Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan
November 17, 2023
Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs
Alexandra Hegji
Student loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs enable borrowers to have all or
Analyst in Social Policy
part of their student loan debt forgiven or repaid on their behalf if they meet specified

eligibility criteria. A primary type of such programs provides benefits to borrowers who
Elayne J. Heisler
complete work or service in specific fields or professions. These service-contingent
Specialist in Health
student loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs are typically intended to provide
Services
a financial incentive to encourage individuals to enter public service or a particular

profession, occupation, or occupational specialty, or to remain employed in a high-need
Sylvia L. Bryan
profession or occupation (often in certain locations).
Research Assistant

The number and availability of service-contingent loan forgiveness and loan repayment
programs have expanded considerably since the establishment of the first major federal

loan forgiveness program under the National Defense Education Act of 1958. Currently,
federal law authorizes at least 46 such programs, approximately 30 of which were became operational on October
1, 2021, or became operational sometime thereafter. This report provides information on the characteristics and
funding of these various programs. For more detailed information on each of these programs, along with a
discussion of overarching program design features and policy issues associated with them, see CRS Report
R43571, Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs (archived).
Loan forgiveness benefits may also be available to certain federal student loan borrowers following a prolonged
period during which their student loan debt burden is high relative to their income. These benefits are provided by
various student loan income-driven repayment plans. Certain other federal student loan borrowers may be relieved
of the responsibility to repay all or part of their loan debt via a loan discharge, which is typically available to
borrowers based on a borrower’s hardship (e.g., total and permanent disability, bankruptcy). These types of
benefits are not discussed in this report. For additional information on student loan income-driven repayment
plans and loan discharge options, see CRS Report R45931, Federal Student Loans Made Through the William D.
Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers.
Congressional Research Service

Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs

urrently, federal law authorizes at least 46 programs to enable borrowers to have all or part
of their student loan debt forgiven or repaid on their behalf in exchange for the borrower’s
C completion of specified work or service; approximately 30 of these authorized programs
were operational on or after October 1, 2021, or became operational sometime thereafter.1 These
service-contingent student loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs are typically intended
to provide a financial incentive to encourage individuals to enter public service or a particular
profession, occupation, or occupational specialty, or to remain employed in a high-need
profession or occupation (often in certain locations). Each of the programs has unique
characteristics in terms of their service requirements, benefit amounts, administrative structures,
and program funding.
While all of these service-contingent student loan forgiveness or student loan repayment
programs provide student loan debt relief benefits based on a borrower’s completion of specified
service, a primary distinction among these programs is whether they are considered a loan
forgiveness or a loan repayment program. In general, loan forgiveness benefits are broadly
available to borrowers of qualified loans, and the availability of the benefits is expressed to
borrowers in their loan documents (e.g., in a master promissory note).2 A borrower who satisfies
the loan forgiveness program’s eligibility criteria, as set forth in the loan terms and conditions, is
entitled to the loan forgiveness benefits. Benefits that are entitlements to qualified borrowers are
generally funded through mandatory appropriations and accounted for as part of federal student
loan subsidy costs.
In contrast, under a loan repayment program, the entity that administers the program typically
either directly repays some or all of the qualified borrower’s student loan debt on the borrower’s
behalf or provides funding to a separate entity for purposes of implementing a loan repayment
program and making such payments. Loan repayment benefits are generally offered through
programs that are separate or distinct from the program through which a federal student loan is
made and are generally available to a limited number of qualified borrowers. Typically, the
availability of loan repayment benefits is subject to the discretionary appropriation of funds.
The number and availability of service-contingent loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs
have expended considerably since the establishment of the first major federal loan forgiveness
program under the National Defense Education Act of 1958. As noted above, currently, 46 such
programs are authorized at the federal level, and approximately 30 of these authorized programs
were operational on October 1, 2021, or became operational sometime thereafter. The tables in
this report provide information on the characteristics and funding of these various programs. For
more detailed information on each of these programs, along with a discussion of overarching
program design features and policy issues associated with them, see CRS Report R43571,
Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs (archived).
Loan forgiveness benefits may also be available to certain federal student loan borrowers
following a prolonged period during which their student loan debt burden is high relative to their
income. These benefits are provided by various student loan income-driven repayment plans.
Certain other federal student loan borrowers may be relieved of the responsibility to repay all or
part of their loan debt via a loan discharge, which is typically available to borrowers based on a
borrower’s hardship (e.g., total and permanent disability, bankruptcy). These types of benefits are

