To estimate your monthly payment under the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), take your adjusted gross income (AGI), multiply by the rate for your income bracket (1% to 10%), divide by 12, and subtract $50 for each dependent. The minimum payment is always at least $10 a month, and if your AGI is $10,000 or less you simply pay $10. This guide walks through the brackets and shows worked examples so you can estimate your own payment.
RAP launches July 1, 2026 and will be the main income-driven plan for new federal borrowers. Knowing roughly what you would pay helps you borrow wisely now. Here is how to run the numbers.
What is the RAP payment formula?
The RAP monthly payment formula is: (AGI × your bracket rate ÷ 12) − ($50 × number of dependents), with a floor of $10 a month. Your "bracket rate" is a percentage from 1% to 10% that rises with income, the result is divided by 12 for a monthly figure, and each dependent shaves $50 off. No one pays less than $10.
For the full program rules, see our guide to what RAP is and how to enroll.
What are the RAP income brackets?
RAP raises your rate by one percentage point for roughly each $10,000 of AGI, starting at 1% and capping at 10%. The more you earn, the larger the share of income you pay, which keeps payments proportional to your means. Borrowers above $100,000 pay the top rate of 10%.
The bracket schedule works like this:
- $10,000 or less: flat $10 a month minimum.
- $10,001–$20,000: about 1% of AGI.
- $20,001–$30,000: about 2% of AGI.
- $30,001–$40,000: about 3% of AGI, and so on, rising 1% per $10,000.
- Over $100,000: 10% of AGI.
What are some worked examples?
The math is easiest to see with real numbers, so here are three borrowers. Remember to divide the annual figure by 12 and subtract $50 per dependent, never going below $10 a month.
- Single borrower, $35,000 AGI, no dependents: 3% of $35,000 is $1,050 a year, or about $88 a month.
- Single borrower, $50,000 AGI, no dependents: 5% of $50,000 is $2,500 a year, or about $208 a month.
- Parent, $50,000 AGI, two dependents: $208 a month minus $100 (two dependents) is about $108 a month.
These are estimates to plan with, not official quotes. Compare RAP against the other 2026 option in the new tiered standard repayment plan.
What else affects your RAP payment?
A few details change the math: married borrowers who file jointly combine both spouses' AGI, dependents lower the payment by $50 each, and RAP guarantees your balance drops by at least $50 a month with the government covering any shortfall. Your payment also recalculates each year when you recertify your income.
Key factors to remember:
- Filing status: married-filing-jointly counts both incomes; filing separately may change the result.
- Dependents: each one reduces the monthly payment by $50, down to the $10 floor.
- Annual recertification: your payment updates as your income changes year to year.
To weigh RAP against other paths, read income-driven repayment plans compared.
Your next step
Estimating your RAP payment is straightforward: AGI times your bracket rate, divided by 12, minus $50 per dependent, with a $10 minimum. Run your own numbers, then confirm the official figure at studentaid.gov once RAP opens on July 1, 2026. Read our complete 2026 student loan guide, then create your free CollegeLens plan to see how much to borrow given your expected payment.
You're doing the hard, smart work of knowing your payment before you borrow. That's exactly how families keep repayment manageable.
-- Sravani at CollegeLens