Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs

Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs

Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan
January 29, 2024
Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs
Alexandra Hegji
Student loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs enable borrowers to have all or part of
Analyst in Social Policy
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 complete work or service in
Elayne J. Heisler
specific fields or professions. These service-contingent student loan forgiveness and loan
Specialist in Health
repayment programs are typically intended to provide a financial incentive to encourage
Services
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).
Sylvia L. Bryan
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 47 such programs, approximately 30 of which were operational on or after 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

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Contents
Tables
Table 1. Operational Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Loan
Repayment Programs ................................................................................................................... 3
Table 2. Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Repayment Programs That Were
Previously Active, Never Active, or for Which Program Information Is Unavailable .............. 15

Contacts
Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 19

Congressional Research Service

Service-Contingent Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs

urrently, federal law authorizes at least 47 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 expanded considerably since the establishment of the first major federal loan forgiveness
program under the National Defense Education Act of 1958. As noted above, currently, 47 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 of and funding for these various programs.
For more detailed information on each of these programs, along with a discussion of overarching
program design features and associated policy issues, 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 through repayment under 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,

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

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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.
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.
A relevant feature of these programs not depicted in the tables is the type(s) of loans that are
eligible for benefits under each program. In general, there are three broad categories of loans that
may be eligible benefits under these programs. They are (1) student loans made under Title IV of
the Higher Education Act (HEA), which include the primary federal student loan program—the
Direct Loan program3—and two other programs under which no new loans are being made but
for which borrowers remain responsible for repaying outstanding loan amounts—the Federal
Family Education Loan (FFEL) program and the Federal Perkins Loan program; (2) student loans
made under one of the various loan programs authorized by Title VII and Title VIII of the Public
Health Service Act and that are generally available to individuals pursuing health education
programs;4 and (3) private (nonfederal) education loans. The three existing federal student loan
forgiveness programs are available only to specific types of HEA Title IV program loans, while
many of the federal student loan repayment programs are available to not only HEA Title IV
program loans but also to loans made under the PHSA and, in some circumstances, private
education loans. For information on which types of loans qualify under each of the programs, see
the statutory citations and additional resources provided in Table 1 and Table 2.
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.

3 For additional information, see CRS Report R45931, Federal Student Loans Made Through the William D. Ford
Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers.
4 For additional information, see CRS Report R46720, Student Loan Programs Authorized by the Public Health Service
Act: An Overview.
Congressional Research Service

2

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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/
Forgivenessa
Education (ED)
years of ful -time
and 1087j
$17,500 for special
FY2022
manage-loans/
employment as a
education, science
forgiveness-
teacher in public or
or mathematics
cancellation/teacher
private nonprofit
teachers
schools or education
service agencies
Direct Loan Public
ED
10 years of ful -time
20 U.S.C. §1087e(m) Remaining loan
$37.4 bil ion forgiven in
https://studentaid.gov/
Service Loan
employment in
balance after 10
FY2023b
manage-loans/
Forgiveness
public service jobs
years of qualifying
forgiveness-
payments
cancellation/
public-service
Federal Perkins Loan ED
One to five years of
20 U.S.C. §1087ee
Specified percentage
$12.7 mil ion forgiven in
https://studentaid.gov/
Cancellation
ful -time
of loan balance
award year 2020-
manage-loans/
employment in
forgiven for each
2021Error! Reference s
forgiveness-
specific public
year of service; up to ource not found.
cancellation/perkins
service professions
100% of loan balance
forgiven for five
years of service
Student Loan Repayment Programs
Congressional
CBO
Service as a CBO
2 U.S.C. §610
$6,000 per year;
$18,000 repaid in FY2023
https://www.cbo.gov/s
Budget Office
employee
$40,000 in total
ystem/files/2023-
(CBO) Student Loan
02/58881-Budget-
Repayment Program
Request.pdf
Student Loan
Secretary of the
At least one year of
2 U.S.C. §4579
$833 per month;
$9.8 mil ion appropriated
None
Repayment Program
Senate
employment in the
$80,000 in total
in FY2023
for Senate
U.S. Senate or the
Employees
Office of
Congressional
Accessibility Services
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
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
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-
Programd
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
Education 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.
CRS-4

Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
Active Duty in
specified by the
Maximum aggregate
Specified Military
Secretary of
benefits may vary by
Specialties
Defense. Specific
military department.
requirements may
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)?serv=122

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.