1 CRS chose October 1, 2021, as the cut-off date due to variability in the availability of information and the timing of
agency reports on programs.
2 Some loan forgiveness programs have been established and made available to individuals who have already borrowed
their loans. The resulting change to the terms and conditions of an existing loan program is referred to as a loan
modification.
Congressional Research Service

1

link to page 6 link to page 18 link to page 6 Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs

not discussed in this report. For additional information on student loan income-driven repayment
plans and loan discharge options, see CRS Report R45931, Federal Student Loans Made Through
the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers.
This report provides information on federally authorized service-contingent student loan
forgiveness and repayment programs in two tables. Table 1 lists programs that were operational
on or after October 1, 2021. Table 2 lists such programs that were previously operational prior to
October 1, 2021; that were never active; or for which program information is unavailable. Both
tables contain the following information:
• program name,
• statutory citation,
• administering agency,
• qualifying service required of program participants,
• maximum amount of benefits program participants can receive,
• most recently available data regarding the amount of funds appropriated for the
program or the amount of benefits awarded under the program, and
• resources for additional information.
In general, both tables are organized by sequential U.S. Code citation. In Table 1, information on
student loan forgiveness programs is presented first, followed by information on student loan
repayment programs.
Congressional Research Service

2

link to page 16 link to page 16
Table 1. Operational Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs
Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
Teacher Loan
Department of
Five consecutive
20 U.S.C. §§1078-10
$5,000 in general;
$223.2 mil ion forgiven in
https://studentaid.gov/
Forgiveness
Education (ED)
years of ful -time
and 1087j
$17,500 for special
award year 2017-2018a
manage-loans/
employment as a
education, science
forgiveness-
teacher in public or
or mathematics
cancellation/teacher
private nonprofit
teachers
schools or education
service agencies
Public Service Loan
ED
10 years of ful -time
20 U.S.C. §1087e(m) Remaining loan
$13.5 bil ion forgiven in
https://studentaid.gov/
Forgiveness
employment in
balance after 10
FY2022b
manage-loans/
public service jobs
years of qualifying
forgiveness-
payments
cancellation/
public-service
Perkins Loan
ED
One to five years of
20 U.S.C. §1087ee
Specified percentage
$31.2 mil ion forgiven in
https://studentaid.gov/
Cancellation
ful -time
of loan balance
award year 2017-2018
manage-loans/
employment in
forgiven for each
forgiveness-
specific public
year of service; up to
cancellation/perkins
service professions
100% of loan balance
forgiven for five
years of service
Student Loan Repayment Programs
Student Loan
Secretary of the
At least one year of
2 U.S.C. §4579
$500 per month;
$9.8 mil ion appropriated
None
Repayment Program
Senate
employment in the
$40,000 in total
in FY2023
for Senate
U.S. Senate or the
Employees
Office of
Congressional
Accessibility Services
Student Loan
House Office of the
At least one year of
2 U.S.C. §4536
$833 per month;
Currently unavailable to
None
Repayment for
Chief Administrative
employment in the
$80,000 in total
CRS
House Employees
Officer
U. S. House of
Representatives
CRS-3

link to page 16
Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
Government
Various
At least three years
5 U.S.C. §5379
$10,000 per year;
$75.4 mil ion student loan
https://www.opm.gov/
Employee Loan
of service with

