before July 1, 2028.
Still available IBR vs RAP compared →
◎
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
10 years of qualifying payments at a government or nonprofit employer. Full forgiveness, tax-free. Still the best path for public sector workers.
10-year path PSLF in 2026 →
🚨
SAVE Plan — Ended
SAVE is over. If you got a 90-day notice, choose IBR or RAP before your personal deadline or you'll be moved to a standard plan. Check your servicer for your date.
Check your deadline Your options after SAVE →
⚖
Borrower Defense to Repayment
Discharge loans if your school misled you about your education. Currently hostile under 2026 administration but applications remain open.
High competition Apply on StudentAid.gov ↗
♦
NIH Loan Repayment Program
Up to $50,000/year for biomedical researchers at nonprofits or government institutions. Massively underused by eligible borrowers.
Apply Nov 2026 NIH LRP website ↗

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