Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Estimator
This income-driven repayment (IDR) estimator gives a ballpark monthly payment for US federal student loans based on your income, family size and plan type — using the same general shape most IDR plans follow: a percentage of income above a protected threshold. Enter your details to see an estimate before applying.
Your adjusted gross income (AGI), the figure IDR plans actually use.
Including yourself — affects the poverty guideline used in the formula.
Different IDR plans use different percentages and income-protection thresholds — check your specific plan's current terms.
Estimated monthly payment
$270
Based on your income, family size and plan's discretionary income percentage.
How to use this income-driven repayment (idr) estimator
- 1Annual gross income: use your adjusted gross income (AGI) from your most recent tax return — the figure IDR plans actually verify.
- 2Family size: include yourself and any dependents — a larger family size increases your protected income and lowers your payment.
- 3Plan type: different federal IDR plans use different percentages (commonly 10-20%) and slightly different protected-income thresholds — check your specific plan's current published terms.
Understanding your results
Estimated monthly payment is this calculator's best estimate of your IDR payment — treat it as a planning figure, not the exact number your loan servicer will calculate. Annual discretionary income is your income above the protected threshold — the portion IDR plans actually base your payment on, not your full income.
The formula
Payment = (Income − 150% of poverty guideline) × Plan % ÷ 12IDR plans protect a portion of your income from the calculation entirely — commonly 150% of the federal poverty guideline for your family size — then charge a percentage (commonly 10-20%, depending on plan) of whatever income remains above that threshold, spread across 12 months. A larger family size raises the protected threshold and therefore lowers the payment.
A worked example
A single borrower ($55,000 income, family size 1) on a 10%-of-discretionary-income plan: the protected threshold is about $22,590 (150% of the $15,060 single-person poverty guideline), leaving about $32,410 in discretionary income. 10% of that, spread over 12 months, is roughly $270/month — likely well below a standard fixed repayment on the same balance.
Notes for the UK, US and India
Real federal IDR plans (SAVE, IBR, PAYE, ICR) each have their own specific percentage, protected-income threshold, and rules about how long before any remaining balance is forgiven — and these details change with policy updates. Use this as a rough estimate to decide whether IDR is worth investigating further, then get your exact figure from your loan servicer or the Federal Student Aid website.
Frequently asked questions
Is this my exact IDR payment?+
No — it's a planning estimate using the general IDR formula shape. Your loan servicer calculates your actual payment using your specific plan's current published percentage and threshold, verified against your tax return.
Does a lower IDR payment mean I pay less interest overall?+
Not necessarily — a lower monthly payment often means a longer repayment period, which can mean more total interest paid over the life of the loan, even though forgiveness after a set number of years is available on some plans.
What income figure should I use?+
Your adjusted gross income (AGI) from your most recent federal tax return — this is what loan servicers actually verify, not your gross salary before other adjustments.
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