$60,000 total
repayment benefits
policy-data-oversight/
Repayment
participating federal
provided in Calendar Year pay-leave/student-
Programc
executive branch
2021 across 29 agencies
loan-repayment/#url=
agencies or certain
Overview
legislative branch
offices
Veterinary Medicine
Department of
Three years of
7 U.S.C. §3151a
$25,000 per year of
$10 mil ion appropriated
https://www.nifa.usda.
Loan Repayment
Agriculture, National service as a
service
in FY2023
gov/
Program
Institute of Food and veterinarian in a
grants/programs/
Agriculture
designated
veterinary-medicine-
veterinary shortage
loan-repayment-
situation
program
Defense Acquisition
See below
Three years of
10 U.S.C. §1745
$10,000 per year;
See below
None
Workforce Student
employment as
$60,000 in total
Loan Program
DOD acquisition
personnel
Department of
See above
See above
See above
$6.3 mil ion awarded in
https://www.hci.mil/
Defense (DOD),
FY2021
docs/Policy/FY21
Department of the
DAWDAAnnual
Army
Report.pdf

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable to
None
of the Navy
CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable to
None
of the Air Force
CRS
Armed Forces
See below
At least one year of
10 U.S.C. §2171
In general, the
See below
See below
Educational Loan
active-duty service
greater of 33⅓% of
Repayment Program:
in an officer program
the outstanding loan
Enlisted Members on
or military specialty
or $1,500 per year.
Active Duty in
specified by the
Maximum aggregate
Specified Military
Secretary of
benefits may vary by
Specialties
Defense. Specific
military department.
requirements may
CRS-4

Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
vary by military
department

DOD, Department
At least three years
See above
$65,000
$8.6 mil ion repaid in
https://myarmybenefit
of the Army
of service
FY2023 (estimated)
s.us.army.mil/
benefit-library/
federal-benefits/
col ege-loan-
repayment-program-
(lrp)#:~:text=The%20
Loan%20Repayment
%20Program%20
(LRP,MOSs) %20
qualify%20for%20the
%20LRP

DOD, Department
At least three years
See above
$65,000
$5 mil ion repaid in
—
of the Navy
of service
FY2023

DOD, Department
At least four years
See above
$65,000
Air Force: $15 mil ion
https://www.af.mil/
of the Air Force
of service
repaid in FY2023
News/Article-Display/

Article/3325584/air-
force-secures-
Air Force Judge Advocate

additional-funding-for-
General Corps: $5.2

recruitment-
mil ion repaid in FY2023

incentive-programs/
Active Duty Health
See below
At least one year of
10 U.S.C. §2173
In general, $60,000
See below
https://www.esd.whs.
Professionals Loan
active-duty service
per year. Maximum
mil/
Repayment Program
(or ability to serve
aggregate benefits
Portals/54/
on active duty) as an
may vary by military
Documents/DD/
officer in a specified
department
issuances/dodi/
health care
600013p.pdf
profession. Specific
requirements may
vary by military
department.
CRS-5

Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information

DOD, Department
See above
See above
$40,000 per year
Currently unavailable to
Chapter 4 of
of the Army
CRS
https://armypubs.army
.mil/
epubs/DR_pubs/
DR_a/pdf/web/r601_
141.pdf

https://recruiting.army
.mil/
MRB_Medical
Services/

DOD, Department
See above
See above
$40,000 per year
$468,000 repaid in
https://www.med.navy
of the Navy
FY2023
.mil/
Accessions/
Health-Professions-
Loan-Repayment-
Program/

DOD Memorandum,
“Health Professions
Officer Special and
Incentive Pay Plan,”
September 6, 2022,
on file with CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
$40,000 per year
Currently unavailable to
https://static.e-
of the Air Force
CRS
publishing.af.mil/
production/1/af_sg/
publication/
dodi6000.13_dafi41-
110/dodi6000.13_
dafi41-110.pdf
Education Loan
See below
At least one year of
10 U.S.C. §16301
In general, the
See below
See below
Repayment Program:
service in the
greater of 15% of
Selected Reserve in
the outstanding loan
CRS-6

Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
Members of the
certain officer
or $500 per year,
Selected Reserve
programs or enlisted
plus accrued
military specialties.
interest. Maximum
Specific
aggregate benefits
requirements may
may vary by military
vary by military
department.
department.

