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Perkins Loan forgiveness is a loan forgiveness program for public servants who are paying off Federal Perkins Loans. You can get up to 100% of your loans canceled, depending on your job and how long you work. It’s also known as Perkins Loan cancellation.
The federal government has two main Perkins loan cancellation programs: One for teachers and another for other public service and volunteer positions. How long you’re required to work and the amount that’s forgiven depends on your job.
If you qualify for cancellation, you can typically qualify for deferment, which means you won’t have to make any repayments.
You must have a Federal Perkins Loan to qualify and work at an eligible public service position.
Teachers must either:
If you’re not a teacher, you must work at or volunteer in one of the following positions:
If you’re still repaying a loan from before October 7, 1998, look at your contract before you apply for forgiveness — it might indicate you’re not eligible. However, all Perkins Loans issued after this date are eligible for forgiveness regardless of what your contract says.
You can have up to 100% of your Perkins Loans forgiven, depending on your profession and how long you work.
You might qualify to have 100% of your Perkins Loans canceled if you teach full time at either a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school for five consecutive years. However, your debt is canceled bit by bit at higher percentages over five academic years:
You could cancel all or part of your Federal Perkins Loan debt if you work in specific professions.
| Position | Percentage of loan forgiven | How long it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse or medical technician | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment |
| Firefighter | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment (after August 14, 2008) |
| Provider of early intervention services for people with disabilities | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment |
| Faculty member of a tribal college or university | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment (after August 14, 2008) |
| Speech pathologist | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment (after August 14, 2008) |
| Librarian | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment (after August 14, 2008) |
| Law enforcement or corrections officer | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment |
| Attorney working for a federal public or community defender organization | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment (after August 14, 2008) |
| Public or nonprofit child service agency provider | Up to 100% | 5 years of full-time employment |
| Staff member of the Head Start Program | Up to 100%
| 7 years of full-time employment |
| Pre-K staff | Up to 100%
| 7 years of full-time employment (after August 14, 2008) |
| Military service member | Up to 100% | 5 years of eligible service (after August 14, 2008) |
| AmeriCorps, Peace Corps or VISTA volunteer | Up to 70%
| 4 years of eligible volunteer work |
You can apply for Perkins Loan forgiveness through your school or your loan servicer. The best way to get started is to reach out to your school’s financial aid office and request an application. Or, reach out to the company that handles your repayments. You’ll likely need to fill out a form and submit documents verifying your employment.
Unlike other federal loan programs, universities are responsible for disbursing the funds and handling repayments for Perkins Loans. Similarly, the forgiveness application process can vary depending on your school.
If you don’t qualify for forgiveness, you can get your balance discharged in the following situations:
Contact your school or servicer to find out how to apply.
Perkins Loan forgiveness comes with some of the most relaxed requirements of all federal loan programs. But you’ll still have to work at a low-paying job or take on volunteer work for several years before you can qualify. And you can’t cancel all of your federal student debt — just Perkins Loans.
Got other loans? Check out our guide to student loan forgiveness programs to find out what your options are.
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