Student Loan Forgiveness Eligibility & Cost Planner (U.S. Federal Loans)
Step 1: Your Loan & Financial Profile
Federal Student Loans
Income & Household Information
Employment (for Public Service Loan Forgiveness - PSLF)
Step 2: Explore Forgiveness Programs
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
PSLF forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under an eligible repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Payments do not need to be consecutive.
Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness
IDR plans base your monthly payment on your income and family size. After 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments on an IDR plan, any remaining loan balance may be forgiven. The SAVE plan is often the most beneficial IDR plan.
Other Forgiveness/Discharge Programs (Mention Only)
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness: For teachers in low-income schools/agencies. Details
- Closed School Discharge: If your school closed while enrolled or shortly after. Details
- Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge: If you are totally and permanently disabled. Details
- Borrower Defense to Repayment: If your school misled you or engaged in misconduct. Details
Step 3: SAVE Plan - Payment & Forgiveness Projection
This projects your payments and potential forgiveness under the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) plan, using the information from Tab 1. Ensure your AGI, family size, and FPL are correctly entered there.
Enter your details in Tab 1 and click "Calculate SAVE Plan Projection".
Step 4: Overall Summary & Download Your Plan
Complete your profile and explore programs to see a summary here.
Important Next Steps & Resources:
- To officially apply for IDR plans or PSLF, and to certify employment for PSLF, visit StudentAid.gov.
- Use the PSLF Help Tool on StudentAid.gov to generate PSLF forms.
- Regularly update your income and family size for IDR plans as required.
- Keep detailed records of your employment and payments.
- Student loan programs and forgiveness rules can change. Always refer to StudentAid.gov for the most current official information.