Is the income-driven repayment figure exact?

No — actual income-driven repayment plans (like those in the US) have specific rules that vary by plan and change over time. This is a simplified estimate to compare against standard repayment, not a substitute for your loan servicer’s calculation.

Which repayment option is cheaper overall?

Standard repayment almost always pays less total interest since it pays off faster; income-driven repayment lowers the monthly payment but usually extends the timeline and total interest paid.

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Compare standard fixed repayment against an income-driven repayment estimate for a student loan.

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Loan balance

Interest rate (%)

Standard term (years)

Annual income

Income-driven repayment here is a simplified estimate: 10% of income above a $22,000/year allowance, capped at the standard payment. Real plans (IBR, SAVE, PAYE, etc.) have specific rules that vary and change over time — check your loan servicer for an exact figure.

Standard repayment

$0/mo

Payoff: · Total interest:

Income-driven repayment (simplified estimate)

$0/mo

Payoff: · Total interest:

How this is calculated

Standard repayment uses the same fixed-rate amortization formula as any other loan. The income-driven estimate caps the monthly payment at a percentage of discretionary income (income minus a poverty-line-based allowance) and re-amortizes the remaining balance — a simplified approximation of real income-driven plans, not the exact formula used by any specific loan servicer.

Frequently asked questions

Is the income-driven repayment figure exact?: No — actual income-driven repayment plans (like those in the US) have specific rules that vary by plan and change over time. This is a simplified estimate to compare against standard repayment, not a substitute for your loan servicer’s calculation.
Which repayment option is cheaper overall?: Standard repayment almost always pays less total interest since it pays off faster; income-driven repayment lowers the monthly payment but usually extends the timeline and total interest paid.

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