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Plan Comparator

Five steps. Five plans. One recommendation, statute-cited, with tax-bomb projection at the forgiveness year. Your inputs never leave this browser tab.
Plan Comparator· 5 plans · statute-cited
Your plan comparison
Based on $78,400 at 6.8% · AGI $58,000 · CA
Estimates only. Tax-bomb figures are illustrative (flat 24% federal rate, not your actual bracket).
34 CFR §685·2026-04-22
Recommended
IBR
Income-Based Repayment
Monthly$228
Forgiven · yr 20$188K
Tax bomb$45K
34 CFR §685.221
PAYE
Pay As You Earn
Monthly$228
Forgiven · yr 20$188K
Tax bomb$45K
34 CFR §685.209
Phases out 2028-07-01
ICR
Income-Contingent Rep.
Monthly$456
Forgiven · yr 25$69K
Tax bomb$17K
34 CFR §685.208
Phases out 2028-07-01
RAP
Repayment Assistance Plan
Monthly$290
Forgiven · yr 30$259K
Tax bomb$62K
P.L. 119-21 §3
Launches 2026-07-01
Standard
10-Year Standard
Monthly$902
Forgiven · yr 10$0
Tax bomb$0
34 CFR §685.208(a)
This is informational, not financial advice. Federal student loan rules change frequently — verify with StudentAid.gov or a licensed advisor before acting.
34 CFR §685.221, §685.209, §685.208 · P.L. 119-21 · IRC §108(f)(5)· Last verified 2026-04-22· studentaid.gov / ED.gov / IRS.gov
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Sources
Every plan card cites its statute. Last verified 2026-04-22 · see methodology