Most of us know that you can apply for grants and scholarships to help offset the cost of college, but can you get a grant to pay off student loans once you’ve already graduated?
In short, kind of! Whether you didn’t get enough financial aid or simply bit off more than you could chew repayment-wise, there are grants and other loan repayment assistance options that function very much like scholarships to pay off student loans. You may also be able to have your student loans forgiven through certain state or federal programs.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is Student Loan Forgiveness?
Student loan forgiveness programs pretty much do what they say on the tin: They forgive a borrower’s student loans, provided that borrower meets certain eligibility requirements, usually related to their career.
Student loan forgiveness is most often offered through state or federal governments. For example, if you have federal loans, your remaining balance may be forgiven after 20 or 25 years on certain income-driven repayment plans, depending on your payment plan and whether you meet all the requirements.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The well-known Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is offered to government employees and those who work for not-for-profit organizations who’ve made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for their qualifying employer.
Do be aware that PSLF has relatively strict requirements and if you don’t work in public service for the full 10 years, you may not see any benefits. PSLF has strict requirements for certifying employment. If you plan on pursuing PSLF, pay close attention to program requirements.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program can wipe out up to $17,500 of your Direct Loans, subsidized or unsubsidized, if you teach full-time for five consecutive years at a qualifying low-income school. Did you borrow a Perkins loan? You may be eligible for Perkins Loan Teacher Cancellation.
State Programs and Incentives
Additionally, New York offers loan forgiveness to Child Welfare Workers, and California offers loan repayment grants to Registered Nurses working in underserved areas.
Some states even offer incentive programs that aren’t tied to specific careers — and although they may not be student loan repayment grants specifically, they could still help free up some money to make ends meet and repay those debts.
For example, Maine offers loan assistance to some taxpayers living in the state through their innovative Opportunity Maine tax credit. Tulsa Remote , a program in Oklahoma, offers remote workers who move to the city a $10,000 cash grant to put toward buying a home. To see all of the state specific loan repayment programs, check out SoFi’s state by state breakdown.
Also note that many of these programs only apply to federal student loans, so if you have private student loans you may need to look for other solutions when it comes to getting help with repayment.
Can You Get a Grant to Pay off Student Loans?
Another strategy you can use when searching for grants to pay off student loans after graduation is to look for career-based grants. Grants based on your chosen specialty field can offer some serious savings on student loans.
Grants for Doctors, Nurses, and Other Healthcare Professionals
Medical professionals, listen up: you may qualify for special grants designed to ease your student loan burden, including the debt you racked up in grad school.
In the medical field, qualifying professionals can take advantage of a grant of up to $50,000 to pay off student loans if they agree to work in a high-need area through the National Health Service Corps .
If you’re a nurse, you may be eligible to pay off 85% of your student loan debt with grants available through the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program if you work at a qualifying non-profit or in a high-need area.
Getting ready to graduate from medical or dental school and worried about your loans? The Students-to-Service Loan Repayment Program offers up to $120,000 in grants to repay student loans to qualifying students who agree to work in an area experiencing a medical professional shortage.
Grants for Teachers
Certain state-sponsored programs may help teachers pay off their student loans. For example, Maryland offers certain teachers, as well as other public servants, assistance of up to $10,000 a year to repay your student loans through the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP) . It’s worth checking to see if your state has any specific student loan repayment programs for teachers.
Grants for Lawyers
There are similar programs available for lawyers who spend time working in public service. Public defenders and state prosecutors may be eligible for up to an aggregate total of $60,000 towards student loans through the John R. Justice Program .
Attorneys working for the Department of Justice may be eligible for grants to cover the costs of student loans through the Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program .
Grants for Veterinarians
Medical health professionals who work for our furred and feathered friends are important public servants, too! Through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program , veterinarians who work in certain NIFA-designated areas and situations where vets are in high demand can qualify for up to $25,000 per year in loan repayment assistance.
Grants for Researchers
Research scientists may also be eligible for up to $50,000 in loan repayment assistance through the NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) .
Corporate Loan Repayment Grants
Still looking for student loan repayment alternatives? You may be able to ask your boss!
