TCO Analysis
15 articles
Refinance at 5.75% Variable or 6.25% Fixed vs IBR: Total Cost on a $92K Loan After the Fed's September 2026 Rate Hike
The Fed's September 2026 quarter-point hike changes the refinance math on a $92,000 student loan — here's how fixed, variable, and IBR total costs actually compare when you run the numbers.
Read more →PSLF on a $103K Nonprofit Loan: Does Side-Gig Income Change Your IBR Payment in 2026?
A worked example shows how freelance and 1099 income get added to your AGI and raise your IBR payment on the road to PSLF — and why the total-cost math still favors forgiveness over standard repayment on a $103K nonprofit loan.
Read more →RAP vs IBR for Married Couples: Total Cost on $105K in Combined Student Loans When Filing Jointly vs Separately
Married borrowers with $105K in combined student loans often assume filing separately lowers their IDR payment — but RAP and legacy IBR treat spousal income very differently, and the tax trade-off can erase the savings.
Read more →Refinance at 3.65% or Stay on RAP: Total Cost for Married Borrowers With $150K in Combined Student Loans
When both spouses have student loans, RAP bills the household once based on joint income — not twice based on loan balance. Here's the worked math on refinancing at 3.65% versus staying on RAP for a couple with $150K combined debt and one nonprofit job.
Read more →Refinance at 1.94% vs PAYE vs IBR: Total Cost on an $80K Student Loan in 2026
With refinance rates as low as 1.94% and national student debt at $1.86 trillion, we run the total-cost math on an $80K loan across PAYE, IBR, standard repayment, and refinancing — and show how income, PSLF eligibility, and the tax bomb flip the winning answer.
Read more →IBR vs PAYE vs Standard Repayment on an $80K Student Loan: What the SIMPLE Act's 'Lowest Payment' Rule Could Cost You
A new bill would auto-enroll delinquent borrowers into whatever IDR plan has the lowest current monthly payment — but on an $80K loan, the 'lowest payment' plan can cost $77,000 more over the life of the loan than just paying it off on schedule.
Read more →Refinance Fixed at 6.49% or Variable at 5.35% vs Staying on IBR: Total Cost on a $95K Loan With No PSLF
A $95K loan at $72K income with no PSLF eligibility: here's the exact math comparing a 6.49% fixed refinance, a 5.35% variable refinance, and staying on federal IBR — including the tax bomb IDR doesn't warn you about.
Read more →Refinance at 3.65% or Stay on PAYE: Total Cost on a $92K Grad School Loan With No PSLF
A $92,000 grad school borrower with no PSLF eligibility compares today's 3.65% refinance rate against PAYE, IBR, and ICR — modeling negative amortization, the tax bomb, and total cost to find the cheapest path.
Read more →Should You Consolidate Your $81K Student Loans in 2026? What It Does to Your PSLF Clock on IBR vs RAP
Consolidating federal student loans in 2026 can wipe out years of PSLF and IDR progress — see the exact math on an $81K nonprofit worker's loan comparing consolidation, IBR, and the new RAP plan.
Read more →Refinance at 5.65% Fixed vs Stay on IBR for PSLF: Total Cost on a $98K Nonprofit Loan After the July 2026 Rule Change
A federal judge just struck down the PSLF employer rule and SAVE is winding down — here's the actual dollar math on refinancing a $98K nonprofit loan at 5.65% versus staying federal for forgiveness.
Read more →Refinance at 5.49% Fixed or 3.67% Variable vs IBR: Total Cost on $88K in Grad Loans at $65K Income in 2026
If you have $88K in grad school loans at 8.05% and no path to PSLF, should you refinance at 5.49% fixed, gamble on 3.67% variable, or stay on IBR for 20 years? We model all three with full lifetime dollar costs.
Read more →Private Refi vs IBR vs Standard Repayment on $112K in Grad School Loans: Total Cost Math at $68K Income (No PSLF)
If PSLF isn't on the table, IBR's low $371 monthly payment can cost you $34K more than private refinancing over 20 years. Here's the full total cost math on a $112K grad school loan at $68K income — before the new OBBBA borrowing caps reshape what's even available.
Read more →Refinance at 5.49% Fixed or Stay on IBR: Total Cost on a $95K Grad School Loan When PSLF Isn't an Option
For grad school borrowers without PSLF eligibility, refinancing can save over $49,000 compared to 25-year IBR — but the math flips completely if your employer ever qualifies. Here's the full cost model.
Read more →PAYE vs IBR vs Standard Repayment on $78K in Student Loans: What Each Plan Actually Costs at $56K Income
Choosing between PAYE, IBR, and Standard repayment on $78K in student loans at $56K income isn't a monthly payment decision — it's a $40,000+ lifetime cost decision. Here's the full math on every plan available to you in 2026.
Read more →Refinance at 3.67% Variable vs. 5.49% Fixed vs. IBR: Which Costs Less on $92K With No PSLF Eligibility?
For private sector borrowers with $92K in federal loans and no PSLF eligibility, the difference between staying on IBR and refinancing to today's lowest rates can exceed $150,000 in total repayment cost. Here's the math.
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