Teacher Loan Forgiveness

Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) is a federal program that forgives up to $17,500 of your Direct or Stafford loans after five consecutive academic years teaching full-time at a qualifying low-income school. It's separate from — and can sometimes be combined with — PSLF.

How much is forgiven

The forgiveness amount depends on your subject and certification:

• Up to $17,500 for highly-qualified secondary math, secondary science, or special-education teachers (any grade level).
• Up to $5,000 for other highly-qualified full-time teachers at qualifying schools.

Qualifying schools

The school must be listed in the federal "Teacher Cancellation Low Income (TCLI) Directory" for at least one of your five qualifying years. Most Title I schools qualify. The list is updated annually — confirm your school appears for each year you taught there.

Eligibility checklist

1. You taught full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years
2. At least one of those years was after the 1997-98 school year
3. You weren't in default on the loans being forgiven (or you've made satisfactory repayment arrangements)
4. You were a "highly qualified" teacher under federal definitions
5. You hold a bachelor's degree (or higher)

TLF vs. PSLF

TLF and PSLF are different programs with different rules. TLF gives you a capped amount ($5K or $17.5K) after 5 years; PSLF forgives your entire remaining balance after 10 years. The years used to qualify for TLF generally do not count toward PSLF if you claim TLF — though recent rule changes have softened this in some cases. Most teachers with significant balances are better off going straight for PSLF.

How to apply

Submit the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application after you've completed your five qualifying years. Your school's chief administrative officer signs the form to certify your employment. Send it to your loan servicer.