Many companies now offer help with student loan repayment as a job perk. As more and more employees struggle with debt, employers have started to offer these benefit programs in order to attract and retain top-notch talent.
Wondering if your employer offers the same perks? Check with HR to see if you can take advantage of a company-wide loan repayment and/or grant program.
If you find a lower rate for student loan refinancing –
SoFi will match it AND give you $100.*
Student Loan Refinancing
One way to make both your public and your private loans more affordable is to consider student loan refinancing. Refinancing can potentially net you a lower interest rate which could potentially mean you spend less money in interest over the life of the loan.
Important note: Refinancing federal student loans would eliminate the loans’ eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs and payment protections.
If refinancing seems like an option, consider SoFi. The application process can be completed online, with customer support available seven days a week. When you refinance with SoFi you’ll have access to member benefits like a discount on any additional loans borrowed and exclusive community events.
In the event you lose your job through no fault of your own, you could qualify for unemployment protection which would allow you to temporarily pause your loan payments.
The Takeaway
While most people think of grants as a way to help finance your education while you are in school, there are some options to help graduates pay for their student loans. Options may include state programs or incentives, or grants based on your career choice. Borrowers with federal loans may also consider forgiveness programs like PSLF, if they meet eligibility requirements.
Another option that may help borrowers spend less in interest is student loan refinancing. Though, as mentioned, refinancing a federal student loan eliminates it from all federal borrower protections, including federal loan forgiveness programs.
Interested in learning more about student loan refinancing? Check your rate in just two minutes to see how refinancing with SoFi could help you toward student loan repayment.
*Guaranteed Rate Match Offer: Your pre-qualified rate, and the rate match program itself, are conditional upon our verification of your application information, including verification of sufficient income to support an ability to repay. Eligible documentation of a competitor’s rate offer, issued within 30 days of your SoFi pre-qualified rate, will be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion and must be for the same loan amount and term. SoFi will only match rate offers for private student loan refinance products. The match will be on the rate, exclusive of all discounts. The $100 Rate Match Bonus is not available to residents of Ohio. To receive the $100 Rate Match Bonus, you must: (1) register and/or apply for a student loan refinance (2) provide documentation of an eligible competitive rate offer; (3) call at (855) 456-SOFI (7634) or chat on SoFi.com and follow the instructions to send in your proof of lower rate; (4) have and provide a valid US bank account to receive bonus; (5) complete Form W-9; (6) and meet SoFi’s underwriting criteria and book a student loan refinance with SoFi. Once conditions are met and the loan has been disbursed, you will receive your Rate Match bonus via automated clearing house (ACH) into your checking account within 30 calendar days. Bonuses that are not redeemed within 180 calendar days of the date they were made available to the recipient may be subject to forfeit. Bonus amounts of $600 or greater in a single calendar year may be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as miscellaneous income to the recipient on Form 1099-MISC in the year received as required by applicable law. Recipient is responsible for any applicable federal, state or local taxes associated with receiving the bonus offer; consult your tax advisor to determine applicable tax consequences. Additional terms and conditions may apply. SoFi may discontinue this program at any time.
SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp. or an affiliate (dba SoFi), a lender licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law, license # 6054612; NMLS # 1121636 . For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO REFINANCE FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS PLEASE BE AWARE OF RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT HAVE SUSPENDED ALL FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS AND WAIVED INTEREST CHARGES ON FEDERALLY HELD LOANS UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY 2022 DUE TO COVID-19. PLEASE CAREFULLY CONSIDER THESE CHANGES BEFORE REFINANCING FEDERALLY HELD LOANS WITH SOFI, SINCE IN DOING SO YOU WILL NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE FEDERAL LOAN PAYMENT SUSPENSION, INTEREST WAIVER, OR ANY OTHER CURRENT OR FUTURE BENEFITS APPLICABLE TO FEDERAL LOANS. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. A hard credit pull, which may impact your credit score, is required if you apply for a SoFi product after being pre-qualified.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Third Party Brand Mentions: No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
SOSL19055
Source: sofi.com