All guides

Repayment plans

RAP, IBR, Tiered Standard, and what changed after SAVE ended.

• Federal Autopay Discount and Small Repayment Wins

  How the July 1, 2026 federal auto pay interest rate reduction works, enrollment deadlines through June 30, 2028, and other low-effort ways to lower student loan cost without scams.

• PAYE and ICR End in 2028: What Borrowers Should Do Next

  Pay As You Earn and Income-Contingent Repayment end no later than July 1, 2028. Here is who is affected, what to pick instead, and how to use official tools before the sunset.

• RAP vs IBR vs Tiered Standard: Which Federal Plan Fits?

  Compare the Repayment Assistance Plan, Income-Based Repayment, and Tiered Standard on eligibility, payment math, forgiveness, and PSLF after SAVE ended.

• Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) Explained

  How the Repayment Assistance Plan calculates payments from AGI and dependents, who qualifies, and how RAP differs from IBR and Tiered Standard after July 1, 2026.

• SAVE Ended: What to Do Now

  The SAVE income-driven repayment plan ended in March 2026. Here is how to pick a replacement federal plan, avoid PSLF mistakes, and use free StudentAid.gov resources.

• Tiered Standard Plan Explained

  The Tiered Standard Plan uses fixed payments over 10, 15, 20, or 25 years based on total Direct Loan balance. See exact cutoffs, eligibility after July 1, 2026, and the PSLF warning.