5 Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

By Jenny Miles

Federal student loans always have to be paid back. The loan program requires repayment after graduation or six months after the borrower is no longer attending college.
These loans have varying repayment options, including deferring payments if the borrower is unemployed or underemployed.
Student loan forgiveness offers a few options to the borrower to give them the opportunity to have part or all of their loans forgiven under certain circumstances.
Volunteer Work:
The federal government allows a borrower to volunteer with three different organizations for a partial and up to total loan forgiveness. Volunteer with Americorps for 12 months and receive up to $4725.00 for loan repayment.
Peace Corp volunteers will be granted loan repayment in differing amounts depending on length of service. Fifteen percent of the loan total is forgiven for each year of volunteer status with a maximum amount forgiven of 70 percent.
VISTA offers the borrower a chance to volunteer and receive a partial student loan forgiveness. Volunteer 1700 hours through VISTA and receive $4725.00 for loan repayment.
Military Service:
Student borrowers have the opportunity to join the Army National Guard and receive up to $10,000 for educational loan payments depending on length of military service.
Teachers:
Borrowers that become teachers in schools that have a certain population of low income students may be eligible to receive forgiveness of their Perkins loans. The National Defense Education Act allows teachers to have loans forgiven at a rate of 15 percent of the loan for each of the first two years of teaching and twenty percent in years three and four. Thirty percent of the loan is forgiven in the fifth year.
Teacher's in Mississippi that hold an alternate route teaching license and are employed in schools with a teacher shortage may be qualified to utilize the teacher loan repayment plan.
Legal and Medical Studies:
Law school loan borrowers who work in non profit or public interest law positions may be eligible for student loan forgiveness. The US Department of Health and Human Services has a program for doctors and nurses who practice medicine in areas that do not have access to proper medical care. Federal loan borrowers should contact the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) for a listing of all medical student loan forgiveness options.

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