Free · No signup · Updated for OBBBA 2026
RAP Calculator for Physicians
The Repayment Assistance Plan launched July 1, 2026. For most residents and attendings, IBR still costs less — by hundreds per month. See the side-by-side math for your specialty, then run your exact numbers in the calculator.
Compare RAP vs IBR for my situation →RAP vs IBR: the one number that matters
Both plans charge 10% of income. The difference is what counts as "income."
IBR (Recommended)
10% of discretionary income
Discretionary income = AGI minus 150% of federal poverty line for your family size. The exclusion lowers your payment significantly — especially important for residents and fellows.
RAP (New in 2026)
10% of full AGI
No poverty-line exclusion. Simpler math, but you pay more. For a PGY-1 earning $75K, RAP costs $188/month more than IBR — with zero extra PSLF benefit.
The bottom line for physicians
RAP is not available for loans before July 1, 2026, so most current residents and attendings can't use it anyway. For M1s and M2s starting in 2026, IBR will still cost less at nearly every income level during training — and at attending salaries above ~$200K, both plans approach the standard repayment cap and the gap narrows.
RAP vs IBR monthly payments by training stage (2026)
Estimates use 2026 federal poverty guidelines. IBR calculated at 10% of discretionary income (AGI − 150% FPL). RAP calculated at 10% of full AGI.
| SCENARIO | IBR/MO | RAP/MO | IBR SAVES |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 (Internal Medicine) | $370 | $558 | −$188/mo |
| PGY-1 ($75K salary) | $437 | $625 | −$188/mo |
| PGY-3 (Surgery) | $414 | $608 | −$194/mo |
| Fellow (Family of 2) | $386 | $683 | −$297/mo |
| Attending — Pediatrics ($244K) | $1,847 | $2,033 | −$186/mo |
| Attending — Internal Med ($264K) | $1,944 | $2,200 | −$256/mo |
IBR savings are most pronounced during residency and fellowship, where the poverty-line exclusion represents a larger share of your income. At attending salaries above ~$300K, both plans approach the standard repayment cap and the gap narrows significantly.
Why RAP exists — and the Grad PLUS connection
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), effective July 1, 2026, made two big changes at once: it created RAP and eliminated the Grad PLUS loan program.
Grad PLUS was the loan that let medical students borrow above the $20,500/year federal unsubsidized limit. With it gone, M1s entering in 2026 are capped at $20,500/year in federal loans. The rest of medical school costs — typically another $30,000–$50,000/year — must come from private loans, which don't qualify for any IDR plan including RAP.
$20,500/yr
Federal loan cap (2026+)
Unsubsidized limit, no Grad PLUS
$60–80K/yr
Avg. total med school cost
Tuition + fees + living
$40–60K/yr
Private loan gap
Not eligible for RAP or IBR
For 2026 M1s, this means RAP only covers a fraction of their total debt. The federal portion ($20,500/yr × 4 years = $82,000) qualifies for RAP or IBR. The private portion — often 2-3x larger — doesn't. For that private debt, refinancing terms matter more than any IDR plan.
RAP and PSLF: what you actually need to know
RAP qualifies for PSLF. Every month of RAP payments at a qualifying employer counts toward your 120. But IBR also qualifies — and your monthly payment is what determines how much you spend before forgiveness.
⚠️ The PSLF math is identical for both plans
Both IBR and RAP give you one qualifying payment toward PSLF per month. Paying more per month under RAP doesn't get you to 120 any faster. Choosing RAP over IBR for a PSLF track costs you more money for zero additional benefit.
36 payments
Residency (3 years)
3-year IM or FM program, counts toward PSLF
60 payments
Residency + fellowship (5 yrs)
40% of PSLF complete before attending year 1
84 payments
Surgery residency (7 yrs)
70% done — only 3 attending years to go
96 payments
Neurosurg / ortho (8 yrs)
2 attending years and forgiveness is complete
RAP calculator FAQ
What is the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)?
RAP is a new federal income-driven repayment plan created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), effective July 1, 2026. Payments are 10% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) — with no poverty-line exclusion — and forgiveness is at 30 years. RAP is only available for federal loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026.
How does RAP compare to IBR for medical residents?
IBR is almost always cheaper. IBR subtracts 150% of the federal poverty line from your AGI before calculating your 10% payment. For a PGY-1 earning $75,000, that exclusion saves roughly $188/month vs RAP. Over a 4-year residency, that's ~$9,000 in extra payments under RAP with zero additional PSLF benefit.
Does RAP qualify for PSLF?
Yes. RAP is a qualifying repayment plan for PSLF. However, IBR also qualifies — and produces lower payments. There's no strategic reason to choose RAP for PSLF purposes since both plans give you one qualifying payment per month of employment.
Is RAP available for existing borrowers?
No. RAP only applies to federal loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026. If you took out loans before that date — including all Grad PLUS, Stafford, or Direct Loans from prior years — you're not eligible for RAP. Stick with IBR.
What happened to SAVE?
SAVE was vacated by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in March 2026 and is no longer a valid repayment option. Borrowers who were on SAVE were automatically moved to Standard repayment. As of 2026, IBR is the primary IDR plan for most physicians.
When would RAP make sense for a physician?
Rarely. The one scenario where RAP and IBR converge is a very small federal loan balance (near the $20,500/year OBBBA cap) combined with income already above the IBR standard payment cap. For most physicians carrying $150K–$400K in debt, IBR will cost meaningfully less throughout training and into attending years.