Student Loan: Standard vs PSLF

Compare 10-year standard payoff vs. 10-year IDR + PSLF forgiveness for federal loans.

Inputs

Result

Loading calculator…
—

General calculation reads

Amazon affiliate
How Not to Be Wrong
Jordan Ellenberg - math thinking
Shop on Amazon
The Joy of X
Steven Strogatz - accessible math
Shop on Amazon
Scientific calculator (Casio fx-991EX)
Shop on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. This does not add cost for you.

How to use this calculator

  • Enter federal loan balance and rate.
  • Enter AGI + family size.
  • Pick IDR plan.

About this calculator

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): work 10 years for qualifying employer (government, 501(c)(3) nonprofit) on Income-Driven Repayment plan, get remaining federal loan balance forgiven (tax-free). For high-debt low-income borrowers (teachers, social workers, public lawyers): saves $50-200k. Not for private loans. SAVE plan (5% discretionary, formerly REPAYE) is most generous; PAYE/IBR are 10-15%. Verify employer eligibility annually with PSLF certification form.

Frequently asked

Who qualifies for PSLF?+
Employees of: federal/state/local government, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, AmeriCorps/Peace Corps. Not private companies, not religious orgs (in some interpretations).
Are forgiven amounts taxable?+
PSLF: no, federal tax-free. IDR-only forgiveness (after 20-25 years not PSLF): historically taxable, but ARPA suspended through 2025.
SAVE plan suspension?+
As of 2024-2025, SAVE plan is in legal limbo (court challenges). Borrowers in temporary forbearance. Verify status with servicer.
What's "discretionary income"?+
AGI minus 150% of Federal Poverty Line. Single FPL ~$15k → discretionary = AGI − $22.5k.
Do private loans qualify?+
No — PSLF only covers federal Direct loans. Refinancing federal to private = lose PSLF eligibility forever.

Related calculators

College Tuition Cost Projection
Tuition × (1 + inflation)^years. Plan ahead; tuition has historically risen 5-7%/yr.
Exam Grade Required
Score needed on final exam to hit course target. (Target − pre-exam × pre-weight) / exam-weight.
Cumulative GPA After Semester
New cumulative GPA = (current cum × completed credits + semester GPA × new credits) / total.
Semester Credits Required
Total degree credits / semesters remaining = credits per semester.
Study Hours Per Credit (Weekly Load)
Weekly study load = credits × hours per credit. Standard 2-3 hr study per credit hour.
Course Grade Needed Calculator
Given current grade and weight remaining, what do you need on the rest to hit a target?

More tools you might like

Hand-picked tools that pair well with this one — same audience, same intent.

Study Hours Per Credit (Weekly Load)
Calc

Weekly study load = credits × hours per credit. Standard 2-3 hr study per credit hour.

Course Grade Needed Calculator
Calc

Given current grade and weight remaining, what do you need on the rest to hit a target?

Exam Grade Required
Calc

Score needed on final exam to hit course target. (Target − pre-exam × pre-weight) / exam-weight.

Cumulative GPA After Semester
Calc

New cumulative GPA = (current cum × completed credits + semester GPA × new credits) / total.

Semester Credits Required
Calc

Total degree credits / semesters remaining = credits per semester.

Loan Calculator
Finance

Monthly payment, total interest, full amortization, plus an early-payoff scenario showing months and interest saved by adding to each payment.