The Tiered Standard plan, explained
The plan you can end up on if you miss your SAVE deadline.
What it is
A fixed-payment plan that ignores your income. The term depends on your balance: under $25,000, 10 years; up to $50,000, 15; up to $100,000, 20; above that, 25.1 It’s one of the two plans you’re placed on if you don’t choose in time when leaving SAVE; which one depends on your loans’ disbursement dates.2
What you’d pay
| Balance | Tiered term | Tiered payment | Standard, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | 10 yrs | $227 | $227 |
| $40,000 | 15 yrs | $348 | $454 |
| $75,000 | 20 yrs | $559 | $852 |
| $120,000 | 25 yrs | $810 | $1,363 |
The PSLF trap
Tiered Standard payments generally don’t count toward PSLF: only payments at least equal to the 10-year Standard amount count.3 If you’re pursuing PSLF and were moved here, every month on it can be a month lost.
How to get out
You can apply for RAP or IBR any time at studentaid.gov/idr.4,3 What to do if you missed the deadline.
Your exact plan, in writing
$29 one time
Which plan to pick and why, what you’ll pay in total, whether filing separately saves you money, PSLF, the steps on studentaid.gov, and ready letters if your servicer gets it wrong.
See the report14-day money-back guarantee. Switching is free at studentaid.gov: we sell clarity, never the paperwork.
Sources
- Federal student loan repayment plans in 2026 Tate Law
- SAVE Plan FAQ MOHELA (Federal Student Aid servicer) · Official source
- Does the Tiered Standard plan qualify for PSLF? Tate Law
- Income-Driven Repayment Plan application Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) · Official source