IDR Plan Comparison

Input your current loan balance, interest rate, adjusted gross income (AGI), and family size. The tool will calculate your estimated monthly payments under different Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans.

Compare the monthly payment and the interest each plan leaves unpaid under RAP, IBR, PAYE, and ICR.

For physicians with high debt-to-income ratios, choosing the wrong IDR plan can be a six-figure mistake. Some plans offer better interest subsidies, while others have more favorable payment caps or shorter forgiveness timelines.

SAVE is gone, RAP replaces it, and PAYE and ICR sunset on July 1, 2028. Residents and fellows choosing a plan now are choosing between RAP and IBR.

Discretionary Income: IBR, PAYE, and ICR take a percentage (10% to 20%) of your income above a multiple of the HHS poverty guideline for your family size and state: 150% for IBR and PAYE, 100% for ICR. Sources: StudentAid.gov on discretionary income and IDR plan rates (checked Sept. 27, 2026).

RAP: Uses your whole AGI, not discretionary income: 1% to 10% by $10,000 bracket, minus $50 a month per dependent, with a $10 minimum. Unpaid interest is waived, and there is no cap. See our IBR vs. RAP guide.

• Pearl: If you are planning on PSLF, the plan that gives you the *lowest* monthly payment is usually the best, as it maximizes the amount eventually forgiven.
• Pitfall: Forgoing the "Standard Repayment Plan" cap. Some IDR plans like PAYE cap your payment at what it would have been under a standard 10-year plan; others do not.
• Pearl: Recertify your income early if your salary dropped (e.g., transitioning from attending back to fellowship), but delay it as long as possible if your salary jumped significantly.