Loan Forgiveness Programs

There are several loan forgiveness programs that borrowers can take advantage of to pay off full or partial federal student loan balances.  Below are some known programs students can take advantage of if qualified.  

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Qualifying employment for the PSLF Program is not about the specific job that you do for your employer. Rather, it is about who your employer is. Employment with the following types of organizations qualifies for PSLF:

  • Government organizations at any level (federal, state, local, or tribal)
  • Not-for-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Other types of not-for-profit organizations that provide certain types of qualifying public services
  • Serving in a full-time AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position also counts as qualifying employment for the PSLF Program.

To qualify for PSLF, you must:

  • Be employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization   (federal service includes U.S. military service);
  • Work full-time for that agency or organization;
  • Have Direct Loans (or consolidate other federal student loans into a Direct Loan);
  • Repay your loans under an income-driven repayment plan; and
  • Make 120 qualifying payments.

The following types of employers do not qualify for PSLF:

  • Labor unions
  • Partisan political organizations
  • For-profit organizations
  • Non-profit organizations that are not tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that do not provide a qualifying service
     
    Valencia has partnered with Ascendium by Attigo to assist both our students and employees regarding student loan repayment assistance and loan counseling.

For additional information please visit https://www.ascendiumeducation.org
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Teacher Loan Forgiveness

If you are a new borrower* and are a full-time teacher in a low-income elementary or secondary school for 5 consecutive years, you may be able to have as much as $17,500 of your subsidized or unsubsidized loans cancelled. 

* You are considered a new borrower if you did not have an outstanding balance on an FFEL or Direct Loan on Oct. 1, 1998, or on the date you obtained an FFEL or Direct Loan after Oct. 1, 1998.

What are the eligibility requirements?

  • You must not have had an outstanding balance on Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans as of Oct. 1, 1998, or on the date that you obtained a Direct Loan or FFEL Program loan after Oct. 1, 1998.
  • You must have been employed as a full-time, highly qualified teacher for five complete and consecutive academic years, and at least one of those years must have been after the 1997–98 academic year.
  • You must have been employed at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves low-income students (a "low-income school or educational service agency").
  • The loan(s) for which you are seeking forgiveness must have been made before the end of your five academic years of qualifying teaching service.
     

This provision is not available for borrowers of PLUS Loans. 

For more information, please visit Teacher Loan Forgiveness  or contact your loan servicer.

 

Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program

The Florida Legislature created the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program (NSLFP) in 1989, to encourage qualified personnel to seek employment in areas of the state where there are critical nursing shortages. The program provides funds to assist in the repayment of nursing education loans

Based on available funds, the program provides up to $4,000 a year for a maximum of four years to assist in the payment of the principal balance of the originally verified nursing education loan. After one year of program enrollment, participants will receive a renewal packet. Initial payment will be made to the lender once full-time employment and loan principal balance are verified. Awards are not taxable, pursuant to the Affordable Care Act of 2010.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Have graduated from an accredited or approved nursing program;
  • Are licensed by the Florida Board of Nursing as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN) or an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP);
  • Have outstanding qualifying student loans from a federal, state or commercial lending institution, incurred toward an obtained nursing degree or nursing certificate; and
  • Work full-time as a nurse at a designated site in Florida. Full-time employment shall be those hours determined by the employer to be one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position.

You are not eligible to apply if you:

  • Currently have a student loan in default status;
  • Work in a contract on an “as needed” basis (PRN, pool nurses, agency nurses), part-time or self employed capacity; or
  • Previously participated in the Florida Nursing Scholarship Program.

For additional information please visit Florida Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program 

John R. Justice Loan Repayment Program

The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program authorized in Public Law 110-315, Part JJ, dated August 14, 2008, 34 U.S.C. § 10671, provides loan repayment assistance for state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who agree to remain employed as defenders and prosecutors for at least three years. Repayment benefits cannot exceed $10,000 in a calendar year with a total aggregate not to exceed $60,000.

 

Eligible education loans include:

  • Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) Loans
  • Federal Direct Stafford Loans
  • FFELP and Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
  • FFELP and Direct Consolidation Loans
  • Federal Perkins Loans
     

Non-eligible loans include:

  • Federal Parent PLUS Loans
  • Federal Consolidation Loans used to repay Federal Parent PLUS Loans
  • Defaulted student loans
  • Non-federal student loans (private, commercial or alternative student loans)
  • Any eligible loan that has been paid in full
     

For more information on the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act, please visit the Bureau of Justice Assistance Website