How Nurses Can Get Student Loan Forgiveness

Nurses employed by the government

Nurses employed by a government entity – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – have access to a wide range of excellent options for full and partial federal student loan forgiveness. Popular options include federal programs such as the ten-year PSLF program, IDR (a requirement of PSLF), as well as many state-level programs.

PSLF for nurses

The Department of Education’s (ED) PSLF program, which is available exclusively to employees of government and qualifying nonprofit organizations, is one of the most popular paths to student loan forgiveness for nurses who are passionate about a career in public health.

Through this program, your remaining federal student loan debt is forgiven after ten years of repayment (or 120 total qualifying payments) through IDR. Nurses working for several different employer types typically qualify for PSLF, including:

• Qualifying nonprofit hospitals or organizations
• State hospital systems
• Federal hospitals
• Public schools, including universities and K-12 school systems

You can find the eligible employer search tool on studentaid.gov here and learn more about qualifying for PSLF here.

State by state resources

Depending on the state you live and work in, you could be eligible for state-sponsored student loan forgiveness. Usually designed to address health professional staffing shortages and the needs of medically underserved communities, these programs often require 2–4-year commitments, sometimes with the option to extend.

Most US states offer at least one student loan forgiveness program for nurses, though they’re typically subject to funding, may be limited to certain nursing specialties, and have others special requirements.

For example, programs such as the Maryland Loan Repayment Program (MLRP) for nurses and nursing support staff offer varying maximum forgiveness amounts for nurses depending on their specialty and degree type.

Check which options are available in your state on the Federal Student Aid website.

Other student loan forgiveness options for nurses

Nurses also have a number of opportunities for student loan forgiveness through national-level programs beyond the Department of Education.

Through the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), nurses could qualify for forgiveness through federal loan repayment programs such as:

• Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
• National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
• National Health Service Corps Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
• National Health Service Corps Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP)
• National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program

Additionally, the military offers student loan forgiveness programs for nurses such as the Army Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program, which RNs and APRNs are eligible for. In exchange for enlisting in the Army with a three-year service commitment, you could qualify for up to $120K to repay nursing school loans and receive $40K per year. For more information on this program, visit healthcare.goarmy.com.

Nurses employed by nonprofit organizations

Nurses employed by nonprofit organizations often have student loan forgiveness options similar to government-employed nurses. PSLF is available to nurses who work for 501(c)(3) nonprofits and even other types of nonprofits, so long as the organization’s work meets qualifying criteria. Nonprofit hospitals, healthcare facilities, and educational settings often qualify. You can use Student Aid’s employer search tool to understand if your nonprofit employer meets PSLF eligibility requirements.

If your employer doesn’t qualify for PSLF, IDR plans which stabilize your monthly student loan payments and offer forgiveness after 20 or 25 years of repayment are also available to nurses regardless of their employer. Additionally, some nonprofit organizations could offer their own student loan assistance programs as a benefit for employees.

Nurses employed by private sector or self-employed

Though nurses who are employed by for-profit organizations or are self-employed have less forgiveness options than those that work for the government or a not-for-profit, you could still receive forgiveness through IDR. You could also inquire with your employer about student loan repayment assistance as an employment benefit.

And beyond the most popular student loan forgiveness programs for nurses, there are some other student loan options and management strategies that nurses could look into.

Other student loan management options for nurses

If you don’t qualify for PSLF or IDR for any reason, or you have private student loans, you still have options available to you that could help.

Perkins Loan cancellation

Although typically associated with the teaching profession, some nurses may also qualify for Perkins Loan Cancellation. To be eligible, you must be a:

• Registered Nurse
• American Registered Nursing Practitioner
• Medical Assistant
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Licensed Medical Technician

Perkins Loan cancellation forgives a certain percentage of your loan for each year of service you complete according to the following schedule:

• 1-2 years of full-time employment: 15% of the loan principal and interest
• 3–4 years of full-time employment: 20% of the loan principal and interest
• 5 years of full-time employment: 30% of the loan principal and interest

Learn more about Perkins Loan Cancellation for nurses on the studentaid.gov website here.

Student loan refinancing

If you don’t qualify for forgiveness or repayment assistance, or if you have private student loans, refinancing might be a good option for you. Refinancing is the process of applying for a new private loan to cover and pay off your current student loan(s). Refinancing could lower your interest rate and either shorten or extend your repayment terms.

How to apply for student loan forgiveness

Although each student loan forgiveness program will have a different application process, a good first step is to contact your loan servicer to see what types of federal student loans you have.

If you’re applying for PSLF or IDR, you should start organizing the information you’ll need for the application process:

Also note that you may need to take the extra step of consolidating your federal loans, depending on which type(s) you have and which federal forgiveness program you’re applying for.

Next steps

To learn more about PSLF, IDR and other student loan debt management options, schedule a free consultation with one of our student loan specialists. Our dedicated team can help nurses understand all of their options, including how to qualify for different forgiveness programs, and can help you create an individualized plan.

Our team also stays up-to-date on student loan forgiveness rules and requirements and can provide guidance around the application process and annual compliance requirements. Learn more about how to apply for student loan forgiveness here.