Medical Student Loan Forgiveness Options For Doctors In All Specialties

• Doctors in various specialties, including family medicine, dentistry, radiology, and more, can benefit from repayment and loan forgiveness programs.

• For healthcare workers in non-profit or government hospitals, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is often the best option. It provides a quick way to become debt-free.

• Programs like the NHSC offer up to $120,000 in repayment assistance for medical professionals working in high-need areas.

If you’re a medical worker, you’re probably dealing with the reality of medical school debt, which averages $206,924 to $234,597 in the U.S. That’s a big number, but the good news is, there are loan forgiveness programs that can help you wipe out that debt.

Here are your options:

1. Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Medical workers who work full-time for a qualifying employer, such as a nonprofit hospital, government agency, or public health organization, can have their remaining loan balance forgiven after making 120 qualifying payments.

2. Income-Driven Repayment Forgiveness: With an IDR plan, your monthly payments are based on your income and family size. After 20–25 years of payments, any remaining loan balance is forgiven.

3. Other Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs: Medical professionals may also qualify for state or federal repayment programs that reward service in high-need areas or specific roles.

But wait, there’s more—if you have private student loans, you also have options to manage or reduce your medical education debt. Keep reading to explore all the programs and resources available to help ease your financial burden.

Related: Student Loan Forgiveness for Healthcare Workers

Yes, medical professionals and those in a residency program can take advantage of loan forgiveness programs to ease the burden of medical school costs.

For example, family doctors often rely on programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (the fastest way to get debt-free) or Income-driven repayment forgiveness (that depends on your family size and income) to achieve forgiveness after years of qualifying payments.

Doctors such as orthodontists, dentists, oral surgeons, osteopaths, radiologists and other specialties can also benefit from similar options.

If you find it unsuitable, you can also apply for other forgiveness that depends on your situation, such as the Borrowers Defense if your school misled you or a Total Permanent Disability Discharge program that can completely erase your debt as long as you obtain a 100% disability rating.

Related: How to Apply For Student Loan Forgiveness

How Do Medical School Loans Work

Medical school loans are a way for students to borrow money to pay for their education, and they come in two main types: Federal loans and Private loans.

Here’s an overview:

• Federal Student Loans: These loans are a popular choice because they have lower interest rates and fixed terms, meaning your monthly payments stay the same. Examples of these loans include Direct Unsubsidized Loans, GradPLUS Loans, and HRSA Primary Care Loans. To get a federal loan, medical students need to fill out the FAFSA, which assesses their need for financial help.

• Private Student Loans: If federal loans don’t cover all the costs, students might borrow from private lenders, like Navient or SoFi. These loans can have interest rates that go up and down or stay the same, depending on the borrower’s credit score. But, private loans usually don’t offer special programs like forgiveness or flexible payment plans that federal loans do.

Medical students often start with federal loans because they’re easier to manage and have more benefits, such as the forgiveness programs, but private loans can help if more money is needed.

Related: How Do I Know if My Student Loans are Federal?

1. Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you’re a public health worker who plans to stick with a nonprofit hospital or government health organization for a while, Public Service Loan Forgiveness might be the perfect fit for you.

After 10 years of work and qualifying payments, PSLF erases the rest of your student loan debt—and the best part? The forgiven amount is tax-free.

Here’s what you need to know to qualify:

• Employer: Your employer must be a government agency or a nonprofit, like a public hospital or health clinic.

• Loan Type: Only Direct Loans qualify for PSLF. If you have other federal loans, you can combine them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to become eligible.

• Payment Plan: You must be on an Income-Driven Repayment plan such as SAVE or PAYE.

• Commitment: Make 120 monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer. That’s about 10 years of service.

If you’re a nurse, doctor, or another healthcare worker aiming for PSLF, we’ve got your back. Check out our Forms and Application Guide to get started.

How PSLF Helped Our Clients in the Medical Field

Here are three inspiring stories of medical professionals we’ve worked with, highlighting how we helped them manage their student loan journey and achieve forgiveness through the PSLF program:

• Dentist: A dentist in California had $450,000 in student loans and worked at a public hospital providing dental care to underserved patients. She loved her work but felt buried by her debt. We helped her consolidate her loans with a Direct Consolidation Loan and enrolled her in an Income-Driven Repayment plan to keep her payments affordable. After making 120 qualifying payments over 10 years, the rest of her loan balance was forgiven. Now, she’s debt-free and able to focus entirely on caring for her patients.

