What loans don t qualify for forgiveness?

Asked by: Dr. Laurie McCullough IV  |  Last update: January 16, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (65 votes)

At the federal level, some government-backed student loans also don't qualify for forgiveness, including:
  • Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)
  • Federal Perkins Loan.

What student loans do not qualify for forgiveness?

Loans you received under the Federal Perkins Loan Program or the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program don't qualify for PSLF, but they may become eligible if you consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan.

Who is ineligible for loan forgiveness?

You must be a direct employee of a qualifying employer for your employment to qualify. This means that employees of contracted organizations, that are not themselves a qualifying employer, won't qualify for PSLF including government contractors and for-profit organizations.

Which loans count for student loan forgiveness?

What loans qualify for forgiveness? Only loans you received under the Direct Loan Program are eligible for PSLF.

How do I know if my student loan is eligible for forgiveness?

You may be eligible for income-driven repayment (IDR) loan forgiveness if you've have been in repayment for 20 or 25 years. An IDR plan bases your monthly payment on your income and family size.

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25 related questions found

Are stafford loans eligible for forgiveness?

Subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans may be eligible for forgiveness under certain conditions. Key forgiveness programs include Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Teacher Loan Forgiveness.

How do I know if my student loan is federal or private?

Any loans that are listed on your studentaid.gov account are federal student loans. If any loans on your credit reports are not listed on your studentaid.gov account, they are probably private student loans.

Do direct unsubsidized loans qualify for loan forgiveness?

Which loans are eligible for loan forgiveness? Only Federal Direct Loan Program loans that are not in default are eligible for PSLF (ie - Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, Direct Consolidation Loans).

Which loans don't qualify for PSLF?

Only Direct Loan Program loans that are not in default are eligible for PSLF and TEPSLF. Loans you received under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, the Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program, or any other student loan program are not eligible for PSLF.

Can private student loans be forgiven?

Private student loans are usually only forgiven when the borrower becomes permanently disabled or dies—sometimes not even then. While there are several options for federal student loan cancellation and forgiveness, private programs for cancellation are less common.

Who is ineligible for federal student loans?

If you don't meet baseline eligibility requirements, or if you've previously defaulted on a loan, you may not be approved for a federal student loan. You must maintain "satisfactory progress" in school to be approved for student loans. You can take steps to regain or improve your eligibility for student loans.

Who is eligible for Navient student loan forgiveness?

Navient offers private student loan forgiveness for borrowers misled by their schools. Eligibility is based on school misconduct, not employment or income. Borrowers must submit an application explaining how their school deceived them and provide supporting documentation.

When did student loan forgiveness start?

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is a United States government program that was created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 signed into law by President George W.

Who is not included in student loan forgiveness?

You must be a direct employee of a qualifying employer for your employment to qualify. This means that employees of contracted organizations, that are not themselves a qualifying employer, won't qualify for PSLF including government contractors and for-profit organizations.

At what age do student loans get written off?

After at least 20 years of student loan payments under an income-driven repayment plan — IDR forgiveness and 20-year student loan forgiveness. After 25 years if you borrowed loans for graduate school — 25-year federal loan forgiveness.

What student loans are being forgiven?

The Biden-Harris Administration announced today several additional actions to forgive federal student loans for public servants and borrowers with disabilities, as well as the loans of borrowers who attended colleges that engaged in wrongdoing.

Is Sallie Mae a federal loan?

Sallie Mae is not a federal loan servicer.

When Sallie Mae first formed, it was a government-sponsored enterprise servicing federal student loans — or loans made by the government. But in 2014, it split into two separate companies.

Why am I not eligible for loan forgiveness?

Only borrowers who have entered repayment on at least one of their loans when the debt relief is applied would be eligible for forgiveness on the loan(s) in repayment.

How will I know if I get student loan forgiveness?

Your student loan servicer(s) will notify you directly after your forgiveness is processed. Make sure to keep your contact information up to date on StudentAid.gov and with your servicer(s). If you haven't yet qualified for forgiveness, you'll be able to see your exact payment counts in the future.

What is the difference between a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan?

Direct Subsidized Loans: You won't be charged interest while you're enrolled in school or during your six-month grace period. Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Interest starts accumulating from the date of your first loan disbursement (when you receive the funds from your school).

Is it too late for student loan forgiveness?

You can still apply for Student Loan Forgiveness in 2024. Despite the Supreme Court striking down Biden's initial plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loans, the president has introduced other programs that have provided $167.3 billion in student loan forgiveness to over 4 million borrowers.

Which student loans are considered private?

In contrast, private loans are made by private organizations such banks, credit unions, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations, and have terms and conditions that are set by the lender. Private student loans are generally more expensive than federal student loans.

How do I know if my loan is a direct loan?

If you expand “View Loans” and select the “View Loan Details” arrow next to a loan, you'll see the more detailed name for that loan. Direct Loans begin with the word “Direct.” Federal Family Education Loan Program loans begin with “FFEL.” Perkins Loans include the word “Perkins” in the name.

What student loans are considered federal?

Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school.