Standard 10-year plan
Continues for existing borrowers · Fixed payment · not PSLF-eligible
Standard 10-year plan. Fixed level payments over 10 years (120 months), sized to fully repay your balance plus interest. Minimum payment is $50/month. None - the loan is fully paid in 10 years. The 10-year Standard payment is also the cap used by IBR. Standard payments do not count toward PSLF (you must be on an IDR plan for PSLF). General information, not advice.
Source: Federal Student Aid - OBBBA updates. Data as of June 2026.
General information, not financial or legal advice. Federal student loan rules are changing in 2025-2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act - figures here are estimates from public sources and the final program rules are still being implemented. Always verify with your loan servicer and studentaid.gov. See our disclaimer.
How Standard (10-yr) works
Formula. Fixed level payments over 10 years (120 months), sized to fully repay your balance plus interest. Minimum payment is $50/month.
Interest. Standard amortization; you pay the least total interest of the level plans because the term is shortest.
Forgiveness. None - the loan is fully paid in 10 years. The 10-year Standard payment is also the cap used by IBR. Standard payments do not count toward PSLF (you must be on an IDR plan for PSLF).
Availability. Continues for borrowers whose first loan is before July 1, 2026 (it is their default). New borrowers use the tiered Standard plan instead.
Worked example
This is a fixed plan - the payment is sized to repay your balance over the term. Use the payoff calculator to estimate the monthly amount and total interest for your balance and rate.
Estimate only. Try the calculators with your own numbers.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lowest total interest of any plan for a given balance | Highest monthly payment of the common plans |
| Fully repaid in 10 years; no recertification | Standard-plan months do not count toward PSLF |
| Simple and predictable |
Eligibility
All Direct/FFEL borrowers whose first loan is before July 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does Standard (10-yr) count toward PSLF?
No. Standard 10-year plan does not count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. For PSLF you generally need an income-driven plan such as RAP or IBR.
When is loan forgiveness under Standard (10-yr)?
None - the loan is fully paid in 10 years. The 10-year Standard payment is also the cap used by IBR. Standard payments do not count toward PSLF (you must be on an IDR plan for PSLF).
Who can use Standard (10-yr) in 2026?
All Direct/FFEL borrowers whose first loan is before July 1, 2026.
Compare with other plans
- Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) · New - available July 1, 2026
- New tiered Standard plan · New - default for loans on/after July 1, 2026
- Income-Based Repayment (IBR) · Remains available (existing borrowers)
- Graduated repayment plan · Continues for existing borrowers
- Extended repayment plan · Continues for existing borrowers (balance over $30,000)
- SAVE plan (Saving on a Valuable Education) · Closing - vacated by the courts; ending
- Pay As You Earn (PAYE) · Closing - sunsets July 1, 2028
- Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) · Closing - sunsets July 1, 2028
Sources & accuracy
Plan rules from Federal Student Aid - OBBBA updates and the U.S. Dept of Education. Data as of June 2026. The 2025-2026 rules are still being implemented - this is general information, not financial or legal advice. Verify with your loan servicer and studentaid.gov. See our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-22