Student Loan Forgiveness

By working to cancel student debt and improve forgiveness programs, we can make sure everybody who wants to learn and grow can do so—without exceptions.

Student loan borrowers stage a rally in front of The White House to celebrate President Biden canceling student debt on Aug. 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We the 45m)

Higher education must be affordable and accessible to all. Yet, for too many, pursuing our college and career dreams means years, even decades of paying off student debt. This is especially true for educators. This system is working for the student loan providers and banks, but not for us.

If you’re struggling under the weight of student loans, know you aren’t alone. In fact, you are one of 40 million Americans navigating through student debt.

Student Loan Relief Resources

Learn more about your options for reducing your student loan payments. Taken together, these can go a long way toward providing relief for yourself and your students.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was created in recognition of the many ways public service workers make our communities, and our nation, better.

However, for too long the system was broken, meaning educators who earned cancellation were being rejected from forgiveness.

Thanks to the advocacy of educators and due to efforts by the Biden Administration, many of these issues have been fixed. While the Limited Waiver expired on October 31, 2022, PSLF is still here for educators and other public service workers. NEA’s student debt experts have created tools designed to help educators through the PSLF application process. Check them out below!

Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

For OEA Members: Get Help Through NEA's Student Debt Navigator

Find Additional Resources from NEA

Income-Driven Repayment Options

There are at least five different plans that may help to lower monthly student loan payments. They fit under the larger umbrella of “Income Driven Repayment.” Learn more about these options.

OEA & NEA Members Lead the Way

More than 168,000 NEA members shared their stories with the Department of Education and following our sustained advocacy, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a series of fixes and temporary waivers to the program to make sure deserving educators were able to receive the loan forgiveness for which they were entitled.

Utilizing the collective voice of its more than 3 million members, the NEA made sure the Federal Department of Education heard stories from the educators who were being impacted by the failures of the PSLF program.