• Family Doctor: A family doctor in Texas owed $320,000 in student loans while working at a nonprofit hospital in a ‌health professional shortage area. Even with a steady job, managing his debt was tough. We guided him step by step through the PSLF process, enrolled him in the SAVE plan, and made sure his employer forms were submitted every year. After 10 years of payments and service, his loans were forgiven. He can now focus on his patients without the stress of loan payments holding him back.

• Physical Therapist: A physical therapist in Florida had $250,000 in student loans and worked at a nonprofit rehab center helping veterans. She couldn’t see how she’d ever pay off her debt while earning a modest salary. We helped her certify her employment and stay enrolled in an IDR plan. After completing 120 qualifying payments over 10 years, the rest of her loan was forgiven. Today, she’s debt-free and continues to help her patients recover and thrive.

These stories show how PSLF can turn a massive debt into an achievable goal. If you’re in the medical field and want guidance with your PSLF application, reach out to us. We’re here to help you make your student loan forgiveness a reality.

2. IDR Forgiveness

Income-driven repayment forgiveness works well with medical workers with higher-paying jobs, like private practice doctors, specialists, or traveling nurses. It’s also a good option if you want more flexibility as your income grows over time.

IDR plans base your payments on your income and family size, which can make them more affordable. After 20 or 25 years of payments, whatever’s left of your loan is forgiven.

• Who’s Eligible: Whether you work in public service or the private sector, IDR is available to all federal loan borrowers. It’s a solid option no matter where your career takes you.

• Affordable Payments: Your monthly payments are capped at a percentage of your discretionary income (the money left after taxes and basic expenses).

• Forgiveness Timeline: After 20 or 25 years of payments, depending on your plan (such as Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), etc.) and loan type, any remaining balance is forgiven.

A Heads-Up About Taxes: After December 31, 2025, the forgiven loan balance might be taxed as income. This could mean a tax bill at the end of your repayment term. To be prepared, talk to a financial advisor who can help you plan for this based on your savings and income.

Related

• IBR Loan Forgiveness

• SAVE Plan Tax Bomb

How IDR Forgiveness Can Help Your Medical School Student Loans

If you’re a private practice surgeon with $500,000 in medical school loans. Even though you earn a good income, the loan payments might still feel overwhelming. With IDR, your payments are based on your income, giving you breathing room to save or invest in your practice. After 25 years, any leftover balance is forgiven.

Or, let’s say you’re a traveling nurse with $300,000 in education loans. Your income changes depending on where you work, but IDR adjusts your payments to match your earnings. After 20 or 25 years, the remaining balance is forgiven.

If you are confused about whether to choose PSLF or IDR forgiveness, don’t let time pass. Reach out to us so you’ll have peace of mind about which program to apply.

To apply for loan forgiveness programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Driven Repayment forgiveness, follow these steps:

1. Determine Eligibility: For PSLF, ensure you have federal Direct Loans and work full-time for a qualifying nonprofit or government organization. For IDR forgiveness, enroll in an income-driven repayment plan, which bases your monthly payments on your income and family size.

2. Choose a Repayment Plan: Enroll in an IDR plan, such as PAYE or SAVE. These plans allow for lower monthly payments based on your income, which can lead to forgiveness after 20 to 25 years of qualifying payments.

3. Submit the Employment Certification Form: For PSLF, complete and submit the Employment Certification Form from the Federal Student Aid annually or whenever you change jobs to confirm your employment status and track qualifying payments.

4. Make Qualifying Payments: Ensure you make 120 qualifying payments under PSLF while working for a qualifying employer. For IDR forgiveness, continue making payments according to your plan until you reach the required repayment period.

5. Apply for Forgiveness: After meeting the payment requirements for PSLF or completing the necessary time under an IDR plan, submit the appropriate application for loan forgiveness.

If the most popular federal government programs such as PSLF or IDR forgiveness don’t work for you—maybe you don’t qualify, or you’ve chosen not to apply—don’t worry. There are other programs that can help you manage your student loans.

