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US Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Programs – 2026 Update
Table of Contents
As of January 30,2026,several federal student loan forgiveness programs are available to borrowers,following notable changes and legal challenges in recent years. This article details current programs, eligibility requirements, and application processes, drawing on official sources from the Department of Education and related agencies.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program offers loan forgiveness to borrowers employed full-time by a qualifying U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or non-profit association. PSLF requires 120 qualifying monthly payments made under a qualifying repayment plan.
The program underwent a temporary expansion in October 2021, offering a waiver that allowed past payments under any repayment plan to count toward the 120 required payments.This waiver ended October 31, 2022, but the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to refine the program.Recent changes focus on simplifying the application process and addressing historical issues with payment counting. The Department of Education estimates that,as of December 2025,over 790,000 borrowers have received PSLF forgiveness totaling over $44.5 billion.
Example: A teacher working for a public school for 10 years, making consistent qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan, would be eligible for PSLF after 120 payments. the PSLF Help Tool allows borrowers to determine their eligibility and track their progress.
Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness
Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans cap monthly payments based on a borrower’s income and family size, and offer loan forgiveness after a set number of years of qualifying payments. Currently, there are four IDR plans: SAVE, Income-Based repayment (IBR), Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR), and Pay as You Earn (PAYE).
The newest plan, Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), replaced the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) plan in July 2024. SAVE offers the lowest monthly payments of any IDR plan and includes provisions to prevent balances from growing due to unpaid interest.forgiveness under IDR plans typically occurs after 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments, depending on the plan and the original loan type. The Department of Education announced in april 2024 that it is indeed accelerating forgiveness timelines for borrowers enrolled in IDR plans, with some borrowers receiving forgiveness sooner than originally anticipated.
Evidence: The IDR Application is available on the Federal Student Aid website.Borrowers can use the loan Simulator to estimate their monthly payments and potential forgiveness amounts under different IDR plans.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program provides up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness to highly qualified teachers who teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school. The amount forgiven depends on the subject taught, with certain high-need subjects (e.g., mathematics, science, special education) eligible for a larger forgiveness amount.
To qualify, teachers must meet specific requirements related to their teaching certification, employment, and the school’s designation as a low-income school. The program is administered by the Department of Education, and applications are submitted through the loan servicer. The eligibility requirements are detailed on the Federal Student Aid website.
Example: A high school math teacher who teaches for five years at a Title I school is eligible for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness under the teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. The Teacher Loan Forgiveness application is available online.
Borrower Defense to Repayment
Borrower Defense to Repayment allows borrowers to seek loan forgiveness if their school engaged in certain misconduct, such as making false or misleading statements about the educational program, or violating state laws. The program was subject to legal challenges and revisions under the Trump administration, but the Biden-Harris administration has taken steps to strengthen and expand it.
In June 2023, the Department of Education announced a final rule to improve the Borrower Defense process, making it easier for borrowers to apply for relief and ensuring that schools are held accountable for misconduct. The rule also establishes a clearer standard for determining whether a borrower is entitled to forgiveness. As of January 2026, the Department of Education has approved approximately $16 billion in Borrower Defense claims.
Evidence: Borrowers can submit a Borrower defense application through the borrower Defense Application on the Federal Student Aid website. The
