If you are a college graduate, and you are stressed out about debt, relax and learn all about for student loan forgiveness. The student loan forgiveness programs is offered to eliminate some or all of your student loans in return for choosing certain careers, military service, and even volunteer work.
Most of these programs, can eliminate anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over $100,000 of student loans. Be it as it may, most of these programs get a relatively small number of applications, which means that many graduates are not aware of these opportunities.
What is For Student Loan Forgiveness?
These programs are those supported by the federal government and cover loans issued via federal programs like Stafford and Perkins loans. If you participate in one of these programs, portions of your debt are erased from your lender’s records.
Loan Repayment
More widespread than forgiveness, are student loan repayment programs, which may be used to eliminate any kind of loan, including private loans. Under these programs, you can either get additional funds, which you can use to pay down your loan, or a payment is made straight to your lender by your employer.
Taxability
Note that, the amount eliminated under loan forgiveness or repayment programs may be considered as taxable income in the year received. This should not deter you from using these programs, as their benefits far outweighs the cost.
To stop your student loan forgiveness or employer repayments from becoming subject to taxation, your student loan must specifically include provisions which enables it to be forgiven. These provisions needs you to work within certain professions, for certain employers, for a specified minimum amount of time.
Note also that any loan repayments made under the National Health Services Corps Repayment Program or any state program eligible for funds from Public Health Services Act are considered tax-free.
Various For Student Loan Forgiveness & Repayment Programs
Hundreds of loan forgiveness programs are available to graduates. Often times, professional associations within various industries maintain a list of student loan repayment and forgiveness programs which apply to their profession.
Here are some examples of where you can start researching the possibility of getting your student loans cancelled or repaid (by profession)
Lawyers & Legal Professionals
Here, the American Bar Association offers strategies for loan repayment and forgiveness on state and federal level.
Public Service & Volunteer Work
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, created by an act of Congress in 2007, still stands as one of the best federal student loan forgiveness programs in existence. This program offers a complete federal forgiveness benefits in return for qualifying public service work. This, implies that it allows you clear out your outstanding federal loans in return for working in a public service field, like teaching, nursing, or government positions.
Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers, have a funding database to locate funds for your continuing education, professional development as well as classroom. Make a review for loan forgiveness programs, teacher grants and awards, classroom donation, as well summer studies and exchange programs.
Medical, Nursing, & Mental Health Professionals
The Association of Medical Colleges offers repayment options and loan forgiveness for medical professionals to prevent a medical school student from entering the workforce with debt.
There’s also the option of volunteering over the summer or for a period of time, in the U.S. or abroad for organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps.