The Long-Term Cost of Income-Driven Repayment

April 7, 2026 – In a U.S. News & World Report article about how income driven repayment lowers monthly payments but often increases total loan costs over time, Stacey MacPhetres, senior director of college finance at Bright Horizons, shares insight on the topic. 

With IBR and PAYE, unpaid interest can accumulate and cause balances to grow over time, says Stacey MacPhetres, senior director of college finance for Bright Horizons. She says the new RAP offers an unpaid interest waiver that prevents balance growth, but extends the forgiveness timeline to 30 years.

Read the full article here.