RAP counts for PSLF
Public Service Loan Forgiveness forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments made while you work full-time for a qualifying employer, such as a government agency or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The payments must be under a qualifying repayment plan. The regulation (34 CFR 685.219) defines those as:
- any income-driven repayment plan, which includes IBR;
- the 10-year standard plan;
- any other plan (except the alternative plan) whose payment is at least the 10-year standard amount;
- income-contingent plans, for payments made on or before June 30, 2028;
- the Repayment Assistance Plan.
So RAP is a full PSLF plan. PSLF forgiveness is tax-free, unlike the RAP and IBR forgiveness that comes after 20 to 30 years.
Pick the lowest payments, not the fastest payoff
Under PSLF the balance left after 120 payments doesn't matter, because it is forgiven. What matters is how much you pay before then. That turns the usual advice around: paying less each month is the goal.
The calculator above starts on a PSLF case: $62,000 of AGI, no dependents, $90,000 of loans at 7.05%.
- RAP starts at $310 a month (6% of $62,000 ÷ 12).
- IBR for a new borrower starts at $317.17.
- The 10-year Standard plan would be $1,047.30 and repays the loan in full, so nothing is forgiven.
Over the ten years, with a 3% yearly raise, IBR totals slightly less than RAP here: about $44,300 against $47,300. RAP's brackets jump when the raise carries income past $70,000, while IBR rises smoothly. Different incomes, family sizes and raises reverse the order, so run your own numbers and tick "Working toward PSLF".
Where RAP helps public servants
- No growing balance. Unpaid interest is waived and principal is matched up to $50. If you leave public service before 120 payments, you haven't built up years of unpaid interest.
- New borrowers have no other income-driven option. Anyone with a Direct Loan made on or after July 1, 2026 can use only RAP or Tiered Standard. For PSLF, RAP is the choice unless the balance is under $25,000, where the 10-year tier also qualifies.
- Dependents. RAP takes $50 a month off per dependent. IBR instead raises the protected income by 150% of the poverty guideline for each person, which at modest incomes is often worth more.
Counting your 120
- Enter the qualifying PSLF payments you already have under "More details". The calculator counts from there.
- Payments made under IBR, PAYE, ICR or SAVE while working for a qualifying employer generally counted toward PSLF when made. Your servicer and the PSLF employment certification show the official count.
- RAP payments count when made on time. If an extra payment moves your due date forward, the months you would have owed still count, with no waiver or match for them.
What PSLF needs besides the payment plan
You need full-time employment at a qualifying employer when you make the payments and when you apply for forgiveness, and your loans must be Direct Loans. This site doesn't judge employer eligibility or employment certification. Use the PSLF tools at StudentAid.gov for those, and see how to apply for moving to RAP.
Common questions
Do RAP payments count toward PSLF?
Yes. The PSLF regulation (34 CFR 685.219) lists the Repayment Assistance Plan as a qualifying repayment plan. On-time RAP payments made while you work full-time for a qualifying employer count toward the 120.
Is PSLF forgiveness taxable?
No. PSLF forgiveness is excluded from federal income. Forgiveness under RAP or IBR after 20 to 30 years became taxable again after 2025, but PSLF did not.
Which plan is best for PSLF, RAP or IBR?
Usually the one with the lower total payments over your remaining PSLF months, since the balance itself is forgiven. RAP and IBR are often close; the calculator compares them on your income, family and raises.
Does the Tiered Standard plan count toward PSLF?
Only when its payment is at least the 10-year standard amount, which means the 10-year tier for balances under $25,000. The 15, 20 and 25-year tiers don't count.
If I pay ahead under RAP, do those months count for PSLF?
Yes. If an extra payment advances your due date, each month you would otherwise have owed a payment counts toward PSLF and RAP forgiveness, though you get no interest waiver or principal match for those months.