Which IDR plan has the lowest payment?

The SAVE plan generally has the lowest payments: 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans, 10% for graduate. Interest subsidy prevents balance growth when payments do not cover interest.

What is the forgiveness timeline?

IBR: 20 years (new borrowers) or 25 years (older borrowers). PAYE: 20 years. SAVE: 20 years for undergrad only, 25 years for graduate.

When does IDR make financial sense?

IDR is beneficial when loan balance exceeds 1.5x annual income, when pursuing PSLF (10-year public service forgiveness), or when starting salary is significantly below eventual earnings.

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Calculator

Estimate monthly payments under SAVE, IBR, PAYE, and ICR income-driven repayment plans. Compare total cost including potential loan forgiveness after 20-25 years.

Principal ($)

Annual Rate (%)

Years

Compounding / Year

$ Finance Disclaimer: These calculators are for educational and illustrative purposes only. Results do not constitute financial advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment or borrowing decisions.

How to Use

Enter the values for the scenario you are assessing. Estimate monthly payments under SAVE, IBR, PAYE, and ICR income-driven repayment plans. Compare total cost including potential loan forgiveness after 20-25 years. Use the idr repayment result to inform your calculation.

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