Straight answers about student loans
No jargon, no upselling, and every number shown with the working. Written for the 2026 rules as they actually are.
Best student loan refinance companies for 2026
Six lenders ranked on their published ceiling, not the headline rate, plus what leaving the federal system really costs in protections you cannot buy back.
Does RAP count toward PSLF? Yes, but one plan does not
RAP qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The Tiered Standard Plan does not, and choosing it stops your clock. How to avoid the mistake.
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) explained
How RAP calculates your student loan payment, what it forgives after 30 years, and which borrowers end up worse off under it than the plan they left.
SAVE plan ended: what to do next
Seven million borrowers are moving off SAVE, each with a 90-day deadline. A step-by-step guide to choosing before your servicer chooses for you.
RAP vs IBR: which costs you less?
For most borrowers with access to both, IBR gives a lower monthly payment than RAP at the same income. The math, the exceptions, and how to check yours.
Should you refinance federal student loans?
Refinancing federal loans is permanent and ends every federal protection. For a minority of borrowers it still makes sense. Work out which group you are in.
Student loan forgiveness tax bomb explained
A balance canceled at the end of an income-driven plan is generally taxable that year. How large the bill gets, who escapes it, and what to set aside.