Federal Student Loan Payment Calculator
Model fixed federal student-loan payments with legacy standard terms or the Tiered Standard rules introduced in July 2026.
Rule year: 2026 · USD · Sources checked
Estimated scheduled monthly payment
Illustrative fixed-rate repayment from plan entry; balance already includes any capitalised interest. No daily-interest calendar, deferment, subsidies, forgiveness, RAP, IBR or other income-driven plans. Plan eligibility must be confirmed with Federal Student Aid or your servicer; legacy consolidation assumes no other eligible loans.
For informational purposes only. This estimate is not financial advice, a tax return, a payroll calculation or a lender decision. See the supported circumstances and exclusions below.
How this calculator works
The Tiered Standard model assigns 10, 15, 20 or 25 years from the principal balance at plan entry, following the 2026 rules. The legacy non-consolidation illustration uses ten years; legacy consolidation uses its own balance-based maximum terms and assumes no other eligible student debt. The scheduled amount uses monthly amortisation and the supported $50 minimum, which can shorten repayment of a small balance. Actual federal loans accrue daily interest, so payment dates and servicer rounding can change totals.
Formula and rules
Monthly amortisation uses the entered annual rate / 12 and the selected plan maximum term. Supported scheduled payment = at least $50, except where the amount due is smaller. Tiered terms: below $25,000 = 10 years; below $50,000 = 15; below $100,000 = 20; otherwise 25.
Assumptions and limitations
Illustrative fixed-rate repayment from plan entry; balance already includes any capitalised interest. No daily-interest calendar, deferment, subsidies, forgiveness, RAP, IBR or other income-driven plans. Plan eligibility must be confirmed with Federal Student Aid or your servicer; legacy consolidation assumes no other eligible loans.
Worked example
At $30,000 principal entering Tiered Standard, the balance falls in the 15-year band. At 0% interest, 180 equal payments are $166.6667 before display rounding, above the $50 minimum.
- Estimated scheduled monthly payment
- $166.67
- Plan maximum repayment term
- 15 years
- Modelled months to repay
- 180
- Total interest under fixed-rate model
- $0.00
Official sources and review
Reviewed against the sources below on 2026-10-06. Rates are held in versioned rule modules. Versioned rules, official source review and year-specific calculation tests.
- US Department of Education: RISE final rule ↗
Tiered Standard begins 1 July 2026: 10/15/20/25 years by balance and $50 monthly minimum.
- Federal Student Aid servicer: fixed repayment options ↗
Legacy standard/consolidation terms and current Tiered Standard eligibility; no income-driven plan is modelled.
Common questions
Which borrowing date affects the current plan?
The new fixed-plan rules apply to qualifying Direct Loans made on or after 1 July 2026, including relevant mixed-loan circumstances. Confirm the correct plan with your servicer.
Does this model income-driven repayment or forgiveness?
No. Only the selected fixed-payment illustration is calculated. Income-driven eligibility, payments and forgiveness require different rules and personal details.
Why can actual interest differ?
Federal loans generally accrue interest daily. This model uses equal monthly periods and excludes servicing dates, deferment and rounding differences.