DOD, Department
At least six years of
See above
$20,000
Army Reserve: $14.6
https://myarmybenefit
of the Army
service
mil ion repaid in FY2023
s.us.army.mil/Benefit-
Library/Federal-
Benefits/Col ege-
Loan-Repayment-
Program-(LRP)

DOD, Department
—
See above
—
Currently unavailable to
None
of the Navy
CRS

DOD, Department
At least six years of
See above
$20,000
Air Force Reserve: $1.1
https://www.arpc.afrc.
of the Air Force
service
mil ion repaid in FY2023
af.mil/
Services/
Education/Student-
Loan-Repayment-
Program/
Selected Reserve
See below
At least one year of
10 U.S.C. §16302
Varies by medical
See below
DOD Memorandum,
Health Professionals
service in the
specialty ($20,000-
“Health Professions
Loan Repayment
Selected Reserve
$40,000 per year
Officer Special and
Program
while being qualified
and $60,000-
Incentive Pay Plan,”
(or enrol ed in an
$250,000 in total)
September 6, 2022,
educational program
on file with CRS
leading to such
qualifications) in a
health profession
determined by the
Secretary of Defense
to be critically
needed to meet
identified wartime
CRS-7

link to page 16 link to page 16 link to page 16 link to page 16
Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
Portals/78/
AFR%2022-004%20
HP%20Loan%20
Repayment%20
Program.pdf
Indian Health
Department of
At least two years of 25 U.S.C. §1616a
Up to $50,000 for
$80.6 mil ione
https://www.ihs.gov/
Service (IHS) Loan
Health and Human
service as a health
two-year term, plus
appropriated in FY2023
loanrepayment/
Repayment Program
Services (HHS), IHS
provider at an IHS
an additional 24% of
or at a tribally
the repayment
operated facility
amount provided for
funded by the IHS
federal income taxes
John R. Justice (JRJ)
Department of
At least three years
34 U.S.C. §10671
$10,000 per year;
$5 mil ion appropriated in
https://bja.ojp.gov/
Loan Repayment for
Justice (DOJ),
of service as ful -
$60,000 total
FY2023
program/john-r-
Prosecutors and
Bureau of Justice
time prosecutor,
justice/overview
Public Defenders
Assistance (BJA)f
public defender, or
Program
federal defender
Veterans Affairs
Department of
At least two years of 38 U.S.C. §§7681-
$40,000 per year;
$160 mil ion appropriated
https://vacareers.va.go
Education Debt
Veterans Affairs
service as a VHA
7683
$200,000 total over
in FY2023
v/
Reduction Program
(VA), Veterans
health professional
a five-year period
wp-content/
Health
who provides direct
uploads/sites/5/
Administration
patient care or
EDRP.pdf
(VHA)
services incident to
direct patient care,
in difficult-to-fil
health professionsg
Program for the
VA, VHA
At least two years of 38 U.S.C. §7681,
Up to $30,000 per
Currently unavailable to
None
Repayment of
service as a VHA
note
year
CRS
Educational
health professional
LoansError! R
who serves as a
eference source
qualified psychiatrist
not found.
Veterans Affairs
VA, VHA
At least two years of 38 U.S.C. §§7691 et
Up to $40,000 per
$2.6 mil ion appropriated
https://va-ams-
Specialty Education
service as a VHA
seq.
year; $160,000 total
in FY2022i
info.intelliworxit.com/
health professional
selrp/about-selrp/
CRS-9

