About 13 million borrowers with eligible federal loans were enrolled in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan as of June 30, 2026, according to Federal Student Aid’s September 22, 2026 portfolio update. That is an enrollment count—not a count of borrowers who made a payment that month. It includes borrowers in repayment, deferment, or forbearance, including some SAVE enrollees who remained in a nonpayment status at the cutoff.
The immediate change for borrowers is that SAVE ended in March 2026 after a court order. If you are enrolled in SAVE, or have a SAVE application pending, check your StudentAid.gov account and your servicer’s notices, then compare plans you qualify for. Your plan-selection deadline is tied to your own servicer notice, not to a universal date.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What does the 13 million figure count?
Federal Student Aid’s September 22, 2026 update counts approximately 13 million Direct Loan and Education Department-serviced Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers enrolled in an IDR plan. The data runs through June 30, 2026 and covers borrowers in repayment, deferment, or forbearance. Because those statuses include nonpayment, the figure does not mean that all 13 million were making monthly payments. The agency says the total includes SAVE borrowers who were still in a nonpayment status at the cutoff.
Recommended Free Tools
The same update reports that SAVE enrollment had fallen by almost 1.2 million borrowers over the prior year. Over that period, PAYE enrollment rose from 1.3 million to 1.6 million, while IBR enrollment rose from 3 million to 4 million. These are Federal Student Aid’s reported enrollment comparisons; they do not establish that every person leaving SAVE moved to one particular plan.
#1 Best Overall
For context, Federal Student Aid’s broader portfolio overview reported about 42.3 million recipients with more than $1.7 trillion in federal student loans. Those portfolio totals and the 13 million IDR enrollment figure describe different populations and loan-status measures, so they should not be treated as directly comparable shares. The agency also cautions that recent repayment data is not directly comparable with older periods because the three-and-a-half-year payment pause and later programs, including the on-ramp and Fresh Start, changed repayment patterns. The June 2026 data predates the first quarter in which the agency says it will report Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) enrollment.
Why do I need to leave the SAVE Plan?
Federal Student Aid’s October 2026 borrower guidance says a court order ended SAVE in March 2026. Borrowers enrolled in SAVE must choose another eligible repayment plan. If you have a pending SAVE application, do not assume it will place you into a currently available plan; follow the current instructions from Federal Student Aid and your servicer.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
What happens if I don’t select another repayment plan by my deadline?
Federal Student Aid describes a 90-day selection window beginning when your servicer sends its notice. If you have not acted, the servicer sends a final 30-day notice. If you still do not choose a plan by the applicable deadline, the servicer automatically places you in Standard or Tiered Standard repayment, depending on when your loans were received. Federal Student Aid warns that the resulting payment may be higher than it would be under an IDR plan.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThese time periods are measured from your notice; they are not one calendar deadline that applies to every borrower. Read the notice itself and record the date it gives you. Contact your servicer if the notice is unclear or you cannot find it.
How do I switch repayment plans?
- Review your loans. Sign in to your StudentAid.gov account and check your loan types, balances, and disbursement dates. These details determine which plans may be available.
- Find your notice and deadline. Read the message from your loan servicer, note the selection deadline, and keep a copy for your records.
- Compare eligible plans. Use Federal Student Aid’s repayment calculator and compare only plans available for your loans. Consider the monthly payment, total interest, time in repayment, and potential IDR discharge or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) implications.
- Apply or confirm with your servicer. Submit the plan application through Federal Student Aid or contact your servicer to confirm how the choice applies to your loans. The final terms are determined and communicated after the application is processed.
Your account details affect the result, so a general article cannot calculate your personal payment. Federal Student Aid says you never need to pay a company to apply for a federal repayment plan or manage your federal loans.
Which repayment plans am I eligible for?
Eligibility depends on loan type, disbursement date, and, in some cases, consolidation history. As Federal Student Aid explains in its August 2026 IDR FAQ, the available plans depend on “the types of federal student loans you have and the dates they were first paid out (known as the disbursement dates).” A borrower with loans from different programs or dates may have different options for different loans. The summary below reflects the agency’s current descriptions; check its current guidance and your account before applying.
Rank #4
| Plan | Eligibility described by Federal Student Aid | Payment calculation described by the agency | Repayment period | Important timing or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income-Based Repayment (IBR) | Qualifying Direct and FFEL loans made before July 1, 2026 | Generally 15% of discretionary income; 10% for qualifying new borrowers | 25 years; 20 years for qualifying new borrowers | Eligibility and the applicable formula depend on borrower and loan details. |
| Pay As You Earn (PAYE) | Specified Direct Loans disbursed before July 1, 2026 | 10% of discretionary income for eligible borrowers | 20 years | Federal Student Aid says PAYE will end no later than July 1, 2028. |
| Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) | Specified Direct Loans disbursed before July 1, 2026 | The lesser of 20% of discretionary income or an income-adjusted payment based on a 12-year fixed amount | 25 years | Federal Student Aid says ICR will end no later than July 1, 2028. |
| Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) | Qualifying Direct Loans made at any time, subject to exclusions and consolidation rules | 1%–10% of adjusted gross income divided by 12, reduced by $50 for each dependent claimed on the federal tax return; $10 minimum | 30 years | Eligibility and calculation details apply. The June 2026 portfolio data does not yet report RAP enrollment. |
The payment formulas above are Federal Student Aid’s general plan descriptions, not personalized estimates. The agency’s August 2026 information is the basis for these terms; verify availability and current rules when you compare plans.
How should I compare the available plans?
A plan with a lower monthly payment is not automatically the least expensive option over time. Federal Student Aid cautions that a lower-payment plan with a longer term can increase total interest and extend the time until IDR discharge. Use the calculator to compare scenarios, then review the actual terms your servicer gives you after processing your application.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
- Eligibility: Confirm the plan covers the specific loans you want to repay; loan type and disbursement date can change the answer.
- Monthly payment: Compare the formula and any cap, along with the estimate for your own circumstances.
- Total cost and term: Consider projected interest and repayment duration, not just the first monthly bill.
- IDR discharge: Check the applicable timeline and how your plan choice affects progress.
- PSLF: Federal Student Aid’s October guidance lists IDR plans as qualifying repayment plans, subject to the other PSLF rules. Tiered Standard payments do not count. Use the official PSLF tools and current guidance to check your situation; plan selection alone does not guarantee forgiveness.
- Plan sunset: Account for the stated end dates for PAYE and ICR when assessing a longer-term choice.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
