How to Apply For Student Loan Forgiveness (2025)

• SAVE plan forgiveness is blocked due to lawsuits, and payments won’t restart until at least December 2025. If you’re near IDR forgiveness, switching to IBR may be your best move.

• PSLF is still active, but missing paperwork can cost you. If you work in government or a nonprofit, submit your PSLF form every year to keep your progress on track.

• FFEL, Perkins, and Parent PLUS loans don’t qualify for forgiveness unless you consolidate. If you have these loans and want PSLF or IDR forgiveness, you must consolidate into a Direct Loan now.

Before leaving office, the Biden administration canceled over $188 billion in student loans for about 5.3 million borrowers. But with a new administration in the White House, student loan forgiveness programs are unlikely to continue at the same pace in 2025. So, is there still a way out?

Here’s the truth: Yes, you can apply for student loan forgiveness. There are options available if you’ve been paying for decades, worked in public service, went to a predatory school like ITT Tech or DeVry, or have a disability, you still have options. But getting forgiveness might not be that easy anymore.

This guide breaks it down step by step so you know exactly who qualifies, what forms you need, and how to apply for student loan forgiveness in 2025. By the end, you’ll have a clear plan to get your loans wiped out. No wasted time, no second-guessing.

If you work for a government or non-profit organization, PSLF may be your best option. As of January 2025, this program has forgiven approximately $78.5 billion in loans for 1,069,000 public service workers.

To qualify, you need to have made 120 qualifying payments (about 10 years’ worth) while working full-time for a public service employer. If you have a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL), PLUS loans, or Perkins Loans, you may need to consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to qualify for loan cancellation for this program.

Related: Federal Employee Student Loan Forgiveness

How to Apply

• Step 1: Verify your employment and loan type. Use the PSLF Help Tool on the Federal Student Aid website to check if your employer qualifies and confirm your loans are Direct Loans. Check if your employer qualifies for PSLF here: PSLF Qualifying Employers

• Step 2: Complete and submit the PSLF form annually or when you change employers.

• Step 3: After making 120 qualifying payments, submit the PSLF application directly to the Department of Education to have your remaining balance forgiven.

Note: First, payments made under federal Direct Loans and specific repayment plans count toward this forgiveness. Second, the U.S. Department of Education now directly manages PSLF applications and loan repayment.

As of January 2025, the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) forgiveness program has relieved approximately $57.1 billion in student loans for about 1.45 million borrowers through the IDR account adjustment.

Borrowers may qualify for IDR forgiveness after 20 years (for undergraduate loans) or 25 years (for graduate loans) of qualifying payments. The one-time IDR waiver adjustment, which concluded on January 16, 2025, has helped many borrowers get closer to forgiveness by counting more past payments toward the forgiveness threshold.

Available IDR Plans

1. Income-Based Repayment (IBR): Offers forgiveness after 20 or 25 years, depending on when you first borrowed.

2. Pay As You Earn (PAYE): Limits payments to 10% of discretionary income, with forgiveness after 20 years.

3. Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR): Offers forgiveness after 25 years.

4. Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan: Currently under legal challenge. Borrowers enrolled in SAVE are in forbearance until at least September 2025, with payments potentially resuming in December 2025. Check out our article on the SAVE Plan Forbearance.

Note: Forgiveness as a feature of IDR plans created by the Department of Education (including SAVE, PAYE, and ICR) is currently enjoined due to ongoing litigation. The IBR plan is still processing forgiveness, even as other IDR plans face legal challenges.

How to Apply

• Step 1: Enroll in an eligible IDR plan through StudentAid.gov by submitting an IDR Plan Request Form.

• Step 2: Recertify your income and family size annually. For most borrowers, the next recertification deadline is not until February 1, 2026, at the earliest.

• Step 3: After making the required number of qualifying payments (20 or 25 years), you may be eligible for forgiveness. If you reach this milestone while the litigation is ongoing, you will be placed in an interest-free forbearance.

If you’ve hit 20 or 25 years of payments under PAYE, SAVE, or ICR, switching to IBR may be the only way to get forgiveness right now.

If your school misled or defrauded you, you might qualify for a Borrower Defense Discharge. As of January 2025, this program has forgiven approximately $34.5 billion in loans for nearly 2 million borrowers who were unfairly burdened by student loan repayment due to misconduct by their educational institution. Only federal loans are eligible for this discharge.

The Borrower Defense to Repayment rule is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court agreed to examine a block on the Biden administration’s 2022 rule that aimed to streamline the process for defrauded borrowers to seek debt relief. The outcome of this review could impact the application process and eligibility criteria.

Related: Borrower Defense Discharge

How to Apply

• Step 1: Collect documentation that shows how your school misled or defrauded you (e.g., misleading job placement rates, false accreditation claims, or deceptive financial aid practices).

• Step 2: File a Borrower Defense to Repayment Application through the Federal Student Aid website.

• Step 3: Provide detailed information and evidence in the application, explaining how the school’s actions directly affected your decision to take out loans.

• Step 4: Wait for a decision from the U.S. Department of Education. Due to the ongoing legal review, processing times may be longer than usual. If approved, your remaining loan balance will be discharged.

The application process may be subject to change pending the Supreme Court’s decision. But you should still apply to get in line while you can.

If you’re unable to work due to a long-term disability, this program may completely eliminate your federal student loan debt. Only federal loans qualify for this discharge, including Direct Loans, FFEL Loans, and Perkins Loans.

Related: How to Qualify for Total and Permanent Disability Discharge

The Department of Education has paused the processing of TPD discharge applications from December 20, 2024, to early March 2025, as they transition the management of the program to StudentAid.gov. During this transition period, borrowers who submit a TPD application will be placed in forbearance until the processing pause ends in early March 2025.