link to page 16 link to page 17 link to page 17
Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
Debt Reduction
employed in difficult-
#:~:text=The%20
Program
to-fil medical
Specialty%20
specialties
Education%20Loan
%20Repayment, U.S.
%20Department%20
of%20Veterans%20
Affairs%20(
Centers for Disease
HHS, CDC &
At least three years
42 U.S.C. §247b-7
$50,000 per year
Currently unavailable to
none
Control
ATSDR
of service as a CDC
CRS
(CDC)/Agency for
or ATSDR employee
Toxic Substances
in hard-to-fil
and Disease Registry
positionsj
(ATSDR) Loan
Repayment Program
National Health
HHS, Health
Health provider at a
42 U.S.C. §§ 254d-
For ful -time service,
$260 mil ion repaid in
https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/
Service Corps Loan
Resources &
health facility located 254f, 254l-1, 254m,
$50,000 per two-
FY2023k
loan-repayment/nhsc-
Repayment Program
Services
in a health
254n, and 254o
year term; Substance
loan-repayment-
Administration
professional
Use Disorder (SUD)
program
(HRSA)
shortage area that
providers may
provides care
receive up to
regardless of
$75,000 for three-
patient’s ability to
year service term,
pay
and SUD providers
in rural areas may
receive up to
$100,000 for three-
year service term
National Health
HHS, HRSA
During last year of
42 U.S.C. §§254d-
Up to $120,000
$20 mil ion repaid in
https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/
Service Corps
medical, nursing or
254f, 254l-1, 254m,
FY2023k
loan-repayment/nhsc-
Students to Service
dental school,
254n, and 254o
students-to-service-
Loan Repayment
individual must
loan-repayment-
Program
commit to three
program
years of ful -time
clinical practice in a
health professional
CRS-10

link to page 17 link to page 17 link to page 17
Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
shortage area
(HPSA)l
National Health
HHS, HRSA
Health provider in a
42 U.S.C. §254q-1
$25,000 annually for
$100 mil ion in current
https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/
Service Corps State
HPSA
ful -time providers
project period (2022-
loan-repayment/state-
Loan Repayment
2025)k
loan-repayment-
Program
program
National Institutes of HHS, NIH
At least two years of 42 U.S.C. §288–1
Up to $50,000
$4.6 mil ion repaid in
https://www.lrp.nih.go
Health (NIH)
service as an NIH
annually plus an
FY2022
v/
Intramural Loan
employee who
additional 39% of the
Repayment Program
conducts research in
repayment amount
specified fields
provided for federal
income taxes
National Institute of
HHS, NIH
At least two years of 42 U.S.C §288-2
Up to $50,000
$85.4 mil ion repaid in
https://www.lrp.nih.go
Health Extramural
service as a health

annually plus an
FY2022
v/
Loan Repayment
professional who
additional 39% of the
Program
conducts research in
repayment amount
specified fields and
provided for federal
who is employed by
income taxes
a domestic,
nonprofit entity
Loan Repayments
HHS, HRSA
At least two years of 42 U.S.C. §293b
Up to $40,000 plus
$2.3 mil ion appropriated
https://bhw.hrsa.gov/
for Health
service as a health
additional funds for
in FY2023
funding/apply-loan-
Professional School
professional faculty
tax liability
repayment/faculty-lrp
Faculty
memberm
General, Pediatric,
HHS, HRSA
At least one year of
42 U.S.C. §293k-2
Awards made by a
Currently unavailable to
https://www.hrsa.gov/
and Public Health
service and a
dental or dental
CRS
grants/find-funding/
Dentistry Faculty
maximum of five
hygiene school
HRSA-23-091
Loan Repayment
years as a dental
must be in
school faculty
increments of up to
member
30% of the dental
faculty member’s
initial loan balance
CRS-11

