Forgiveness Programs

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs Could Erase Your Debt

Posted: Oct 07, 2013 12:16 PMUpdated: Oct 07, 2013 12:16 PM

By Diane Lee, Anchor / Reporter - bio | email

• Student Loan Forgiveness Programs Could Erase Your Debt

 

Everyone from non-profit workers to public health employees qualify.

Spartanburg SC -

If you think preschool doesn't have much of an impact on the rest of your life talk to Ariel Wingard.

"My preschool teacher, her daughter was deaf, so she had ASL and therefore she taught us in the classroom a lot."

15 years later, Wingard, a Freshman at Converse College is majoring in deaf education.

"I want to help others who don't necessarily need to rely on somebody, but who are going to need that extra push just to get to where they want to be in life," said Wingard.

But in order to do that, Wingard needed an extra push herself, financially. That's when she found out, if she follows her passion, she'll qualify for the Public Service Loan forgiveness program.

That includes:

Public Education
Emergency Management
Military
Public Safety
Law Enforcement
Public Health
Non-profit Workers

Click here for full a list of guidelines.

April Lewis, Directors of Admissions at Converse College warns there are other rules.

"After they graduate they need to make sure that they are making their payments and making their payments on-time, and they also need to make sure that they are keeping good records of their employment history," said Lewis.

That's because if you don't make 120 payments, prove your job qualifies and have a low income relative to the loan, you'll be stuck paying off the debt.

Another student loan forgiveness program is income based. It's not something that you really plan for but if your student loan is high relative to your income and family size, you could qualify. Here's acalculator that can help you figure out if you qualify.

And then there's the pay as you earn plan, where borrowers can apply to have their monthly payments reduced and after 20 years forgiven.

Wingard says she wouldn't be here if it weren't for the federal program. And she's grateful for every precious moment of an education that leads her closer to her dreams.

For more information on how to reduce student loans click here.