Student Loan Forgiveness & Cancellation at a Glance

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This page describes federal and other national student loan forgiveness and cancellation programs. See the Student Loan Forgiveness & Cancellation Programs page to learn more.

The federal government backs nine out of 10 student loans, so it's likely you have a federal loan. To be sure, check the National Student Loan Data System to learn if you have a federal loan. If you have a federal loan, find out what type. Knowing the loan type will help identify cancellation or repayment options. See the tables below to learn your options.

Conditions for Cancelling Federal Student Loans

Condition for cancellation or forgiveness	Qualifying Loans	Loan amount discharged	Eligibility Requirements/Additional Notes
Death of parent	Parent PLUS	100% of loan amount	Must require proof of death (death certificate)
Death of student	Direct Loan FFEL Perkins Loan Parent PLUS	100% of loan amount	Must require proof of death (death certificate)
Borrower's total and permanent disability (TPD)	Direct Loan FFEL Perkins Loan	100% of loan amount	Proof of TPD: Physician's certification VA documentation SSA notice of award
School's permanent closure	Direct Loan FFEL Perkins Loan	100% of loan amount	Borrower enrollment status Enrolled at time of closure and failed to complete program as a result, or Withdrew from school no earlier than 120 days before school closure Completing comparable program at another school disqualifies borrower
School's falsification of borrower's ability to benefit	Direct Loan FFEL (received at least in part on or after 1/1/86)	100% of remaining balance + costs, charges and reimbursement of amounts already paid	Typical scenario is the school's improperly administered test ensured your ability to benefit. For example, it may have given you more time to take the test than was allowed or allowed you to discuss the answers to test questions with other students
School's forgery of borrower's signature on loan papers or check endorsements (Identity theft)	Direct Loan FFEL (received at least in part on or after 1/1/86)	100% of remaining balance + costs, charges and reimbursement of amounts already paid	Someone affiliated with the school must have been signatory You must not have received the proceeds of the loan You must submit signature samples, including two within one year of the forgery date
School's falsification of borrower's disqualifying status	Direct Loan FFEL (received at least in part on or after 1/1/86)	100% of remaining balance + reimbursement of amounts already paid	Typical scenario includes a borrower lacking a high school education/diploma who entered a school program for a vocation in which the state requires a high school degree.
Unpaid Refund: School failed to refund borrower who completed less than 60% of loan period	Direct Loan FFEL (received at least in part on or after 1/1/86)	Amount of unpaid refund + interest/fees	No loan cancellation if Borrower attended school for at least 60% of the loan period If school is still open, Borrower and school must have tried to resolve problem within 120 days of borrower's application for refund School may be required to help you clean up your credit history
Bankruptcy with "undue hardship" from student loans	Direct Loan FFEL Perkins Loan Private Loan	100% of loan balance	Discharge rarely occurs, because extremely difficult for borrower to satisfactorily meet the "undue hardship" standard

Career-Based Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs

You may qualify for loan forgiveness if you meet certain career requirements, experience a change in personal circumstances or your school failed to follow lending or administration procedures. The tables below outline the eligible loans and professions you must work in to have your loan cancelled or partially repaid.

Teaching Profession Loan Repayment Programs

Applicable Degrees/ Borrower Status	Loan Type	Program Name	Cancellation or Repayment Amount	Eligibility Requirements
Teacher	Direct Subsidized Direct Unsubsidized FFEL Stafford FFEL Unsubsidized Stafford Loan	Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program	$17,500 maximum	Numerous requirements apply, including: Must have taught full time for 5 consecutive academic years Must teach in qualified elementary, secondary school or educational service agency serving low-income families
Teacher	Perkins Loans	Teacher Cancellation Program	100%	Numerous requirements apply, including: Must meet full-time requirement teaching in low-income school or in certain subject area School must be public or non-profit elementary or secondary school Must have taught for one full academic year or its equivalent

Applicable Degrees/ Borrower Status

Loan Type

Program Name

Cancellation or Repayment Amount

Eligibility Requirements

Teacher

Direct Subsidized
Direct Unsubsidized
FFEL Stafford
FFEL Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

$17,500 maximum

Numerous requirements apply, including:

Must have taught full time for 5 consecutive academic years
Must teach in qualified elementary, secondary school or educational service agency serving low-income families

Teacher

Perkins Loans

Teacher Cancellation Program

100%

Numerous requirements apply, including:

Must meet full-time requirement teaching in low-income school or in certain subject area
School must be public or non-profit elementary or secondary school
Must have taught for one full academic year or its equivalent

Medical/Health Professional Loan Repayment Programs

Applicable Degrees/ Borrower Status	Loan Type	Program Name	Cancellation or Repayment Amount	Eligibility Requirements
Medical student in MD or DO program, in final year of schooling	Loans from federal, state or local governments Commercial loans obtained for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses No consolidated loans	NHSC's Students to Service Loan Repayment Program	$120,000 maximum in final year of schooling	Commit to providing primary health care 3 full-time years or 6 part-time years At NHSC-approved site with HPSA score of 14 or higher
Health professional	Varies by state, typically loans from federal, state or local governments or commercial loans obtained for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses No consolidated loans	NHSC's State Loan Repayment Programs, offered by numerous states	Varies between state programs	Provide primary care in role that corresponds with borrower's training Usually 2 full-time years or 4 half-time years In an HPSA in the state operating the program
Primary care clinician (in medical, dental or mental and behavioral primary care)	Loan from federal, state and local entities Loans from commercial institutions	NHSC Loan Repayment Program	$50,000 maximum, given at beginning of service	Provide primary care For specified half-time or full-time period In an approved, underserved US location
Licensed, registered nurse or nurse faculty member	Stafford Loans Supplemental Loans for Students Consolidated Loans, provided all loans are qualifying educational loans Excludes Parent PLUS, Perkins Loans	NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program	60% of unpaid loan balance + 25% more if participates in 3rd year	2-year program (optional 3rd year) requiring Must already work full time at critical shortage facility or eligible nursing school Located in an HPSA
Medical/Health research scientists, NIH employees and non-NIH employees	Federal, state or local student loans Loans from chartered U.S. academic institutions Commercial educational lenders that are subject to examination and supervision by a state or federal agency Excludes Parent PLUS loans	NIH Loan Repayment Programs	$50,000 maximum per year	In initial application, student loan balance must be at least 20% of borrower's salary
Licensed Health Professional	Federal, state, local student loan or commercial loan used to pay for health profession school and related expenses	Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program	$40,000 maximum, additional payments for additional time commitment	Commitment to practice in health facility serving American Indian or Alaska Native community For minimum of 2 years Extension available for additional payments
Veterinarians with DVM or equivalent from accredited institution	Student loan taken out to pay tuition and reasonable education and living expenses to attend an accredited college of veterinary medicine	Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program	$25,000 per year	Must have minimum $15,000 in student loan debt Serve in veterinarian HPSA For minimum of 3 years

Public Sector Loan Repayment Programs

Applicable Degree(s)/ Field	Loan Type	Program Name	Cancellation/ Repayment Amount	Eligibility Requirements
AmeriCorps Worker	Direct Loans Stafford Loans Supplemental Loans for Students Nursing student loans, primary care loans, health education assistance loans, loans from state agencies, including state institutions of higher education	Segal AmeriCorps Education Award	$5,775 for Full time (As of October 2015)/maximum $11,550 (two awards)	Must serve full-time term within a 12-month period Must use rewarded amount within seven years of service completion date
AmeriCorps VISTA Member	Direct Loans Stafford Loans Supplemental Loans for Students Nursing student loans, primary care loans, health education assistance loans, loans from state agencies, including state institutions of higher education	Segal AmeriCorps Education Award	$5,775 for Full time (As of October 2015)/maximum $11,550 (two awards) or Cash stipend (may also receive up to 15% loan cancellation)	Must serve full-time term within a 12-month period Must use rewarded amount within seven years of service completion date
Government employee	Direct Loan Direct Consolidation Loan	Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program	100% of remaining student loan balance after 120 monthly payments (at least 10 years of payments)	Full-time employment (combined minimum of 30 hours per week with one or more employers)
Employee of 501(c)(3) organization	Direct Loan Direct Consolidation Loan	Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program	Remaining student loan balance after submitting 120 monthly payments (at least 10 years of payments)	Full-time employment (combined minimum of 30 hours per week with one or more employers)
Employee of not-for-profit organization providing qualifying public services	Direct Loan Direct Consolidation Loan	Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program	Remaining student loan balance after submitting 120 monthly payments (at least 10 years of payments)	Full-time employment (combined minimum of 30 hours per week with one or more employers)

Other Career-Based Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs

Applicable Degree(s)/ Field	Loan Type	Program Name	Cancellation/ Repayment Amount	Eligibility Requirements
Attorney working in public interest, government or lower-paying legal field	Varies by law school programs	Law School Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Programs, plus other federal, state, state bar programs	Varies by law school program	Varies by law school program
Attorney	Perkins Loan		Up to 100%	Full-time work in a federal public or community defender organization Service must include or have begun on or after 8/14/08
Firefighter	Perkins Loan	Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation Program	Up to 100%	Full-time service must include or have begun on or after 8/14/08 5-year term
Librarian with Master's Degree	Perkins Loan		Up to 100%	Must be working in eligible elementary or secondary school or in eligible public library. For service that includes or began on or after 8/14/08
National Guard member	Any loan listed in the ED's NSLDS website Parent PLUS (incurred for individual use)	Student Loan Repayment Program	Maximum $50,000 per year	Must enlist for a minimum six-year term in qualifying role
Teacher	Perkins Loans	Teacher Cancellation Program	100%	Numerous requirements apply, including: Must meet full-time requirement teaching in low-income school or in certain subject area School must be public or non-profit elementary or secondary school Must have taught for one full academic year or its equivalent
Teacher	Direct Subsidized Direct Unsubsidized FFEL Stafford FFEL Unsubsidized Stafford Loan	Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program	$17,500 maximum	Must have taught full time for 5 consecutive academic years. Must teach in qualified elementary, secondary school or educational service agency serving low-income families
U.S. Armed Forces service member on active duty	Perkins Loans		Maximum 50% if active duty ended before 8/14/08 Maximum 100% if active duty includes or began on or after 8/14/08	Service occurred in a hostile fire or imminent danger pay area
U.S. Armed Forces service member on active duty	Direct Loans Direct Consolidation Loan	Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program	Remaining student loan balance after submitting 120 monthly payments (at least 10 years of payments)
U.S. Armed Forces service member with service-connected disability	Federal Loans	Veterans Total and Permanent Disability Discharge	100% cancellation of loan balance
U.S. Armed Forces service member with special circumstances	Federal Loans		100% cancellation of loan balance	Department of Defense may deem special circumstances warrant complete forgiveness of outstanding loan balances