link to page 17 link to page 17
Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
Pediatric
HHS, HRSA
Three years of
42 U.S.C. §295f
Up to $100,000
$10 mil ion appropriated
https://bhw.hrsa.gov/
Subspecialty Loan
service in a HPSA as
in FY2023
sites/default/files/
Repayment Program
a pediatric
bureau-health-
subspeciality health
workforce/funding/
provider or as a
pediatric-specialty-
pediatric
lrp-application-
subspecialist fellow
guidance.pdf
in training
Substance Use
HHS, HRSA
Six years of service
42 U.S.C. §§295h
Up to $250,000
$40 mil ion appropriated
https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/
Disorder Treatment
as a SUD provider in
in FY2023
loan-repayment/nhsc-
and Recovery Loan
a mental health
sud-workforce-loan-
Repayment Program
HPSA
repayment-program
Nursing Education
HHS, HRSA
At least two years of 42 U.S.C. §§297n
Up to 85% of total
$92.6 mil ion appropriated https://bhw.hrsa.gov/
Loan Repayment
service as a nurse at
and 297n-1
nursing educational
in FY2023n
sites/default/files/
Program (Nurse
a critical shortage
loan balance for
bureau-health-
Corps)
facility
individuals with a
workforce/funding/
three-year service
nursecorps-lrp-
commitment and
guidance.pdf
60% for individuals
with a two-year
service commitment
Nursing Faculty
HHS, HRSA
Service as a nurse
42 U.S.C. §§297n-1
Specified percentage
$28.5 mil ion appropriated https://www.hrsa.gov/
Loan Repayment
faculty member
of loan balance
in FY2023
grants/find-funding/
Program
forgiven for each
HRSA-23-006
year of service; up to
85% of loan balance
forgiven for four
years of service
National and
Corporation for
Completion of
42 U.S.C. §12604
Maximum amount of
$230 mil ion appropriated
https://americorps.go
Community Service
National and
service in
the Pell Grant for
in FY2023o
v/
Grant Program,
Community Service,
AmeriCorps State
the year the
members-
Educational Award
the National Service
and National,
recipient’s position
volunteers/segal-
(Segal Award)
Trust
AmeriCorps
was approved (e.g.,
americorps-
National Civilian
education-award
CRS-12

Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
Community Corps,
$7,395 for positions
or AmeriCorps
approved in FY2024)
VISTA
Temporary
ED
10 years of ful -time
P.L. 115-141; P.L.
Remaining loan
$10.3 mil ion forgiven in
https://studentaid.gov/
Expanded Public
employment in
115-245; P.L. 116-
balance after 10
FY2022
manage-loans/
Service Loan
public service jobs
94; P.L. 116-260;
years of qualifying
forgiveness-
Forgiveness
P.L. 117-103
payments
cancellation/public-
service/temporary-
expanded-public-
service-loan-
forgiveness
Source: CRS analysis of relevant statutes, regulations, and program materials.
a. Award year 2017-2018 ran from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.
b. Figure includes $13,387,606,000 in loans forgiven between October 2021 and October 2022 under ED’s Limited PSLF Waiver. In October 2021, ED announced the
waiver, which was a series of limited-time waivers of numerous PSLF program rules available to borrowers through October 31, 2022, and implemented in response
to the COVID-19 pandemic. The waivers were intended to enable borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would not otherwise qualify for
PSLF.
c. The Government Employee Loan Repayment Program is operated by individual agencies with differing service requirements and maximum awards. OPM publishes a
report (most recently covering CY2020) that provides a general overview of participating agencies and amounts repaid for a given calendar year.
d. Eligible borrowers must be commissioned officers on or before December 31, 2023.
e. Includes amounts appropriated for the Indian Health Service Scholarship Program.
f.
Program is administered as a partnership between BJA and state governors. Funds are awarded to states to operate loan repayment programs.
g. The STRONG Veterans Act of 2022 (Division V of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328)) requires that beginning in FY2022, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs provide at least 200 program awards for the purposes of recruiting “mental health professionals to the Department of Veterans Affairs in disciplines
that include psychiatry, psychology, advanced practice nursing (with a focus on mental health or substance abuse disorder), and social work.
h. The Program for the Repayment of Educational Loans was established as a pilot program, and its authorization expired in FY2019. However, there are currently two
program awardees who applied prior to the expiration of the program’s authorization and who are currently completing their service obligations. They wil continue
to receive program benefits for the remainder of their service obligation.
i.
The Specialty Education Debt Reduction Program was first implemented in April 2021. The VA anticipates an increase in participation and costs as the program
matures. For FY2024, the VA requested an appropriation of $12 mil ion for the program.
j.
Recipients must also have educational loans that are more than 20% of their annual federal salary and must be accepted into one of the five CDC fellowship
programs: the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Laboratory Leadership Service, Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship, Public Health Informatics Fellowship, and the Future
Leaders in Infections and Global Health Threats Fellowship.
CRS-13

