State of Florida Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

• Florida offers loan forgiveness programs for nurses, teachers, public defenders, and other professionals. Your options include the Florida LRAP, the Nursing Loan Forgiveness program, and John R. Justice’s Repayment program.

• If you work in public service, you can qualify for PSLF after 120 payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

• Floridians seeking lower payments based on income can apply for IDR forgiveness. This ensures that your loans remain manageable while you work toward eventual forgiveness.

Florida has several student loan forgiveness programs to help you reduce or even erase your debt. Here are some options you might qualify for:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Forgives remaining federal loan balances after 120 payments for government or nonprofit employees.

• Income-Driven Repayment Forgiveness: Adjusts payments based on income and forgives the rest of your loan after 20–25 years.

• Florida Loan Repayment Assistance Program: Offers up to $10,000 annually for legal aid attorneys serving in underserved communities.

• John R. Justice Loan Repayment Program: Repays up to $60,000 in loans for public defenders and prosecutors.

There are also other programs that are designed to reward professionals who serve their communities in high-demand areas. Keep reading this guide for details on eligibility and how to apply.

Related

• State Programs For Student Loan Forgiveness

• 4 Best Student Loan Lawyers in Florida

Florida residents have access to federal student loan forgiveness programs, like Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Teacher Loan Forgiveness, and Income-Driven Repayment Plan Forgiveness.

Eligibility depends on your profession, employer, and loan type. Florida also offers opportunities for certain public service roles, including nursing education or employer-sponsored programs.

The Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness plan has recently approved an additional $4.5 billion in debt cancellation through the PSLF program, relieving thousands of borrowers, including many of Florida’s 55,330 public service workers.

Related: How to Apply For Student Loan Forgiveness

1. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

If you live in Florida and work in public service—such as teaching, nursing, firefighting, or working for the government or a non-profit—the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program can help you eliminate your student loans.

• Who is it for? Floridians working full-time in public service with federal student loans. You should have a Direct Loan, but if you have Stafford or Parent PLUS Loans, you must first consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to qualify.

• Eligibility: You must work for a government or non-profit employer, be enrolled in a qualifying repayment plan like an Income-Driven Repayment plan, and make 120 qualifying payments—roughly 10 years. Once you meet the requirements, your remaining loan balance is forgiven.

You can use the PSLF Employer Search Tool on the Federal Student Aid website to check if your Florida-based employer qualifies.

Related: How to Apply for PSLF

2. IDR Forgiveness

If you’re struggling to manage student loan payments, Income-Driven Repayment plans may help. After 20 or 25 years of consistent payments (depending on the specific IDR plan), any remaining loan balance is forgiven.

• Who is it for? Floridians looking for a repayment plan that aligns with their income and household size.

• Eligibility: Enroll in one of the IDR plans, such as the SAVE Plan, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), or Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). You must stay on the plan and make payments for the full repayment term.

I always advise my clients from Florida who are public service workers to choose PSLF because it’s faster (only 10 years of payments), but if they want their monthly payments to be based on their income, they can also choose the IDR forgiveness.

We can help you determine which program is best for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

Related: Income Limit for Income Driven Repayment Plan

3. Loan Discharge Due to Disability

The U.S. Department of Education introduced the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge program to help Florida residents erase their student loans if they prove they can no longer render work.

• Who is it for? Floridians with total and permanent disabilities who cannot earn an income. See this list of disabilities to know your eligibility for the program.

• Eligibility: You must provide official proof of your disability, such as a doctor’s certification, a disability determination from the Social Security Administration (SSA), or a 100% disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Once approved, your remaining loan balance will be forgiven. To start, you can contact your loan servicer or learn more from studentaid.gov about the application process and other required documentation.

You can also read our guide on how to apply for this program to make things easier for you.

4. Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

If you’re a teacher in Florida working at a low-income school, the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program could help you reduce your student loan debt.

• Who is it for? Teachers working full-time at qualifying low-income schools or nonprofit private schools in Florida.

• Eligibility: Work full-time for five consecutive years at a qualifying low-income school or educational service agency. For nonprofit private schools, certification through the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) is required.

