IBR vs PAYE: Is There Any Difference in 2026?
IBR vs PAYE compared with real engine numbers: when the two plans cost the same, when PAYE is cheaper, the PAYE new-borrower test, and what happens when PAYE ends by July 1, 2028.
RAP vs IBR: Which Plan Should You Pick in 2026?
RAP vs IBR compared with real engine numbers: payment formula, 20, 25 or 30 years, interest, PSLF and switching. Which plan costs less over the life of the loan, and when RAP wins.
PAYE vs RAP: Which Costs Less in 2026?
PAYE vs RAP compared with real engine numbers: payment formula, 20 vs 30 years, interest, PSLF and the July 1, 2028 end of PAYE. Which plan costs less, and when RAP wins.
The State of RAP, October 2026: What 1,899 Federal Loan Files Show
De-identified data from 1,899 borrowers’ federal loan files: balances, loan types, plans on file, estimated RAP payments against Standard, and PSLF progress.
Should You Refinance Federal Student Loans? For Most Borrowers, No
Refinance ads lead with the rate. The lenders’ own disclosures say what it costs: every federal benefit. For most borrowers with federal loans, refinancing them is a mistake.
Student Loan Recertification in January 2027: Which Tax Return Counts
Your payment for the next twelve months is set from the most recent tax return on file when your recertification runs. In January that can be 2025 or 2026. Here is how the order decides the number, what RAP does differently, and what a missed date costs.
Does RAP Qualify for PSLF?
Does RAP count for PSLF? Here is how the new Repayment Assistance Plan works with Public Service Loan Forgiveness after July 1, 2026.
RAP vs PAYE vs IBR: Which Plan Costs Less in 2026
Comparing RAP vs SAVE, PAYE, and IBR after July 1, 2026? Here is how the income-driven plans differ and how to pick the right one.
PSLF Buyback Does Not Cover RAP Months. Here Is What Your Client Loses.
PSLF buyback cannot recover deferment or forbearance months spent on the Repayment Assistance Plan. The regulation excludes RAP from both the automatic credit path and the paid one.
Do Student Loans Affect Buying a House? How Lenders Count Your Payment in 2026
Yes, but through your debt-to-income ratio, not your balance. See exactly which student loan payment FHA and Fannie Mae count in 2026, with a parity-verified payment table.