k. These repayment benefits were made using funds appropriated from the American Rescue Plan (P.L. 117-2). For more information, see CRS Report R46834,
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2): Public Health, Medical Supply Chain, Health Services, and Related Provisions.
l.
For more information on health professional shortage areas, see CRS Infographic IG10015, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
m. Qualifying borrowers must also be from an economically or environmentally disadvantaged background.
n. Includes amounts appropriated for the Nurse Corp Scholarship program and the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment program.
o. Segal Education award funds may be used for student loan repayment or for qualified higher educational expenses at the discretion of the recipient. CNCS is
authorized to transfer additional amounts from AmeriCorps State and National Grants programs funds to support activities of national service participants, including
education awards. Additionally, FEMA makes a contribution to support FEMA Corps (a component of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps)
participants’ education awards.
CRS-14

link to page 21 link to page 21 link to page 21
Table 2. Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Repayment Programs That Were Previously Active,
Never Active, or for Which Program Information Is Unavailable
Maximum
Most Recent
Administering
Statutory
Amount Repaid or
Funding or
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Service Requirement
Citation
Forgiven
Amount Awarded
Information
Previously Activea
Capitol Police
Capitol Police
Capitol Police employee
2 U.S.C. §1926
Up to $80,000 in
$637,000 repaid in
None
Student Loan
total
FY2010
Repayment
Education Loan
See below
At least three years
10 U.S.C. §16303
$20,000 per three
See below
None
Repayment Program:
serving (or able to serve)
years
Chaplains Serving in
as a chaplain in the
the Selected Reserve
Selected Reserve

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable
None
of the Army
to CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable
None
of the Navy
to CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Air National Guard:
None
of the Air Force
$30,000 repaid in
FY2017b
Civil Legal Assistance
ED
At least three years of
20 U.S.C. §1078-
$6,000 per year;
$5 mil ion
None
Attorney Student
service as a ful -time legal
12
$40,000 in total
appropriated in
Loan Repayment
assistance attorney
FY2010
Program
Federal Food, Drug,
HHS, Food and Drug
At least three years of
21 U.S.C. §395
$20,000 per year
$2.2 mil ion repaid in
None
and Cosmetic Act
Administration (FDA) service as a qualified
FY2013
Loan Repayment
health professional
Program
conducting research
while employed with the
FDAc
CRS-15

link to page 21 link to page 21 link to page 21 link to page 21
Maximum
Most Recent
Administering
Statutory
Amount Repaid or
Funding or
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Service Requirement
Citation
Forgiven
Amount Awarded
Information
Never Active Programsd
Loan Forgiveness for
ED
At least one year of ful -
20 U.S.C. §1078-
$2,000 per year;
n/a
None
Service in Areas of
time employment in a
11
$10,000 in total
National Neede
statutorily specified area
of national needf
Indian Health Service: HHS, IHS
Employment as an IHE
25 U.S.C. §1621h
Undetermined
n/a
None
Mental Health
employee who provides
Prevention and
mental health services
Treatment Loan
Repayment Program
Loan Repayment
VA, VHA
VHA employee from a
38 U.S.C. §7681,
Up to $35,000 per
n/a
none
Program for Clinical
disadvantaged
note
year
Researchers from
background who
Disadvantaged
conducts clinical research
Backgrounds
Nursing Workforce
HHS, HRSA
At least one year of
42 U.S.C.
Specified percentage
n/a
None
Development
service as a ful -time
§297b(b)(3)
of loan balance
Student Loans: Loan
nurse in a public or
forgiven for each
Cancellation
nonprofit agency,
year of service; up to
institution, or
85% of loan balance
organization
forgiven for five years
of service
Eligible Individual
HHS, HRSA
At least four years of
42 U.S.C. §297o
$20,000 per year;
n/a
None
Student Loan
service (during a six-year
$80,000 in total
Repayment
period) as ful -time
nursing faculty
Program Information Unavailableg
Armed Forces
See below
At least 15 months of
10 U.S.C. §510
Up to $18,000
See below
None
National Call to
active duty service (plus
Service Payment of
additional active duty or
Student Loans
reserve service) for
members of the Armed
CRS-16

