Perkins Loan Forgiveness 2025: Even though the Perkins Loan program ended a few years ago, people who are still paying back these loans in 2025 can still get some help. If you meet certain rules, you might not have to pay back the full amount. Some borrowers can even get their entire loan canceled.
Perkins Loans where special student loans schools gave to students who needed extra financial help. They came with a 5% fixed interest rate. Undergrads could borrow up to $27,500, and grad students up to $60,000 total. The program ended in 2017, but if you got a Perkins Loan before then, you might still qualify for forgiveness or full cancellation.
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Public Service Jobs Can Lead to Loan Cancellation
If you work full-time in a public service job, there’s a chance you could get rid of the whole loan. The process takes five years, and it happens step by step. In the first year, 15% of your loan gets forgiven. Same for year two.
Then in year three and year four, it goes up to 20% each. In the final year, 30% gets wiped out. When you add it all up, that’s 100% forgiveness. And yes, this also includes the interest that builds up during that time. So it can be a big relief for people in public jobs.
To get this help, you need to ask for it. Fill out a Perkins loan cancellation form, which you can get from your old school or loan servicer like Heartland ECSI. You also have to show proof that you worked full-time in a qualifying job.
Perkins Loan Forgiveness 2025: Eligible professions
- Teachers, including special education and Title I school instructors
- Nurses and medical technicians
- Law enforcement and corrections officers
- Firefighters
- Speech pathologists or librarians with a master’s degree serving Title I schools
- Early childhood educators, including Head Start workers
- Members of the U.S. military serving in designated danger zones
- Tribal college faculty and child services professionals
- AmeriCorps VISTA and Peace Corps volunteers
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Other Ways to Get Your Loan Canceled
Besides public service, there are some other serious situations where the government will cancel your entire loan.
- Bankruptcy, if a court determines repayment poses an undue hardship
- Death of the borrower
- Permanent and total disability
- School closure, if it occurred before you completed your degree
All of these cases need the right documents. Like, for disability, you’ll need a note from a doctor. For bankruptcy, you’ll need a court order.
If you get approved for forgiveness, your school or loan servicer will keep track of your progress. Each year, they’ll remove the right percentage from your total. This kind of help can really take the pressure off if you’re still making payments.
