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- As of January 13, 2026, several federal student loan forgiveness programs are available to borrowers, following significant changes and legal challenges in recent years.
- The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments made while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
- PSLF was established by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.
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US Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Programs – 2026 Update
Table of Contents
As of January 13, 2026, several federal student loan forgiveness programs are available to borrowers, following significant changes and legal challenges in recent years. These programs offer pathways to loan discharge based on employment, income, and other factors. This article details current options and eligibility requirements.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments made while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
PSLF was established by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. Initially, the program faced criticism for its strict eligibility requirements and low approval rates. However, the Biden-Harris management implemented a temporary expanded PSLF waiver, which considerably broadened eligibility by allowing past payments under other repayment plans to count towards the 120 required payments. While the waiver expired on October 31, 2022, the program continues to offer forgiveness to eligible borrowers.
As of December 2025, the Department of Education reported having approved $62.3 billion in PSLF for over 790,000 borrowers. PSLF program Updates. To qualify, borrowers must work for a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government, or a qualifying 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. PSLF Eligibility Criteria.
Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness
Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans cap monthly payments based on a borrower’s income and family size, and forgive the remaining loan balance after a set number of years of qualifying payments.
There are several IDR plans available,including Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE),Income-Based Repayment (IBR),Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR),and Pay As You Earn (PAYE). The SAVE plan, introduced in 2024, generally offers the lowest monthly payments and fastest path to forgiveness. The standard forgiveness timeframe under most IDR plans is 20 or 25 years, depending on the loan type and plan.
In April 2022, the Department of Education announced adjustments to IDR plans to address past issues with loan servicing and payment counting. These adjustments provided credit toward forgiveness for past periods of forbearance, deferment, and certain repayment statuses. IDR Account Adjustment. As of November 2025, over 6.8 million borrowers have received forgiveness through IDR plans. IDR Forgiveness Data.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program offers 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.
to be eligible, teachers must teach in a designated low-income school as determined by the Department of Education. The amount of forgiveness depends on the subject taught: $5,000 for highly qualified teachers in mathematics, science, and special education, and $17,500 for highly qualified teachers in other subjects.
The program has faced challenges due to complex eligibility requirements and administrative errors. In December 2021,the Department of Education announced measures to streamline the application process and address past denials. Teacher Loan Forgiveness Improvements. As of September 2025, approximately 12,000 teachers have received forgiveness through this program, totaling over $100 million.Teacher Loan Forgiveness Statistics.
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 employment prospects.
This program gained prominence following the closures of several for-profit colleges that were accused of predatory practices. Borrowers must submit a claim to the Department of Education, providing evidence of the school’s misconduct. The Department then investigates the claim and determines whether the borrower is eligible for forgiveness.
In June 2023, the Department of Education finalized new regulations to strengthen the borrower Defense process, making it easier for borrowers to obtain relief. Borrower Defense Final Rule. As of December 2025, the Department has approved approximately $16 billion in Borrower Defense claims for over 260,000 borrowers. Borrower Defense Data.