Maximum
Most Recent
Administering
Statutory
Amount Repaid or
Funding or
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Service Requirement
Citation
Forgiven
Amount Awarded
Information
Forces who enlist and
serve in a designated
military occupational
specialty

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable
None
of the Army
to CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable
None
of the Navy
to CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable
None
of the Air Force
to CRS
Armed Forces
See below
Member of the Armed
10 U.S.C. §2174
Interest and special
See below
None
Student Loan Interest
Forces who is on active
allowances that
Payment Program:
duty in their first term of
accrue on qualifying
Members on Active
service.
federal student loans
Duty
for up to 36
consecutive months

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable
None
of the Army
to CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable
None
of the Navy
to CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Currently unavailable
None
of the Air Force
to CRS
Coast Guard
Department of
At least one year as an
14 U.S.C. §2772
The greater of 33⅓%
Currently unavailable
None
Education Loan
Homeland Security
enlisted member of the
of the borrower’s
to CRS
Repayment Program
Coast Guard on active
outstanding loan or
duty in specified
$1,500 per year
occupations.
National Indian
Department of the
Indians or Alaska Natives
25 U.S.C. §3114
$5,000 per year
Currently unavailable
None
Forest Resources
Interior (DOI),
who serve at least one
to CRS
Management
Bureau of Indian
year as professional
Postgraduation
Affairs (BIA)
foresters or forester
Recruitment
technicians for the BIA
CRS-17

Maximum
Most Recent
Administering
Statutory
Amount Repaid or
Funding or
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Service Requirement
Citation
Forgiven
Amount Awarded
Information
Assumption of
or a tribal forestry
Student Loans
program.
American Indian
DOI, BIA
Indians or Alaska Natives
25 U.S.C. §3732
$5,000 per year
Currently unavailable
None
Agricultural Resource
who serve at least one
to CRS
Management
year as professional
Postgraduation
natural resources and
Recruitment
agriculture technicians
Assumption of
for the BIA or tribal
Student Loans
agricultural program
Public Health
HHS, HRSA
At three years of
42 U.S.C. §295f-1
$35,000 per year
Currently unavailable
None
Workforce Loan
employment as a ful -time
to CRS
Repayment Program
public health professional
Source: CRS analysis of relevant statutes, regulations, and program materials.
a. Previously active programs are those that CRS can confirm operated at some point in time prior to October 1, 2020, and for which CRS can either verify that they
are no longer operational or for which CRS cannot verify that they are currently operational.
b. Amount repaid to individuals serving in the Air National Guard. As of FY2020, the benefit is no longer being offered.
c. Recipients must also have educational loans that are more than 20% of their annual federal salary.
d. A program is considered never to have been active if it has been authorized but has not yet received appropriations.
e. Despite the program’s name (Loan Forgiveness in Service in Areas of National Need), this is classified as a loan repayment program (and not a loan forgiveness
program) because its benefits are contingent on discretionary appropriations.
f.
Specified areas of national need include early childhood educator; nurse; foreign language specialist; librarian; highly qualified teacher; child welfare worker; speech-
language pathologist or audiologist; school counselor; public sector employee in public safety, emergency management, public health, or public interest legal services;
nutrition professional; medical specialist; mental health professional; dentist; employee in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields;
physical therapist; superintendent, principal, or other (school) administrator; occupational therapist; and allied health professional.
g. Programs for which information is unavailable are those that CRS cannot confirm their operational status because there is no available information on which to
make such a determination.
CRS-18

Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs

Author Information

Alexandra Hegji
Sylvia L. Bryan
Analyst in Social Policy
Research Assistant

Elayne J. Heisler

Specialist in Health Services

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to
copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

Congressional Research Service
R47837 · VERSION 1 · NEW
19