IDR repayment plans last for 20 to 25 years, depending on which plan you enroll in. After the plan repayment period ends, any remaining federal student loan debt will be forgiven.
All federal student borrowers are eligible for the REPAYE Plan. The IBR, ICR, and PAYE plans are only available to those with certain types of federal loans.
If you have private student loans or don’t qualify for federal student loan forgiveness, other options are available exclusively to those in the medical fields. These programs may allow you to get a portion of your student loan debt forgiven, simply for doing the job.
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment
The NHSC Loan Repayment Program offers up to $50,000 in nontaxable student loan repayment in exchange for a two-year, full-time service commitment and up to $25,000 in student loan repayment for two-year, half-time service.
- U.S. citizen or national
- You provide care in the Medicaid, Medicare, or state CHIP programs (or eligible to participate)
- Fully trained and eligible to work in the primary care medical, dental, or mental and behavioral health fields in your state
Applicants need to have eligible student loan debt resulting from education expenses required for their health profession. Applications are accepted on an annual basis; for more information, visit the NHSC Loan Repayment Program page.
National Health Service Corps Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment
The NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program, also known as SUD Workforce LRP, is designed to support healthcare providers helping combat the opioid crisis in the U.S. It offers up to $75,000 in loan repayment funds for three years of full-time service, and up to $37,500 for three years of half-time service.
In order to be eligible for this award, you must work at a SUD treatment facility classified in a health professional shortage area (HPSA), with a score that would normally be too low to qualify for funding. You must also meet the same eligibility requirements as the loan repayment program above.
National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment
With the NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program, eligible applicants may receive up to $120,000 in loan repayment assistance (up to $30,000 per year for four years). It’s available to students in their last year of medical school, nursing school, or dental school in exchange for three years of full-time service or six years of part-time service at an NHSC-approved site.
This award is only offered to U.S. citizens or nationals who are enrolled full-time in their last year of medical, dental, or nursing school. They’ll need to be pursuing an M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., N.P., C.N.M., or P.A. degree at an accredited school, and must be eligible for federal employment.
National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Program can help eligible borrowers pay off up to $100,000 of their student loan debt in exchange for a two-year research commitment.
Loan repayment options from NIH are available to current employees as well as applicants who aren’t employed by NIH. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents with an eligible doctorate-level degree. If selected, borrowers must also agree to perform two years of research service for 20 or more hours per week.
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Loan Repayment
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities offers a loan repayment award of up to $50,000 per year to eligible health professionals. At least 50% of the awardees must be from minority populations.
To qualify, you must have student loan debt equal to 20% or more of your base salary and agree to perform at least two years of clinical research. You must also be a U.S. citizen or national and have a qualifying doctorate-level degree.