Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator, explained
The free repayment calculator at studentaid.gov is the federal student aid loan simulator. For each federal plan, it shows the monthly payment. If you want a quick estimate first, our calculator asks for 3 answers and works without any login.
What the federal student aid loan simulator does
Monthly payment estimates come from ED's Loan Simulator (Repayment Calculator), which also helps you decide whether to consolidate. You can find it at studentaid.gov/loan-simulator.
Details to gather first
- The AGI on your most recent tax return.
- The way you file your taxes.
- How many people are in your family, or which dependents you claim.
- Your FSA ID, in case you want to log in.
Signing in for a closer student loan simulation.
Results from the Loan Simulator are more accurate when you log in. After that, it pulls in your real loans and balances. If you don't log in, you enter your loans yourself.
Getting a fast estimate without a login
A RAP payment comes from our RAP plan calculator, which uses your AGI, filing status and dependents. A single person with $50,000 AGI who has no dependents pays about $167 each month on RAP. If you borrowed in 2014 or later, IBR comes to about $217.
Using the FSA repayment calculator to decide on consolidation
The Loan Simulator can also guide your decision on consolidating. If you receive a Direct Consolidation Loan on or after July 1, 2026, only Tiered Standard or RAP are available.
Guides on related topics
People ask these questions
Does the Loan Simulator cost anything?
No. Federal Student Aid runs it, and using it is free.
Is the federal student aid estimator the same thing?
No. The Loan Simulator is for repaying loans, not for guessing aid for school.
Is signing in required?
No. The Loan Simulator gives more accurate results when you log in.
Is there a FAFSA calculator for repaying student loans?
The FAFSA is the application for getting aid. Federal Student Aid makes the Loan Simulator available for paying loans back. The Loan Simulator (Repayment Calculator) from ED estimates monthly payments and helps you decide about consolidation.
Sources list: Federal Student Aid, Loan Simulator.