Parent PLUS repayment calculator (new rules)
New Parent PLUS loans have one repayment plan: fixed payments over 10, 15, 20 or 25 years depending on how much you owe. See what that means each month and over the life of the loan.
Estimate your Parent PLUS payment
The Tiered Standard plan
Under 34 CFR 685.208(c), a borrower who receives a Direct Loan on or after July 1, 2026 repays it in fixed monthly payments, at least $50, over a term set by “the total amount of Direct Loans at the time the borrower is entering repayment”:
| Total Direct Loans entering repayment | Term | Example payment at 9.07% |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $25,000 | 10 years | $20,000 → $254/month |
| $25,000 to $49,999 | 15 years | $40,000 → $407/month |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 20 years | $65,000 → $588/month |
| $100,000 or more | 25 years | $130,000 → $1,097/month |
The total is all your Direct Loans, not one loan. Parent PLUS for two children, or your own student loans, push you into a longer term. A $130,000 balance is what a parent who borrows the full $65,000 for each of two children would owe.
Crossing a tier line lowers the payment
Because the term jumps at each threshold, owing a little more can mean a smaller monthly payment but much more interest:
| Balance | Term | Monthly | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| $24,000 | 10 years | $304.93 | $12,592 |
| $25,000 | 15 years | $254.61 | $20,830 |
| $49,000 | 15 years | $499.03 | $40,826 |
| $50,000 | 20 years | $452.12 | $58,508 |
| $99,000 | 20 years | $895.19 | $115,846 |
| $100,000 | 25 years | $844.00 | $153,199 |
The term sets the required payment, not the most you can pay. Federal loans have no prepayment penalty. A parent who owes $65,000 is required to pay $587.75 a month for 20 years ($76,060 in interest), but paying $825.86 a month clears it in 10 years with about $34,103 in interest.
Interest while your student is in school
Parent PLUS goes into repayment once the loan is fully disbursed. You can ask your servicer for a deferment while the student is enrolled at least half time and for six months afterward, but interest keeps building. On $20,000 at 9.07%, that is about $4.97 a day, or $151 a month. Four years of deferment adds about $7,256, which turns a $20,000 loan into roughly $27,256 and moves it from the 10-year to the 15-year tier. The calculator treats unpaid deferment interest as part of the balance you repay, which is a cautious estimate.
No income-driven plan for new Parent PLUS
- No RAP. The new Repayment Assistance Plan excludes Parent PLUS loans and consolidation loans that repaid them.
- No PSLF on this plan. The final rule confirms the Tiered Standard plan is not a qualifying plan for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and a parent whose only new loans are Parent PLUS can use only that plan.
- Older loans can be pulled in. Per the final rule, parents with existing Parent PLUS loans who borrow a new Direct Loan on or after July 1, 2026 can repay all of their Parent PLUS loans only under the Tiered Standard plan. Parents who consolidated Parent PLUS before July 1, 2026 and do not borrow again have a narrow path to income-based repayment if they make a payment under an income-driven plan by July 1, 2028. Confirm your situation with your servicer before borrowing again.
Because payments are fixed regardless of income, check the monthly figure against your budget before you borrow. The gap calculator shows the payment for the full four years of borrowing.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to repay a Parent PLUS loan taken after July 1, 2026?
10 years if your total Direct Loans are under $25,000 when you enter repayment, 15 years from $25,000 to $49,999, 20 years from $50,000 to $99,999, and 25 years at $100,000 or more.
What is the monthly payment on a $65,000 Parent PLUS loan?
At 9.07%, $65,000 falls in the 20-year tier, so the payment is about $587.75 a month and total interest is about $76,060. Paying it over 10 years instead takes about $825.86 a month.
Can Parent PLUS borrowers use the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)?
No. Parent PLUS loans, and consolidation loans that repaid them, are excluded from RAP.
Does the 25-year term apply to just my newest loan?
The term is based on the total amount of your Direct Loans when you enter repayment, so all your Direct Loans count toward which tier you fall in. Your servicer sets the exact schedule.
Can I pay a Parent PLUS loan off early?
Yes. There is no prepayment penalty on federal student loans. Extra payments reduce the interest you pay over the life of the loan.
Is the interest rate the same for every year of borrowing?
No. Each loan keeps the fixed rate set for the year it was first disbursed. Loans first disbursed July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 carry 9.07%. Rates for later years are announced each spring, so a four-year borrowing plan will mix several rates.
Sources
- Federal Register, 91 FR 23768 (May 1, 2026): Federal Student Loan Program final regulations (34 CFR 685.102, 685.200, 685.203, 685.208)
- Federal Register, FR Doc. 2026-18493: Interest rates for fixed-rate Direct Loans first disbursed July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
- StudentAid.gov: Parent PLUS loans (apply and manage)
- Congress.gov: H.R. 1, 119th Congress (Public Law 119-21), enacted July 4, 2025