DOD, Department
See above
See above
$40,000 per year
Currently unavailable to
Chapter 4 of
of the Army
CRS
https://armypubs.army
CRS-5

Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
.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
Members of the
Selected Reserve in
the outstanding loan
Selected Reserve
certain officer
or $500 per year,
programs or enlisted
plus accrued
CRS-6

Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
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
Maximum
Administering
Service
Statutory
Amount Repaid
Most Recent Funding
Additional
Program Name
Agency
Requirement
Citation
or Forgiven
or Amount Awarded
Information
combat medical
skil s shortagese

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Army Reserve:
https://recruiting.army
of the Army
$19,742,000 repaid in
.mil/
FY2023
MRB_Medical

Services/
National Guard:

$18,451,000 repaid in
Department of the
FY2023 (estimated)
Army Memorandum,
“U.S. Army Reserve
(USAR) Health
Professions Special
and Incentive (HPS&I)
Pay Plan Policy for
Fiscal Year (2023),”
September 29, 2022,
on file with CRS

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
$680,000 repaid in
https://www.med.navy
of the Navy
FY2023 (estimated)
.mil/
Accessions/
Health-Professions-
Loan-Repayment-
Program

DOD, Department
See above
See above
See above
Air Force Reserve:
https://static.e-
of the Air Force
$2,460,000 repaid in
publishing.af.mil/
FY2023 (estimated)
production/1/af_sg/

publication/
dodi6000.13_dafi41-
Air National Guard:
110/
currently unavailable to
dodi6000.13_dafi41-
CRS
110.pdf

https://www.recruitin
g.af.mil/
CRS-8

link to page 16 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 ionf
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 borrower’s
operated facility
federal income tax
funded by the IHS
liability associated
with the repayment
benefit
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)g
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 professionsh
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 Loansi
health professional
who serves as a
qualified psychiatrist
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 FY2022j
info.intelliworxit.com/
CRS-9

link to page 17 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
Debt Reduction
health professional
selrp/about-selrp/
Program
employed in difficult-
#:~:text=The%20
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 and
ATSDR
of service as a CDC
CRS
Prevention
or ATSDR employee
(CDC)/Agency for
in hard-to-fil
Toxic Substances
positionsk
and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) Loan
Repayment Program
National Health
HHS, Health
Service as a health
42 U.S.C. §§ 254d-
For ful -time service,
$260 mil ion repaid in
https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/
Service Corps Loan
Resources &
provider at a health
254f, 254l-1, 254m,
$50,000 per two-
FY2023l
loan-repayment/nhsc-
Repayment Program
Services
facility located in a
254n, and 254o
year term; Substance
loan-repayment-
Administration
health 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
Three years of
42 U.S.C. §§254d-
Up to $120,000
$20 mil ion repaid in
https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/
Service Corps
service in ful -time
254f, 254l-1, 254m,
FY2023l
loan-repayment/nhsc-
Students to Service
clinical practice in a
254n, and 254o
students-to-service-
Loan Repayment
health professional
loan-repayment-
Program
shortage area
program
(HPSA),m to which
CRS-10