In addition, schools must meet specific criteria, including serving a student population where 35% or more of students are considered low-income.

Visit the FLDOE to determine if your school qualifies for this program. It maintains a Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.

Related: Teacher Loan Forgiveness – Public Service & Title I Programs

5. Borrower Defense to Repayment

If you attended a school in Florida that misled you or engaged in fraudulent practices—like false advertising or deceptive recruitment—you may qualify for loan discharge through the Borrower Defense to Repayment program.

• Who is it for? Floridians who took out loans to attend schools that violated rules or provided misleading information about job placement rates, costs, or program quality.

• Eligibility: You’ll need to provide evidence that your school’s misconduct directly influenced your decision to enroll or take out federal loans. Learn more about this program.

To see if your school is eligible, check this [list of institutions involved in borrower defense claims]. Many for-profit schools in Florida have been part of these claims in recent years. If you believe you are a victim, contact your student loan lawyer for help.

Related: Do You Need a Student Loan Lawyer?

If you want more choices, these repayment assistance programs can provide additional debt relief towards your student loans. Here’s the breakdown of each option:

Florida Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

Provides financial support to civil legal aid attorneys who commit to working in underserved areas. You can receive up to $10,000 per year for your service commitment, which is forgivable annually.

• Eligibility: Licensed attorneys employed full-time or at least 50% part-time by a legal aid organization that receives funding from the Florida Bar Foundation. Also, should be in good standing with The Florida Bar by the end of their first year in the program.

• To Apply: Applications are available once a year through the Florida Bar Foundation. Applicants must submit their professional qualifications and details about their employment at eligible legal aid organizations.

Be aware that the program’s budget is limited each year, so apply as soon as the application period opens to increase your chances of receiving assistance.

Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program (NSLFP)

Florida Legislature established the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program in 1989 to assist nurses in designated critical shortage areas financially. You can receive up to $4,000 per year for a maximum of four years, totaling $16,000 in loan repayment assistance.

• Eligibility: Nurses must hold a valid Florida nursing license and commit to working in a designated shortage area. The program aims to encourage nursing professionals to serve in regions with high demand for healthcare services.

• To Apply: Applications can be submitted through the Florida Student Financial Aid website. Applicants must provide documentation of their nursing license, employment details, and information about their student loans.

Always check the Florida Student Financial Aid website or contact the program office for updates on funding availability and any changes to eligibility requirements or application procedures.

John R. Justice Loan Repayment Program

Offers loan repayment assistance for public defenders and prosecutors working in Florida. You can receive up to $10,000 per year, with a maximum benefit of $60,000 over multiple years of service.

• Eligibility: Attorneys must be employed full-time as public defenders or prosecutors and commit to remaining in these roles for at least three years.

• To Apply: Interested candidates should review the application guidelines on the U.S. Department of Justice website. Applications require personal information, employment verification, and loan details.

For subsequent years, a new application must be submitted if the applicant wishes to continue receiving benefits.

Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), any student loan forgiveness occurring between December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2025, is excluded from federal taxable income. This means that borrowers who have their student loans forgiven during this period will not owe federal taxes on the forgiven amounts.

If you wonder if your forgiven student loans under PAYE/REPAYE (replaced by SAVE plan) or any IDR plan are taxable in Florida, the answer is no.

Florida does not impose a state income tax. Therefore, even if your loans are forgiven after 2025 and considered taxable at the federal level, you will not incur any state tax liabilities on that amount.

For peace of mind, consider contacting a tax professional in your state or reach out to our expert student loan lawyers.

Related: Tax Implications of Settling Student Loan Debt

If you’re living in Florida and managing student loans, there are forgiveness programs tailored to your profession. Teachers, healthcare workers, attorneys, and public service employees have options to ease their burden.

Many Floridians from Miami to Orlando have found relief with our guidance, and we’d love to assist you, too.

Schedule a consultation today, and we’ll develop a plan that meets your needs.

Related reading:

• State Programs For Student Loan Forgiveness

• Student Loan Forgiveness for Nurses in Florida

• Medical Student Loan Forgiveness Program

• Student Loan Forgiveness for Healthcare Workers

• Student Loan Forgiveness for Lawyers