About EscapeRAP
What this is
EscapeRAP operates the RAP Escape 2026 Auditor — a free, single-page calculator that models the real lifetime cost of repaying federal student loans under the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), compared against private refinancing and, where applicable, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). It exists because the rules changed.
Why it exists
On July 1, 2026, the Repayment Assistance Plan becomes the default — and for new borrowers, the only — income-driven repayment plan, under Public Law 119-21 and the Department of Education's RISE Final Rule (91 Fed. Reg. 23768, May 1, 2026; codified at 34 CFR § 685.209). RAP carries a 30-year forgiveness timeline, and forgiven balances are now taxable as ordinary income. Most borrowers cannot see what that actually costs them over the life of the loan. The auditor puts that number in front of them — including the tax bomb, the interest subsidy and matching credit under § 685.209(o), and the PSLF pathway — so the decision is made on math, not anxiety.
Who built it
EscapeRAP is built and operated by Jeff Alumbaugh through an Indiana-based S-Corporation. The background behind it is 25 years working inside big-ticket consumer financing — the side of the table where borrowers sign — and a working familiarity with how lending products are structured, marketed, and where they quietly work against the person signing. This is not a credential in student loan law. It is the reason the tool is built to be skeptical on the borrower's behalf.
What it is not
EscapeRAP is not a lender, not a loan servicer, not a broker, and not a financial, tax, or legal advisor. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education. The calculator produces estimates for decision support only; it is not personalized advice. Refinancing federal loans into a private loan permanently forfeits IDR, PSLF, deferment, and federal hardship protections — confirm any decision with a licensed professional first.
How it's funded
The tool is free. EscapeRAP earns affiliate commissions when users click through to certain lenders and complete an application. That relationship is disclosed in full on the Advertising Disclosure page, and the calculator's recommendation logic is not influenced by it.