Sign in with Google
Sign in with Apple
For anyone wondering how they are going to pay for grad school, earlier this year the federal government made an announcement that might be of interest to you. Under the government's Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, you may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on your eligible federal student loans after you have made 120 payments on certain loans while employed full time by certain public service employers.
As usual, there are all sorts of rules and stipulations. Only loans made under the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program are eligible for loan forgiveness, including:
- Federal Direct Stafford Loans (Direct Subsidized Loans)
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (Direct Unsubsidized Loans)
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Direct PLUS Loans)- for parents and graduate or professional students
- Federal Direct Consolidation Loans (Direct Consolidation Loans)
Only payments made on the Direct Consolidation Loan will count toward the required 120 monthly payments. And, you need to have been making your loan payments on time for the past 120 months -- deadbeats need not apply. But, the savings can be significant, resulting in more than $100,000 in loans being forgiven, depending on the exact program for which you qualify.
There's a lot of fine print to read, but this is a terrific option for anyone who's thought about going into public service. You can learn more at the U.S. Department of Education's web site.
Ready to sign up for a GMAT course? Enroll through GMAT Club and save up to $180 (use discount code GMATC10)! Looking for more admissions advice? Make sure to subscribe to our blog for up to date GMAT and MBA admissions information.
