Calculators you can trust

RAP vs IBR was started in September 2026, at the exact moment the federal student loan system changed more than it had in 20 years: the SAVE plan was struck down, a brand-new plan called RAP went live, and millions of borrowers were told to pick a new plan — fast.

We found that the official tools didn't even cover the new plan yet, and the calculators that did exist were built for big lenders trying to sell you something. So we built our own.

Our three promises

• Independent. We are not a lender, bank, or servicer, and we take no commissions from loan products. We're not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education.
• Transparent. Every calculator shows you exactly how the number is computed — the statutory tiers, the poverty-line tables, the formula — with sources linked. No black boxes.
• Free, forever. No sign-up, no data collection, no paywall. The site is funded (when it grows) by ads and nothing else.

How we get the math right

Formulas come from 34 CFR 685.209 and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21) §80503, cross-checked against CRS IF13075 and the FSA Partners Dear Colleague Letter of July 18, 2025. Poverty lines use the official HHS 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines (91 FR 1797). Every page cites its sources, and every calculator is verified against hand-computed test cases before launch.

Editorial standards

Because student loan repayment is financial content (what Google calls "YMYL" — Your Money or Your Life), we hold ourselves to high standards: every page states a clear date it was last updated, cites authoritative sources, and carries a disclaimer that our estimates are not official or personal financial advice. When rules change, we update the math first and the wording second.

Found a mistake or a change in the rules? Tell us — we fix math errors fast.