6 Student Loan Forgiveness Programs – Do You Qualify?

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program offers student debt relief to borrowers with Federal Direct Loans who are working full-time for the government or a qualifying nonprofit.

PSLF enables borrowers enrolled in a qualifying repayment program – usually an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) program – to receive loan forgiveness after 120 (10 years) of qualifying payments.

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) 

The federal Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) program allows student loan borrowers to set up a repayment structure based on income and family size. With an IDR plan, payments are typically lower than they would be under a 10-year Standard Repayment Plan.

IDR provides a path to forgiveness after a set number of years of repayment, depending on the plan you’re enrolled in. For more details on the IDR program visit our resource How to Get Student Loan Forgiveness with Income-Driven Repayment.

IDR Comparison Chart

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program

The NHSC Loan Repayment Program offers student loan forgiveness for doctors and mental health practitioners by providing up to $50,000 in loan repayment assistance for full-time work or up to $25,000 for part-time work.

This program is available to physicians, dentists, and mental health clinicians who commit to at least two years working in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), with the potential for additional loan forgiveness through a contract extension.

Who qualifies

To qualify for the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, you must:

• Be a US citizen or national
• Have a qualifying loan
• Be licensed to practice in an NHSC-eligible primary care medical, dental, or mental/behavioral health discipline
• Work at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)

Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge

If you have Federal Perkins Loans, you may be eligible for cancellation of up to 100% of the loan after five years of service if you work or volunteer in a public service position. This program cancels Perkins Loans in increments—borrowers are eligible for 15% forgiveness for the first two years, 20% for the third and fourth year, and 30% for the fifth year. Qualifying fields include teaching, nursing, firefighting, law enforcement, and the military.

Who qualifies

For Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge, you must:

• Have Federal Perkins Loans
• Work or volunteer in a qualifying public service position

Teacher Loan Forgiveness

This program offers student loan debt relief to teachers working in low-income schools and other underserved areas. Teachers who work full-time in educational service agencies and meet other requirements may be eligible for up to $17,500 in forgiveness of certain student loan types.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must:

• Teach full-time for five consecutive academic years in a low-income school or education service agency
• Fit the definition of highly qualified teacher: have at least a bachelor’s degree, receive full state certification as a teacher, and have not had your certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis
• Be employed full-time as a highly qualified teacher for five complete, consecutive academic years, with at least one of those years occurring after the 1997–1998 academic year
• Seek forgiveness for loans taken out before the end of the five academic years of qualifying teaching

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment assistance to registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) working in critical shortage facilities or eligible nursing schools as faculty. Nurses can have up to 85% of their unpaid nursing education debt repaid after three years of service—60% after two years and 25% after a third year.

Who qualifies

To qualify for this program, you must:

• Be a US citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident
• Be licensed as an RN or APRN
• Have received a degree from an accredited school of nursing
• Work full-time in a critical shortage facility or as faculty at an eligible school of nursing

Getting help on student loans

Navigating the intricacies of student loan forgiveness around availability, eligibility, and application procedures can be challenging. Fortunately, there may be several paths to forgiveness depending on your loan type and employment. A Laurel Road student loan expert can help you explore options and develop a personalized plan. Knowing you’re not alone in this journey can be the first step toward peace of mind and financial independence.