Here are some options that might be a better fit for your situation:

Borrower Defense to Repayment

If your school misled you or engaged in dishonest practices, you might qualify to have your federal student loans forgiven through Borrower Defense to Repayment.

How to Apply: Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website and submit an online application or mail a PDF version. You’ll need to explain how your school acted unfairly or misrepresented important details.

For your reference, we’ve assembled a list of schools accused of fraud or connected to borrower defense cases.

Related: Borrower Defense to Repayment Eligibility

Forgiveness Due to Disability

If you have a permanent disability, you can apply for a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge. This program completely erases your federal student loans.

How to Apply: Visit the U.S. Department of Education website and complete the application. You’ll need documentation from a physician or the Social Security Administration.

Learn more about the disabilities that qualify for this program.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program

If you’re a clinician or other healthcare worker, the NHSC Loan Repayment Program might be for you. This program offers up to $50,000 in loan repayment assistance if you work for a full-time two-year service commitment in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

These areas need more doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, so your service can make a big difference. Applications are available on the NHSC website.

National Institutes of Health LRPs

The NIH LRPs can repay up to $50,000 of qualified student loan debt per year for health professionals engaged in qualifying research. This includes most medical, dental, veterinary, and graduate school loans.

The application period opens annually on September 1 and closes on November 21. Applicants need to provide information about their educational background, research commitments, and existing student loan debt.

NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program

For medical students, the NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program is a great option. It provides up to $120,000 in loan repayment assistance if you commit to working in an HPSA for three years after graduating.

If you’re in your final year of medical school, this could be the perfect way to reduce your student debt while serving communities in need.

Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program

Healthcare providers willing to work in Indian health programs can receive up to $40,000 in loan repayment assistance through the IHS Loan Repayment Program.

This program focuses on supporting American Indian and Alaska Native communities. If you’re ready to make a two-year commitment, you can apply through the IHS website.

Armed Forces Student Loan Repayment Programs

If you’re in the military—or thinking about joining—the Army, Navy, and Air Force offer loan repayment programs. These programs forgive a portion of your federal student loans based on how long you serve and the type of duty you perform.

Each branch has its own application process, which usually starts when you enlist. Be sure to talk to a recruiter to learn more about your options.

Note: You can find more repayment options by visiting the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Their directory highlights state loan programs with service requirements. Don’t hesitate to ask your financial aid advisor for more details.

If you have private student loans, you might feel stuck since private lenders don’t usually offer forgiveness programs. But the good thing is, there are practical ways to make these loans more manageable—let’s explore your options.

1. Refinancing: When you refinance your student loans, you might get a lower interest rate or better repayment terms, which can help make your monthly payments more affordable. For medical professionals with stable jobs or higher salaries, this can be a smart way to save money and reduce stress.

2. Settlement Options: If your payments feel impossible to keep up with, you might be able to negotiate a settlement with your lender. But here’s the catch—you’d likely have to default first, which could hurt your credit score. That’s why settlement is usually a last resort.

3. Bankruptcy: In tough situations, bankruptcy could be an option to discharge your private student loans. To qualify, you’d need to prove undue hardship, which means showing that your loans are making it extremely difficult to afford basic living expenses. This isn’t easy and should only be considered in extreme cases.

It’s normal to feel unsure when deciding which program to apply for—there are so many options! But when the stress of large medical school loans takes over, it’s easy to make quick decisions that might not work in your favor. That’s where we come in.

With years of experience helping medical professionals, we’re here to guide you. Let’s talk about how we can make debt-free a reality for you.

If you’re a medical professional working in public health, Public Service Loan Forgiveness is often the best way to get rid of student loans. Income-driven repayment forgiveness is another great option if you want payments based on how much you earn and the size of your family.

You might also qualify for state loan repayment programs, which can give you more than $100,000. If the application process feels complicated, we’re here to guide you.

Book a consultation today, and we’ll create a plan that makes things easier for you.

Related reading:

• Student Loan Forgiveness for Rural Medical Practitioners

• Dental School Loan Forgiveness Programs

• Student Loan Forgiveness for Nurses

• Do Kaiser Nurses Qualify For PSLF? Yes, Many Do

• Physician Assistant Loan Forgiveness Programs