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10+ School Loan Forgiveness Programs

Diane Schmidt

1. IHS Loan Repayment Program

  • Deadline: Every 15th of the month

  • Award: Up to $50,000

  • Who Can Apply? American Indian or Alaskan Natives in the health care field with student debt.

  • Details & How to Apply: IHS Loan Repayment Program

Those with American or Alaskan Native indigenous roots in the healthcare industry have a monthly chance to gain some student forgiveness grants in exchange for a 2-year service agreement! Opportunities for these student loan grants come up every month!

2. Army Reserve College Loan Repayment Program

Service men and women in the army may be able to either get their tuition paid or have their loans covered up to $65,000. The Army also has the Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation Program which can potentially cancel 100% of student loans. Speak to your recruiter for the full eligibility requirements and other information on these student loan grants.

3. John R. Justice (JRJ) Program

  • Award: Varies

  • Who Can Apply? Prosecutors, public defendants, and non profit employees providing legal representation to indigent persons and who have student debt.

  • Details & How to Apply: John R. Justice (JRJ) Program

Public defenders, prosecutors, and full-time employees of select non-profit organizations may be able to apply to this program for partial loan forgiveness.

4. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

  • Award: Varies

  • Who Can Apply? Those who work full-time for the government or a not-for-profit organization, have Direct loans, and have made 120 consecutively monthly payments towards them

  • Details & How to Apply: Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Government, non-profit workers, military, Americorps volunteers, and Peace Corps volunteers may qualify for student loan grants through the PSLF which is a federal program. It’s important to note that this loan forgiveness program is undergoing some changes, so make sure to keep an eye on the website for any updates.

5. Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program (TLF)

  • Award: Up to $17,500

  • Who Can Apply? Teachers who have worked full-time for 5 years at an eligible school

  • Details & How to Apply: Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF)

Teachers may be able to get student loan forgiveness for their Direct or Federal Stafford Loans. Visit the TLE website for more information.

6. Perkins Loan Cancellation

  • Award: Up to 100% of your loan

  • Who Can Apply? Those who have a Federal Perkins Loan and teach full-time at a low-income school or teach certain subjects

  • Details & How to Apply: Perkins Loan Cancellation

This student loan debt forgiveness program pays your loan in increments that take place over a few years. The Perkins Loan Cancellation program is usually spoke about in regards to teachers. However, it also extends to select administrators, healthcare workers, first responders, law enforcement, military, attorneys, and those with disabilities. Visit the website for full details.

7. ND Career Builders Loan Repayment Program

  • Award: Up to $17,000 (a max of $5,667 per year)

  • Who Can Apply? North Dakota residents working in an eligible high-need career field

  • Details & How to Apply: ND Career Builder Loan Repayment Program

North Dakota wants to help residents pay for their education. If you work in a high-need career field, you can apply for the program. You’ll need to secure a private-sector donor. The program will match donations dollar for dollar up to $17,000.

8. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)

  • Deadline: April 12, 2024

  • Award: Up to $25,000 per year

  • Who Can Apply? Veterinarians with student loans who agree to serve in a NIFA-designated veterinarian shortage situation for a period of three years.

  • Details & How to Apply: The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program

Veterinarians with at least $15,000 in student loans may be able to have their loans repaid by working with a NIFA-designated veterinarian shortage situation. There are many important dates for applicants to be aware of and the timeline is posted on the debt forgiveness program website.

9. US Department of Justice Student Loan Grants – Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program

  • Deadline: April 15, 2024 for new participants & March 31, 2024 for renewals

  • Award: Up to $60,000

  • Who Can Apply? Select DOJ attorneys with student debt of at least $10,000 & who can execute a three-year service agreement

  • Details & How to Apply: Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program

Select attorneys with student loans may be qualified for this student loan repayment program. Applications are accepted around the spring of each year.

10. National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Programs & Student Loan Grants

  • Deadline: May 9, 2024

  • Award: Up to $75,000 (or $105,000 with award enhancements)

  • Who Can Apply? Select, full-time physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists

  • Details & How to Apply: NHSC Loan Repayment Program 2024

The NHSA has three different loan repayment programs to help out healthcare workers and this year there is a $5,000 enhancement for those proficient in the Spanish language. The NHSA has a general loan repayment program, a substance use disorder workforce loan repayment program, and a rural community loan repayment program. Visit their website to see which one of these student loan grants fits you best. In exchange for the loan repayment, you’ll be expected to give a 2 or 3-year commitment to an NHSC care site.

10. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Programs & Student Loan Grants

  • Deadline: November 17, 2024 (application window opens September 1st)

  • Award: Up to $50,000

  • Who Can Apply? Health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers with student debt. Click the link below for full eligibility rules.

  • Details & How to Apply: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Programs

Have your student loans reimbursed in exchange for a 2-year research commitment. Your loans must be equal to or more than 20% of your institutional base salary at the time of the award.

11. Charles Cheesman’s Student Debt Reduction Scholarship

For this application, write about your life goals and what you will do with the money you save from this grant.

12. Maine Alfond Leaders Student Debt Reduction Program

  • Deadline: On hiatus for 2024 – check back next year!

  • Award: Up to $60,000

  • Who Can Apply? Grads who live and work in Maine in a STEM-designated occupation at a Maine-based employer.

  • Details & How to Apply: Maine Alfond Leaders Student Debt Reduction Program

Make sure you look into those state exemptions! Those who live in Maine may be qualified to receive student loan reimbursement.

13. New York State Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program

New York state residents who are farmers can have their student debt reimbursed by following the official instructions. The deadline has passed but you can ask to be sent an email update should the application window open in the future.

14. NYS Child Welfare Worker Student Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program

This is another state/career-based student loan debt forgiveness program you can apply to if you fit the qualifications. The deadline has passed but you can ask to be sent an email update should the application window open in the future.

15. Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

  • Deadline: Closed for 2024 – check back soon!

  • Award: Up to 85% of the student loan balance

  • Who Can Apply? Select nurses who work full-time in a high-need area or at an accredited school of nursing

  • Details & How to Apply: Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

Registered nurses (RNs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and nurse faculty (NF) may be eligible to receive up to 85% of student loan reimbursement!