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
individuals must
commit during their
last year of medical,
nursing, or dental
school
National Health
HHS, HRSA
Service as a health
42 U.S.C. §254q-1
$25,000 annually for
$100 mil ion in current
https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/
Service Corps State
provider in a HPSA
ful -time providers
project period (2022-
loan-repayment/state-
Loan Repayment
2025)l
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 Institutes 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
membern
General, Pediatric,
HHS, HRSA
Between one and
42 U.S.C. §293k-2
Specified percentage
Currently unavailable to
https://www.hrsa.gov/
and Public Health
five years of service
of loan balance
CRS
grants/find-funding/
Dentistry Faculty
as a dental school
repaid for each year
HRSA-23-091
Loan Repayment
faculty member
of service; up to
100% of loan balance
repaid for five years
of service
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 FY2023o
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 up
guidance.pdf
to 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
Service completion
42 U.S.C. §12604
Maximum Pell Grant
$230 mil ion appropriated
https://americorps.go
Community Service
National and
in AmeriCorps State
amount for the year
in FY2023q
v/
Grant Program,
Community Service,
and National,
the recipient’s
members-
Educational Award
the National Service
AmeriCorps
position was
volunteers/segal-
(Segal Award)
Trust
National Civilian
approved (e.g.,
CRS-12

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
Community Corps,
$7,395 for ful -time
americorps-
or AmeriCorps
positions approved
education-award
VISTA
in FY2024)p
Temporary
ED
10 years of ful -time
P.L. 115-141; P.L.
Remaining loan
$1.6 mil ion forgiven in
https://studentaid.gov/
Expanded Public
employment in
115-245; P.L. 116-
balance after 10
award year 2022-2023r
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. Program benefits are available only for qualifying Direct Loan program and FFEL program Subsidized Loans and Unsubsidized Loans, as well as the portion of
Consolidation Loans used to repay such Subsidized Loans and Unsubsidized Loans.
b. Figure includes loan amounts forgiven 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 for which borrowers could apply 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. Award year 2020-2021 ran from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
d. 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.
e. Eligible borrowers must be commissioned officers on or before December 31, 2023.
f.
Includes amounts appropriated for the Indian Health Service Scholarship Program.
g. Program is administered as a partnership between BJA and state governors. Funds are awarded to states to operate loan repayment programs.
h. 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.
i.
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.
j.
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.
CRS-13

k. 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.
l.
These repayment benefits made in FY2023 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.
m. For more information on health professional shortage areas, see CRS Infographic IG10015, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
n. Qualifying borrowers must also be from an economically or environmentally disadvantaged background.
o. Includes amounts appropriated for the Nurse Corp Scholarship program and the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment program.
p. Individuals may earn up to the equivalent of two ful -time education awards after completing multiple terms of AmeriCorps service.
q. 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.
r. Award year 2022-2023 ran from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
CRS-14

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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
Service as a Capitol
2 U.S.C. §1926
Up to $80,000 in
$637,000 repaid in
None
Student Loan
Police employee
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
Service as a VHA
38 U.S.C. §7681,
Up to $35,000 per
n/a
none
Program for Clinical
employee from a
note
year
Researchers from
disadvantaged
Disadvantaged
background who
Backgrounds
conducts clinical research
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
Service as a member of
10 U.S.C. §2174
Interest and special
See below
None
Student Loan Interest
the Armed Forces who is
allowances that
Payment Program:
on active duty in their
accrue on qualifying
Members on Active
first term of 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
At least one year of
25 U.S.C. §3114
$5,000 per year
Currently unavailable
None
Forest Resources
Interior (DOI),
service by Indians or
to CRS
Management
Bureau of Indian
Alaska Natives as
Postgraduation
Affairs (BIA)
professional foresters or
Recruitment
forester technicians for
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
the BIA or a tribal
Student Loans
forestry program.
American Indian
DOI, BIA
At least one of service by 25 U.S.C. §3732
$5,000 per year
Currently unavailable
None
Agricultural Resource
Indians or Alaska Natives
to CRS
Management
as professional natural
Postgraduation
resources and agriculture
Recruitment
technicians for the BIA
Assumption of
or tribal agricultural
Student Loans
program
Public Health
HHS, HRSA
At least 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
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Congressional Research Service
R47837 · VERSION 4 · UPDATED
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