If you teach in a high-need school and carry federal student loans, the Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) program can cancel a chunk of what you owe — and it does not cost a penny to apply. This page explains who qualifies, exactly how much TLF forgives, how to apply for free through the government, and the one decision that trips up most teachers: whether to pursue TLF or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) instead, because the same years of teaching generally cannot count toward both. This is general information, not legal or financial advice; for guidance on your specific loans, talk to your loan servicer or a qualified professional, and confirm current rules at studentaid.gov.
What the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program is
TLF is a federal program that forgives part of your federal student loan balance as a reward for teaching in schools that serve low-income families. The amount depends on what and where you teach:
- Up to $17,500 if you are a highly qualified full-time mathematics or science teacher at the secondary level, or a highly qualified special-education teacher at the elementary or secondary level.
- Up to $5,000 if you are another highly qualified full-time elementary or secondary teacher who does not meet the math, science, or special-education criteria above.
The forgiveness is applied to your loan balance after you complete the service requirement — it is not a monthly subsidy. Unlike forgiveness that arrives after decades of payments, TLF is built around a defined five-year teaching commitment.
Who qualifies
To be eligible for TLF, you must meet all of the core requirements:
- Teach full time for five complete and consecutive academic years.
- Teach at an elementary or secondary school or educational service agency that serves low-income families — the school must be listed in the federal Teacher Cancellation Low Income (TCLI) Directory. You can search it at studentaid.gov/tcli.
- At least one of those five years must have occurred after the 1997–98 academic year.
- Be considered a "highly qualified" teacher, as defined by federal rules (generally full state certification and no waived or emergency license, plus subject-matter competence).
- Not be in default on the loans you want forgiven, unless you have made satisfactory repayment arrangements.
If your school appears on the TCLI Directory in the year you teach there, it generally counts. If your loan is currently in default, resolve that first — see how to get out of default on student loans, which walks through the free government paths back into good standing.
Which loans are eligible
TLF only forgives Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans (from the older FFEL program). Several loan types are not eligible for TLF:
- PLUS loans (Direct PLUS and FFEL PLUS) cannot be forgiven through TLF.
- Federal Perkins Loans are not eligible for TLF — though Perkins has its own separate teacher-cancellation benefit, so check that program directly rather than consolidating Perkins away.
If you are unsure which loan types you hold, your account at studentaid.gov lists every federal loan and its program.
How to apply — and why it's free
You apply after you have completed your five complete and consecutive years of qualifying teaching. The steps are straightforward and cost nothing:
- Download the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application from studentaid.gov.
- Have the chief administrative officer of each qualifying school certify your service on the form.
- Submit the completed application to your loan servicer.
Applying is 100% free. You never need to pay a company to file it for you. Be deeply skeptical of any business that charges an upfront fee for "teacher loan forgiveness," promises to "qualify" you for forgiveness, or pitches a special "Biden forgiveness" enrollment — the FTC has flagged exactly these outfits as scams (its enforcement sweep was named "Operation Game of Loans"). A company cannot get you a better outcome than the free federal process; it just adds a cost. Everything a paid "relief" service would do, you can do yourself for nothing through studentaid.gov and your servicer.
TLF vs. PSLF: the choice most teachers face
Here is the trade-off that matters most. The same period of teaching service generally cannot count toward both TLF and PSLF. If you make payments during your five years of TLF-qualifying service and then receive TLF, those same payments will not count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. You have to choose how that window of service is used.
That choice often favors PSLF, because the two programs forgive very different amounts:
- TLF forgives a fixed maximum — $17,500 or $5,000 — and you can claim it after just five years.
- PSLF forgives your entire remaining balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments (about 10 years) of full-time work for a qualifying public-service employer — and most public schools qualify.
For a teacher with a large balance, PSLF's full discharge can be worth far more than TLF's capped amount, which is why many teachers route their service toward PSLF and pair it with an income-driven repayment plan to keep payments low. But TLF still wins for some people: if your balance is small, if you do not plan to stay in qualifying employment a full ten years, or if you want relief sooner, the faster five-year TLF benefit may suit you better. There are also strategies — such as taking TLF first and pursuing PSLF for a later, separate stretch of service — but they are technical, so model the numbers with your servicer before committing. The student loan repayment estimator can help you sketch the payment side of either path.
Do not refinance the loans you want forgiven
If you are pursuing TLF or PSLF, do not refinance your federal loans into a private loan. Refinancing replaces your federal loans with a private loan and permanently forfeits eligibility for TLF, PSLF, income-driven forgiveness, and every other federal benefit — and there is no way to undo it. A lower private interest rate is never worth giving up forgiveness you are actively working toward. For the full breakdown of what you would lose, see can you refinance federal student loans?
Confirm current status before you rely on this
Federal student loan policy has shifted repeatedly in 2025 and 2026, and the details of repayment plans and forgiveness programs can change. The durable mechanics of TLF — five complete and consecutive years, the TCLI low-income school requirement, the $17,500 / $5,000 caps, eligible loan types, and the no-double-counting rule with PSLF — are set in statute, but it is always worth verifying the current rules and your own eligibility at studentaid.gov or with your loan servicer before you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Teacher Loan Forgiveness forgive?
Up to $17,500 for highly qualified full-time secondary math or science teachers and special-education teachers, or up to $5,000 for other highly qualified teachers, on eligible Direct and FFEL Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans.
Does the same teaching count for both TLF and PSLF?
Generally no. You cannot receive a benefit under both programs for the same period of service. Because PSLF can forgive your full balance, many teachers choose it over TLF — but the right answer depends on your balance and how long you plan to teach.
Do I have to pay a company to get teacher loan forgiveness?
No. Applying is free through your loan servicer using the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application from studentaid.gov. Any company charging upfront fees to "get you forgiveness" is a red flag the FTC has warned about; you can do everything yourself at no cost.
Are Parent PLUS or Perkins loans eligible for TLF?
No. PLUS loans and Perkins loans are not eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Only Direct and FFEL Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans qualify. Perkins loans have their own separate teacher-cancellation benefit to look into.