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Teacher loan forgiveness checker

Free, no signup
On track You could qualify for up to $5,000

Answer the questions to see your result.

Your five years0 of 5 complete
Checklist

Estimate based on published federal rules. Confirm with your loan servicer and on StudentAid.gov.

Your details
What do you teach?
Which federal loans do you have?
Do you teach full time?
Is your school in the low-income directory?
First school year at a qualifying school
Owed a Direct or FFEL loan on Oct 1, 1998?
Counting these years toward PSLF or AmeriCorps?
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Teacher Loan Forgiveness, in plain English

Teacher Loan Forgiveness is a federal program that forgives up to $17,500 of eligible federal student loans for teachers who work full time for five complete and consecutive years at a low-income school. This checker turns the official rules into six quick questions, shows how much you could qualify for, and tracks your five years so you know exactly when you can apply.

The rules

Who qualifies for Teacher Loan Forgiveness

Five consecutive yearsTeach full time for five complete, consecutive academic years. At least one must be after 1997-98.
A low-income schoolEvery school you count must be listed in the federal Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory.
The right loansDirect or Federal Stafford Loans, subsidized or unsubsidized. Not PLUS, private or Perkins.
No old balanceYou had no outstanding Direct or FFEL balance on October 1, 1998, or on the date you took out a loan after that.
Highly qualifiedYou hold a bachelor’s degree and full state certification for the subject you teach.
No double countingYears used for PSLF or an AmeriCorps award do not count toward your five years.
How it works

How to apply for Teacher Loan Forgiveness

  1. 1
    Confirm your school is listedSearch the Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory for every school year you are counting. Search by state and year, then scroll, so a spelling difference does not hide your school.
  2. 2
    Finish your fifth complete yearKeep teaching full time at a listed school. Your fifth year must be complete before you apply.
  3. 3
    Get your service certifiedComplete the Teacher Loan Forgiveness application and ask your principal or other chief administrative officer to certify your years of service.
  4. 4
    Send it to your loan servicerSubmit the form to the servicer for your Direct or FFEL loans. If you hold loans with more than one servicer, contact each one.

Official rules and the application live on StudentAid.gov.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is Teacher Loan Forgiveness?+

Up to $17,500 for highly qualified full-time secondary math or science teachers and special education teachers. Up to $5,000 for other highly qualified full-time elementary or secondary teachers. It is a lifetime cap across all your eligible loans.

Which loans qualify?+

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. PLUS Loans and private loans do not qualify. Perkins Loans have their own, separate teacher cancellation program.

How do I know if my school is a low-income school?+

Your school or educational service agency must be listed in the federal Teacher Cancellation Low Income (TCLI) Directory, which includes schools where more than 30 percent of students come from low-income families. Search by state and year only, and leave the name field blank, because a small spelling difference can hide your school.

Do the five years have to be in a row?+

Yes. You need five complete and consecutive academic years of full-time teaching, and at least one of them must be after the 1997-98 school year.

Can I get Teacher Loan Forgiveness and PSLF?+

You can use both programs, but not for the same years. Years counted toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness or an AmeriCorps award cannot also count toward your five years for Teacher Loan Forgiveness.

When and how do I apply?+

After you finish your fifth complete year. Fill in the Teacher Loan Forgiveness application, have your school’s chief administrative officer certify your service, and send it to your loan servicer.

Is this checker official?+

No. It is an estimate based on the published federal rules. Always confirm your eligibility with your loan servicer and on StudentAid.gov before you make decisions about your loans.