Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

PSLF forgives your remaining federal student loan balance — tax-free — after 10 years of full-time public service employment and 120 qualifying payments. It is one of the most powerful debt relief programs available.

Check My PSLF EligibilityFull PSLF Hub

How PSLF Works

Public Service Loan Forgiveness was created to encourage people to work in public service careers. If you work full-time for a qualifying government or nonprofit employer and make 120 qualifying monthly payments under an income-driven repayment plan, your remaining Direct Loan balance is forgiven — completely tax-free.

1

Qualify Your Employer

Work full-time for a government agency, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or other qualifying public service organization.

2

Make 120 Payments

Make 120 on-time, full payments while on a qualifying income-driven repayment plan. Payments do not need to be consecutive.

3

Apply for Forgiveness

After 120 qualifying payments, submit the PSLF application. Your remaining balance is forgiven tax-free.

Qualifying Employers

Qualifying Employers

  • Federal, state, local, or tribal government agencies
  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • AmeriCorps or Peace Corps
  • Certain other nonprofits providing qualifying public services

Non-Qualifying Employers

  • For-profit companies (even in public-service industries)
  • Non-501(c)(3) nonprofits not providing qualifying services
  • Labor unions or partisan political organizations
  • Contractors or self-employed individuals

Payment Requirements

To be a qualifying PSLF payment, each payment must:

Be made after October 1, 2007

Be made under a qualifying repayment plan (most IDR plans qualify)

Be for the full scheduled monthly payment amount

Be made no later than 15 days after the due date

Be made while you are employed full-time at a qualifying employer

Be made on a qualifying Direct Loan — FFEL and Perkins loans must be consolidated first

Qualifying Loans

Direct Loans — Eligible
  • Direct Subsidized Loans
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Direct PLUS Loans
  • Direct Consolidation Loans
Require Consolidation First
  • FFEL Program Loans
  • Perkins Loans
  • Private student loans (not eligible even after consolidation)

Note: Consolidating FFEL loans resets your qualifying payment count to zero for the consolidated loan.

Tips to Maximize PSLF

  • 1

    Submit the Employment Certification Form (ECF) every year — don't wait until you have 120 payments to verify your progress.

  • 2

    Enroll in the lowest possible IDR plan payment to maximize the amount forgiven after 120 payments.

  • 3

    Use the PSLF Help Tool on StudentAid.gov to determine if your employer qualifies before starting employment.

  • 4

    Keep records of all PSLF-related correspondence, employer certifications, and payment confirmations.

  • 5

    If you have FFEL loans, consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to begin accumulating qualifying payments.

  • 6

    Do not make extra payments — larger payments don't count as additional PSLF payments; you still need 120 qualifying months.

Ready to Start Your PSLF Journey?

Check your eligibility, explore our full PSLF hub, or use our tools to estimate your payments and forgiveness timeline.

Check My EligibilityExplore the PSLF Hub