How to Apply

You can still apply for TPD Discharge while it’s on pause but expect delays until the transition is complete. Once the transition is complete, applications can only be sent to StudentAid.gov.

• Step 1: Provide proof of your disability through documentation from the Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, or a physician.

• Step 2: Submit the TPD Discharge Application to your student loan servicer along with the required documentation.

• Step 3: Your loan servicer will review your application and may discharge your loans if you meet the criteria.

TPD discharges received from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2025, are excluded from taxable income.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness

Teachers working full-time for five consecutive years in low-income schools or educational service agencies may qualify for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness. Federal Direct Loans and Stafford Loans are eligible for this program, but specific teaching requirements must be met.

Related: Student Loan Forgiveness For Professors

Military Programs

In addition to PSLF and disability discharge programs, military members can access several debt reliefs, such as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which helps by capping interest rates on federal and private student loans at 6% while you’re on active duty, making sure interest doesn’t add up too fast.

The Military College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP) can also help by paying back part of your federal student loans if you serve in certain branches or jobs. Both programs make it easier for military members to manage their student loans.

Related:

• Student Loan Forgiveness for Veterans

• Military Student Loan Forgiveness & Repayment Programs

• Student Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses

State-Specific Programs

Many states offer loan forgiveness programs for specific professions, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors. For example:

• California offers up to $15,000 in loan support for licensed mental health professionals employed at designated facilities for a specific duration.

• The Maine Dental Education Loan Repayment Program provides up to $100,000 in loan repayment assistance to dentists practicing in underserved regions of the state.

Requirements and benefits vary by state. Check your state’s higher education department or local government website for programs specific to your profession and location.

Related:

• Massachusetts Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

• Student Loan Forgiveness in Wisconsin

• Tennessee Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

• Maine Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

• Minnesota Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

Choosing the right student loan forgiveness plan depends on your situation. Here’s a clear breakdown to help you decide:

• Your Career Path: If you work in public service (like government or non-profits), the PSLF program could be your best choice. If you’re a teacher, military service member, or have a disability, one of the specialized programs might be more beneficial.

• Loan Type and Balance: Programs like IDR, under the new SAVE Plan, are designed for borrowers with higher balances or those who need lower monthly payments. If your balance has grown because of interest, the SAVE Plan can help reduce your payments while working toward forgiveness over time.

• Time to Forgiveness: If you’re looking for quicker relief, PSLF may forgive your loans after 10 years, while the SAVE Plan or other IDR options typically require 20 to 25 years. Teacher Loan Forgiveness offers relief after five years, and Borrower Defense can cancel your loans if you’ve been defrauded.

Yes, you can still apply for student loan forgiveness in 2025. Most programs are open, but some face legal challenges and processing delays. If you qualify, submitting your application now is the best way to secure your spot before policies change.

All the forgiveness options covered in this guide (i.e., PSLF, IDR forgiveness, Borrower Defense, and TPD Discharge) are still available. But some are facing delays, legal battles, or shifting rules, which means urgency is key.

The sooner you apply, the better your chances of getting approved before policies change again.

Related: Is It Too Late to Apply for Student Loan Forgiveness?

New year, new administration—same goal: getting your loans wiped out. Here’s what you need to do right now to stay on track.

• Stay on top of your payments. The on-ramp period is long gone, so missed payments now hit your credit. If you’re waiting on forgiveness, your loans are still active. Set up autopay to avoid issues, and if money’s tight, switch to the lowest-payment IDR plan to stay in good standing.

• Check if you need to consolidate. If you have FFEL, Perkins, or Parent PLUS loans, you must consolidate into a Direct Loan to qualify for PSLF or IDR forgiveness. Don’t know how to do it? Read this now: How to Consolidate Student Loans for PSLF.

• Check if your employer qualifies for the PSLF program. Use the PSLF Help Tool to confirm your job qualifies and update your PSLF form. If you’ve changed jobs, submit a new employment certification ASAP.

• Check your IDR payment count. The one-time IDR adjustment gave millions of borrowers extra credit toward forgiveness. Log into StudentAid.gov to see where you stand. If you’ve hit 20 or 25 years, apply now. If you’re close, keep making payments to lock in your progress. With SAVE, PAYE, and ICR forgiveness blocked by lawsuits, switching to IBR may be the fastest path to forgiveness.

• Borrower Defense or Disability Discharge? Apply now. Lawsuits and processing delays don’t mean you should wait—get in line. If you apply for TPD while it’s paused, your loans will go into forbearance until processing resumes.

Student loan rules are changing fast. Check your account regularly, track your progress, and make sure you’re following the right steps. The faster you act, the sooner you’ll be free of this debt.

Getting student loan forgiveness in 2025 is possible, but it might be harder. The system is messy, but you don’t have to be stuck in it longer than necessary. The faster you act, the sooner you’ll be free.

Check your loan type, verify your employment, submit the right forms, and keep making payments until you get official confirmation. If lawsuits or delays are slowing things down, don’t wait—consolidate, switch plans, or adjust your strategy to stay on track. All of these feel overwhelming, but we’re here to help.

Schedule a 1-on-1 consultation with our student loan lawyers for expert guidance. We’ll make sure your application is complete and accurate. Book your call today and take control of your student loan debt!

Related reading:

• Student Loan Forgiveness Lawsuit Updates

• When Is Forbearance Over?

• How to Use the IDR Tracker to Track Loan Forgiveness Progress

• Who Can I Talk to About Student Loan Forgiveness?