Student Loan Repayment Comparison (Standard vs IDR)

How this calculation works

The standard 10-year plan is the baseline: fixed payment, all interest paid, no forgiveness. Income-driven plans trade a lower (income-based) payment for a longer term and possible forgiveness.

This comparison simulates a standard 10-year plan against a 20-year IDR-style plan at 10% of discretionary income, showing total paid and the forgiven balance.

How this Student Loan Repayment Comparison (Standard vs IDR) works — 2026 guide

The standard 10-year student loan plan is the cheapest total path, but not always the most affordable month-to-month. This comparison tool runs both scenarios side by side: the fixed 10-year payment and an income-driven-style payment (10% of discretionary income, 20-year term with forgiveness). You see the monthly difference, the lifetime cost of each, and the balance that would be forgiven — the trade-off that decides which plan fits a tight budget versus a long-term cost.

How to use it in 3 steps

1. Enter your total loan balance and weighted-average interest rate.
2. Add your monthly gross income for the IDR-style scenario.
3. Compare the standard 10-year payment against the income-driven payment, total cost, and forgiven balance.

Who this is for

Recent graduates choosing a repayment plan, borrowers weighing IDR forgiveness, and anyone refinancing. Pair with the [credit card payoff calculator](/tools/credit-card-payoff-calculator/) when juggling multiple debts.

Data sources & authoritative references

This calculator is built on official U.S. rules and published statistics. Key sources:

• U.S. Department of Education — Federal student aid: interest rates
• U.S. Department of Education — Income-driven repayment plans
• Federal Register — 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines