Who Qualifies for Student Loan Forgiveness? | A Comprehensive List

A lot of borrowers find themselves asking, “who qualifies for student loan forgiveness?”

This is expected since loan forgiveness is one of the easiest ways to get out of student loan debt.

However, not everyone can simply qualify.

Find out which jobs make you eligible for student loan forgiveness.

(NOTE: Need to know if you can qualify for student loan forgiveness? Many people qualify but never find out until it’s too late, and before they know it, they are overpaying on their student loans. Get the Definitive Guide on How To Qualify For Student Loan Forgiveness to easily find out if you can qualify for one or more of the many Student Loan Forgiveness programs offered by the Dept. of Education. Click here to learn more.)

Who Qualifies for Student Loan Forgiveness?

1. Public Workers

Public service workers can now apply for student loan forgiveness https://t.co/mvWxHWQt2S

— TIME (@TIME) September 2, 2017

Thanks to the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, people who choose to go into public service can qualify for student loan forgiveness.

There is a wide range of careers in public service.

As long as you work for a branch of the government or for a certified non-profit organization, you are eligible.

All there is left to do is follow the specifics of employment.

2. Teachers

In addition to public service loan forgiveness, there is also a loan forgiveness program exclusive for teachers.

Under the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, teachers who serve in a qualifying school may be eligible for forgiveness.

Of course, the mandates are more specific.

As with most forgiveness programs, it involves full-time employment and on-time payments for a number of years.

3. Nurses

If you’re still asking who qualifies for student loan forgiveness, worry not.

In addition to public servants and teachers, nurses are also eligible for forgiveness.

Being a nurse comes with more options for loan forgiveness.

Among these programs are the Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge and the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program.

Plus, under special circumstances, nurses are also considered public servants and are therefore eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program.

4. Military

Joining the military also opens up a lot of options for student loan forgiveness.

To begin with, you may choose which branch of the military you want to devote your life to.

Each branch has specific loan forgiveness programs which you can apply for.

Moreover, student loan forgiveness for members of the military includes the Total and Permanent Disability Student Loan Discharge program which caters to veterans or people who have served in the military and have acquired a permanent disability during their service.

5. Doctors

In lieu of a total forgiveness program, student loan forgiveness for doctors comes from a wide variety of grants, repayment programs, and state-based student aids.

This is because student loan debt for doctors is much bigger than a college graduate’s average debt.

In some cases, doctors who go on to practice their profession in public service, become eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program.

Whatever way you choose to practice your profession, there are ways to help you eliminate your debt.

6. Social Workers

Why do you choose to be a social worker? #SocialWorkersOfficial

A post shared by Social Workers Official (@social_workers_official) on Jul 24, 2017 at 4:25pm PDT

Social work falls under the category of public service.

Therefore, becoming a social worker makes you eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

However, there are important specifications you must take note of.

Only select and credited government offices or non-profit organizations are eligible.

Before making a big decision, consult with your employer if they are recognized as a qualified social work organization.

Finally, you may also look into other programs made specifically for social workers.

7. Civil Servants

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program really does cover a wide range.

Workers for federal agencies may also qualify for the said program.

Becoming a civil servant is not exactly the most popular career options.

Providing loan forgiveness is part of their initiative to highlight the importance of this kind of work.

Watch this video from The Dave Ramsey Show for more ways to help you with your student loans:

There are many career paths to choose from in order to qualify for student loan forgiveness.

For some, the stars align by finding that their dream jobs come with student loan forgiveness.

For others, it is a compromise between loan forgiveness and a career one is passionate about.

No matter what your case is, availing of student loan forgiveness puts you a step closer to living your dreams, free to make your choices, and free of student loan debt.

What are your thoughts on student loan forgiveness? Let us know in the comments section below.

Up Next: How To Use Student Loan Rehabilitation To Clear A Defaulted Student Loan

(NOTE: Need to know if you can qualify for student loan forgiveness? Many people qualify but never find out until it’s too late, and before they know it, they are overpaying on their student loans. Get the Definitive Guide on How To Qualify For Student Loan Forgiveness to easily find out if you can qualify for one or more of the many Student Loan Forgiveness programs offered by the Dept. of Education. Click here to learn more.)