Calculator inputs
Example data table
| Scenario | Your AGI | Family size | Region | Loan balance | Rate | Filing status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single direct borrower | $65,000 | 1 | 48 Contiguous States & DC | $45,000 | 6.50% | Single |
| Joint tax household | $85,000 | 2 | 48 Contiguous States & DC | $70,000 | 5.90% | Married filing jointly |
| Separate tax filing | $55,000 | 3 | Hawaii | $30,000 | 4.80% | Married filing separately |
Formula used
Poverty guideline lookup: The estimator first chooses the annual poverty guideline for your family size and region.
PAYE discretionary income: AGI minus 150% of the poverty guideline, never below zero. Estimated payment = 10% of that annual amount divided by 12, then capped at your 10-year standard payment.
IBR discretionary income: AGI minus 150% of the poverty guideline, never below zero. Estimated payment = 10% or 15% of that annual amount divided by 12, then capped at your 10-year standard payment.
ICR calculation: The tool finds the lower of two amounts: 20% of discretionary income divided by 12, or a 12-year fixed payment multiplied by the ICR income-percentage factor.
Joint filing proration: When joint income is used and a spouse also has federal student debt, the combined IDR amount is prorated by your share of total federal debt.
Standard payment formula: Monthly payment = P × [r / (1 - (1 + r)-n)] where P is balance, r is monthly interest rate, and n is repayment months.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your adjusted gross income, not gross salary.
- Add spouse income and spouse loan balance only when you want joint calculations considered.
- Choose the poverty region that matches your residence.
- Select the loan program type because eligibility differs by plan.
- Mark whether you likely satisfy PAYE and IBR borrower-date rules.
- Press Estimate payment to see the summary, comparison table, and Plotly chart above the form.
- Use the CSV or PDF buttons to export the results for review or sharing.
Frequently asked questions
1. What does income-driven repayment mean?
It means your monthly federal student loan payment is tied to income and family size rather than only your balance. Payments can rise or fall as your financial situation changes after annual recertification.
2. Why can my estimated payment be $0?
If your discretionary income is zero after subtracting the protected poverty amount, the formula can produce a zero-dollar monthly payment. That does not automatically mean interest stops or that balance growth disappears.
3. Why does joint filing sometimes increase payments?
Joint filing can cause the estimator to use combined household income. Even though the tool prorates for spouse federal debt, the larger income base can still push the payment higher than a separate-filing estimate.
4. What is the 10-year standard payment cap?
For PAYE and IBR, your payment generally cannot exceed what you would have paid under a standard 10-year schedule when entering the plan. That cap helps prevent very high required payments after income increases.
5. Does this calculator decide official eligibility?
No. It is a planning estimator. Your servicer or Federal Student Aid will still determine actual eligibility using exact loan records, dates, consolidation history, and application rules.
6. Why is the ICR estimate different from PAYE or IBR?
ICR uses a different structure. It compares 20% of discretionary income against a 12-year fixed payment adjusted by an income-percentage factor, so its result can move differently from PAYE or IBR.
7. Should I enter gross pay or AGI?
Use adjusted gross income when possible because IDR applications commonly rely on tax information. If you only know gross pay, the estimate may be directionally useful but less accurate.
8. Why do exported results matter?
Exports make it easier to compare scenarios, keep budgeting records, or send assumptions to an advisor. Saving a CSV or PDF also helps you track how payment estimates change over time.