Federal student loan repayment plans (2026)
RAP, the new Standard plan, IBR, and the plans being phased out.
In 2026 the federal repayment menu splits by when your first loan was disbursed. If your first loan is on or after July 1, 2026, you choose between the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and the new tiered Standard plan. If your first loan is before July 1, 2026, you also keep IBR and the classic Standard, Graduated and Extended plans, while SAVE, PAYE and ICR are closing (switch to IBR or RAP by July 1, 2028). For public-service forgiveness (PSLF) you need an income-driven plan such as RAP or IBR. General information, not advice.
Source: Federal Student Aid - OBBBA updates. Data as of June 2026.
General information, not financial or legal advice. Federal student loan rules are changing in 2025-2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act - figures here are estimates from public sources and the final program rules are still being implemented. Always verify with your loan servicer and studentaid.gov. See our disclaimer.
All plans at a glance
| Plan | Type | Counts toward PSLF | 2026 status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) | Income-driven | Yes | New - available July 1, 2026 |
| New tiered Standard plan | Fixed | No | New - default for loans on/after July 1, 2026 |
| Income-Based Repayment (IBR) | Income-driven | Yes | Remains available (existing borrowers) |
| Standard 10-year plan | Fixed | No | Continues for existing borrowers |
| Graduated repayment plan | Fixed | No | Continues for existing borrowers |
| Extended repayment plan | Fixed | No | Continues for existing borrowers (balance over $30,000) |
| SAVE plan (Saving on a Valuable Education) | Income-driven | Yes | Closing - vacated by the courts; ending |
| Pay As You Earn (PAYE) | Income-driven | Yes | Closing - sunsets July 1, 2028 |
| Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) | Income-driven | Yes | Closing - sunsets July 1, 2028 |
New in 2026
New - available July 1, 2026 · PSLF-eligible
New tiered Standard planNew - default for loans on/after July 1, 2026 · Not PSLF
Continuing plans (existing borrowers)
Remains available (existing borrowers) · PSLF-eligible
Standard 10-year planContinues for existing borrowers · Not PSLF
Graduated repayment planContinues for existing borrowers · Not PSLF
Extended repayment planContinues for existing borrowers (balance over $30,000) · Not PSLF
Closing plans
These are being phased out. Borrowers must move to IBR or RAP by July 1, 2028.
Closing - vacated by the courts; ending
Pay As You Earn (PAYE)Closing - sunsets July 1, 2028
Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)Closing - sunsets July 1, 2028
Frequently asked questions
How many federal student loan repayment plans are there in 2026?
As of June 2026 there are 9 plans on this site: two new ones (RAP and the tiered Standard plan), the continuing IBR and classic Standard/Graduated/Extended plans, and three closing plans (SAVE, PAYE, ICR). Which you can use depends on when your first loan was disbursed.
Which plans count toward PSLF?
Among current options, RAP and IBR (and the closing SAVE/PAYE/ICR while available) count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The fixed Standard, new tiered Standard, Graduated and Extended plans do NOT count toward PSLF - if you want PSLF you generally need an income-driven plan such as RAP.
Keep exploring
Last updated: 2026-06-22