Plan Comparison Tool

Compare All Plans

Find the perfect Income-Driven Repayment plan for your situation. Compare eligibility requirements, payment calculations, and forgiveness timelines across all federal IDR programs.

5

Federal Plans

10-20%

Of Income Range

10-25

Years to Forgiveness

Plan Overview

All Federal Plans at a Glance

Each Income-Driven Repayment plan has unique benefits and requirements. Here's a quick overview to help you understand your options.

Most Popular

Income-Based Repayment (IBR)

Payment: 10-15% of discretionary income
Forgiveness: 20-25 years
Eligibility: Partial Financial Hardship required
Loans: Direct & FFEL (after consolidation)

Best For:

Borrowers with high debt relative to income who need lower payments and have older loans (before 2014).

★★★★★ Excellent Choice
Learn More →
Fast Forgiveness

Pay As You Earn (PAYE)

Payment: 10% of discretionary income
Forgiveness: 20 years
Eligibility: First-time borrower after 2007
Loans: Direct Loans only

Best For:

New borrowers (2008+) who qualify and want the lowest possible monthly payments with fastest forgiveness.

★★★★★ Top Choice
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Best Benefits

SAVE Plan (Saving on A Valuable Education)

Payment: 5-10% of discretionary income
Forgiveness: 10-25 years
Eligibility: No specific requirements
Loans: Direct Loans only

Best For:

All borrowers seeking the lowest payments with the best interest protection and no capitalization.

★★★★★ Newest & Best
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Parent PLUS

Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)

Payment: 20% of discretionary income
Forgiveness: 25 years
Eligibility: No specific requirements
Loans: All Direct Loans (incl. Parent PLUS)

Best For:

Parent PLUS borrowers after consolidation, or those who don't qualify for other IDR plans.

★★★☆☆ Specialized Use
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FFEL Only

Income Sensitive Repayment (ISR)

Payment: 4-25% of gross monthly income
Forgiveness: None (up to 10 years)
Eligibility: FFEL loan borrowers only
Loans: FFEL Stafford & PLUS loans

Best For:

FFEL borrowers seeking temporary payment relief. Consider consolidation for better long-term options.

★★☆☆☆ Limited Use
Learn More →

Need Help Choosing the Right Plan?

Our experts analyze your specific situation to recommend the optimal IDR plan for maximum savings and fastest forgiveness.

Detailed Analysis

Side-by-Side Plan Comparison

Compare every important detail across all IDR plans to make the best choice for your financial situation.

Comparison Factor
IBR
PAYE
SAVE
ICR
ISR
Monthly Payment Calculation
10-15%
of discretionary income
10%
of discretionary income
5-10%
of discretionary income
20%
of discretionary income
4-25%
of gross monthly income
Forgiveness Timeline
20-25 years
Undergrad/Grad
20 years
All loans
10-25 years
Based on loan balance
25 years
All loans
None
Up to 10 years only
Eligibility Requirements
Partial Financial Hardship
IDR payment < standard
First-time borrower
After Oct 1, 2007
No requirements
Available to all
No requirements
Available to all
FFEL loans only
5-year maximum
Eligible Loan Types
Direct + FFEL
After consolidation
Direct only
No FFEL/Perkins
Direct only
No FFEL/Perkins
All Direct
Including Parent PLUS
FFEL only
Stafford & PLUS
Interest Benefits
Limited
Interest may capitalize
Limited
Interest may capitalize
100%
No interest capitalization
None
Interest capitalizes
None
Interest capitalizes
Spousal Income Included
Optional
File separately to exclude
Optional
File separately to exclude
Always
Cannot exclude spouse
Optional
File separately to exclude
Optional
Varies by lender
Payment Cap
Yes
Standard 10-year amount
Yes
Standard 10-year amount
No
Can exceed standard
No
Can exceed standard
No
Can exceed standard
Best For
• High debt-to-income
• Pre-2014 borrowers
• FFEL loans
• Married filing separately
• Newest borrowers
• Lowest payments needed
• Direct loans only
• Fast forgiveness
• All borrowers
• Lowest payments available
• Best interest protection
• Faster undergraduate forgiveness
• Parent PLUS loans
• Last resort option
• Older program
• Backup choice
• FFEL borrowers
• Temporary relief
• Consider consolidation
• Short-term option

Still Not Sure Which Plan is Right for You?

Our loan specialists will analyze your specific situation and recommend the optimal IDR plan to maximize your savings.

Calculate Your Savings

Payment Calculator

Enter your information below to estimate your monthly payments and potential savings under each plan.

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Disclaimer: These are estimates based on current federal guidelines. Actual payments may vary based on your specific loan details and servicer calculations. For exact amounts, consult with a loan specialist.

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