Teacher Loan Forgiveness

Valuable Financial Benefit For Teachers At Low-Income Schools

Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Cancellation programs are designed to attract and retain teachers in low-income schools to help all children receive the best education possible, regardless of their economic status.

Please visit the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid web page to learn about:

  • which program is right for you
  • dollar amounts available
  • eligibility criteria (loan types, job assignments, credentials, etc.)
  • program rules
  • application forms and procedures.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Cancellation programs are designed to attract and retain teachers in low-income schools to help all children receive the best education possible, regardless of their economic status.

Please visit the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid web page to learn about:

  • which program is right for you
  • dollar amounts available
  • eligibility criteria (loan types, job assignments, credentials, etc.)
  • program rules
  • application forms and procedures.

Directory of Low-Income Institutions

Loan companies consult the federal TCLI directory of low-income institutions when processing forgiveness or cancellation applications. The directory is an official list of schools where over 30% of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. This is not always the same as participation in Title I programs, so it is more important to verify that a school is in the directory than it is to verify that it is a “Title I” school.

Higher Forgiveness Amounts for Special Education and Secondary Math or Science Teachers

Most teachers who participate in Teacher Loan Forgiveness may receive a benefit of up to $5,000. However, those who teach special education or secondary math or science may qualify for as much as $17,500. It is strongly recommended that you contact your loan company to determine how much forgiveness a current or prospective job assignment will allow you to qualify for.

More Information – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

See the list of Frequently Asked Questions (pdf below) for additional information, including:

  • how North Carolina institutions get listed in the directory of low-income institutions
  • why an institution is not showing up in the directory
  • relocating to a different low-income school during the required 5-year period
  • a school’s low-income population falling below 30% during the required 5-year period
  • how to call the US Department of Education help desk where federal staff will answer questions about available dollar amounts, eligibility criteria, program rules, and your application status
  • contact information for questions about the low-income directory
  • programs other than loan forgiveness or cancellation
  • other important topics.

FAQ about Teacher Loan Forgiveness  - July 2024

The programs described above are provided by the US Department of Education, and the applications are processed by the loan servicing companies. NCDPI supports the programs by updating the state’s entries into the directory of low-income schools.

Prior to calling the federal help desk or NCDPI, please review the FAQ and the US Department of Education web site listed above.