Pick a federal student loan repayment plan with the official calculator and AI

Federal repayment options changed in 2026. Use studentaid.gov's Repayment Calculator, then have AI explain the trade-offs in plain English.

Real exampleNone verified yetGuide + prompt only.

Cost Free option availableYou can do this for $0. Some tools offer paid upgrades you don't need.

Time (estimate)30–45 min

Difficulty (estimate)MediumSome paperwork, phone calls or comparing options.

1. Copy this prompt

Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Grok (the free versions work), then replace the [highlighted brackets] with your details. Leave out account numbers and SSNs.

Here are my studentaid.gov Repayment Calculator results (personal details removed): [PASTE PLAN NAMES, MONTHLY PAYMENTS, TOTAL PAID, PAYOFF DATES]. My situation: income $[INCOME], household size [N], employer type [public / nonprofit / private], goals [lowest payment / lowest total cost / PSLF]. 1) Compare the options in plain English. 2) Tell me which fits my goal and why. 3) List questions to ask my servicer. Point me to Federal Student Aid pages to confirm current rules, since plans changed in 2026.

2. Follow these steps

Log in to studentaid.gov and run the Repayment Calculator with your actual loans.
Read the Federal Student Aid pages on income-driven plans and, if you were on SAVE, on choosing a new plan.
Paste the calculator's results into a chatbot and ask it to compare monthly payment, total paid and payoff date.
Check forgiveness goals (like Public Service Loan Forgiveness) before deciding.
Apply through studentaid.gov or your servicer, never through a third party that charges a fee.

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What to expect, and what to do if they say no

What to expect

Plan changes are processed by your servicer and can take a few weeks.

If they say no

Call your servicer, or contact the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman if you can't resolve a problem.

What happened when people tried it

We haven't verified a real-world example for this one yet, so it's a tool guide plus a prompt. Tried it? Tell us what happened (link below).

Why this works

The problem: Borrowers face new plans and deadlines (including the end of SAVE) and may pick a plan that costs more than necessary.

How AI helps: AI can explain the plans you're eligible for, help you read the calculator's results, and list questions for your servicer.

Tools & what they cost

Tool	Cost
ChatGPT	Free option available (Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this) Free tier; paid plans available
Claude	Free option available (Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this) Free tier; paid plans available
Federal Student Aid: Repayment Calculator	Free (No cost at all) Free

What do these labels mean?

Free No cost at all.
Free option available Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this.
Costs money You pay a set price or subscription.
Takes a cut of savings Charges a percentage of what it saves you.
Time · Difficulty Our estimates for a typical first try, not guarantees.
Reported What the linked source says happened, often self-reported. Your results will vary.

Watch out for

No verified AI-specific success story yet. This is a how-to guide built on official sources.
Rules have changed recently (SAVE ended by court order in March 2026; the Repayment Assistance Plan is available for eligible loans). Confirm on studentaid.gov.
You never have to pay a company to enroll in a federal repayment plan.

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Tried it? Tell us what happened, good or bad. We read every reply and may share success stories (only with your OK).

Tell us what happened

Sources

Last verified 2026-10-19. Not financial, legal, tax or medical advice. Disclaimer.