Teacher Loan Forgiveness: $5,000 or $17,500
Short answer: Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) can forgive up to $17,500 (highly qualified secondary math, science, or special education teachers) or up to $5,000 (other eligible teachers) of Direct or FFEL loans, after five complete and consecutive academic years teaching full-time at a qualifying low-income school or educational service agency. You can't count the same years for both TLF and PSLF.
Last verified November 5, 2026 · PSLFCheck Editorial
Eligibility at a glance
- Five complete, consecutive academic years of full-time teaching; at least one after the 1997–98 school year.
- School or educational service agency listed in the Teacher Cancellation Low Income (TCLI) directory.
- Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized or FFEL Stafford loans (not PLUS); no balance on loans before Oct 1, 1998 at the time of the new loan.
- Highly qualified teacher requirements apply.
TLF vs PSLF
Public school teachers often also qualify for PSLF, which can forgive the entire remaining balance after 120 payments. Taking TLF first means those five years don't count toward PSLF. Many teachers with large balances do better with PSLF alone; teachers with small balances may benefit from TLF. Run both scenarios with the forgiveness checker and RAP calculator.
Perkins loans
Perkins loans have a separate teacher cancellation program handled by the school that made the loan.
Check my forgiveness options →RAP calculatorPSLF employer search
FAQ
Is Teacher Loan Forgiveness taxable?
TLF amounts are generally not treated as taxable federal income; confirm with a tax professional.
Can I get TLF and PSLF?
Yes, but not for the same period of service.
Sources
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness — studentaid.gov — accessed November 5, 2026
- 34 CFR 685.217 — Teacher loan forgiveness (eCFR) — accessed November 5, 2026
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness — studentaid.gov — accessed November 5, 2026
Related: What is PSLF · PSLF requirements · PSLF form · Teacher forgiveness · Forgiveness in 2026 · Apply for RAP · Get out of default · Wage garnishment
Teacher Loan Forgiveness by state
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