Teacher Loan Forgiveness: How to Qualify for $17,500 in Student Loan Relief
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness program cancels up to $17,500 in federal Direct or FFEL loans for teachers who work five consecutive full-time years at a low-income school. Highly qualified math, science, or special education teachers qualify for the full amount; all other highly qualified teachers qualify for up to $5,000.
What Teacher Loan Forgiveness Covers
Teacher Loan Forgiveness cancels up to $17,500 of your federal Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or subsidized/unsubsidized FFEL loans. The program is separate from Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) — you can potentially benefit from both, though the same five years of teaching can't count for both simultaneously. Borrowed amounts above the cancellation cap remain due and payable.
The Five-Year Service Requirement
You must complete five consecutive, complete academic years of full-time teaching at a qualifying low-income school. Years can be a combination of elementary and secondary teaching, and you don't need to teach at the same school all five years. Consecutive means no gaps of a full school year or more. Part-time teaching generally doesn't count, though some states' definitions vary — check the official eligibility criteria before you rely on a part-time arrangement.
Qualifying Schools and Subjects
Your school must be listed in the Department of Education's Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory. Math, science, and special education teachers who are 'highly qualified' receive the full $17,500; other highly qualified teachers receive $5,000. 'Highly qualified' generally means you hold a bachelor's degree, full state certification, and demonstrated subject-matter competency. Your school's principal or other authorized official must certify the qualifying years.
Applying for Teacher Loan Forgiveness
After completing five qualifying years, you apply using the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application, which includes a Certification of Eligibility section your school's chief administrative officer must sign. Submit the completed form to your federal loan servicer along with any supporting documentation. Application timing matters — if you consolidate your loans after teaching the five years, the consolidation may reset your eligibility, so consolidate before or carefully align the timing.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness vs. PSLF
PSLF forgives the entire remaining balance after 120 qualifying payments (about 10 years) for public service employees, including teachers. Teacher Loan Forgiveness is quicker — five years for up to $17,500. A common strategy: use Teacher Loan Forgiveness for $17,500 first, then continue toward PSLF with the same employer so the remaining years and payments count. The same employment period cannot double-count for both programs, but the years after Teacher Loan Forgiveness can count toward PSLF.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much student loan forgiveness do teachers get?
Up to $17,500 for highly qualified math, science, and special education teachers, and up to $5,000 for other highly qualified teachers. The amount cancels Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and subsidized or unsubsidized FFEL loans after five consecutive years of full-time teaching at a low-income school.
What is the low-income school requirement?
Your school must appear in the Department of Education's Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory for at least one of the five years you're claiming. The directory is updated annually, and eligibility is determined by the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch or other poverty indicators.
Can I get both Teacher Loan Forgiveness and PSLF?
Yes, but the same five years of employment can't count toward both programs. A common path is to receive Teacher Loan Forgiveness after five years, then keep working at a qualifying employer so that future payments count toward PSLF's 120-payment requirement. The years already used for Teacher Loan Forgiveness won't also count for PSLF.
Do private student loans qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness?
No. Teacher Loan Forgiveness only covers federal Direct and FFEL loans. Private loans are not eligible. If you're pursuing this program, avoid refinancing federal loans into a private loan, which would permanently lose federal forgiveness eligibility.