Loan Forgiveness Opportunities

NASW is promoting loan forgiveness for social workers as part of its on-going work to improve working conditions,  salaries, and other benefits for members of the profession and to ensure that consumers have access to qualified professionals. For information visit their loan forgiveness page.

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP) offers fully trained and licensed clinical social workers $50,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years serving in a community based site in a high-need Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) that has applied to, and been approved by, the NHSC as a service site

Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a loan forgiveness program targeted at students who pursue public service careers and who have high debt but not high income. Generally this program is available to anyone who works in a non-profit organization. Debt forgiveness is available for Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Plus Loans and Grad Plus Loans. For more information, please visit Federal Student Aid - Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

IBRinfo.org has information and tools for students to apply for Income-Based Repayment and update their income online. They also offer an IBR calculator.

MSW prepared clinical social workers, employed by the IHS, are eligible to apply for the IHS Loan Repayment Program. For more information, visit the IHS website.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Public Health Professions (PHP) are responsible for addressing the health needs of over 1.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in a network of 48 hospitals, more than 230 clinics, and a system of Tribal and Urban programs. As part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Their mission is to raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of this diverse population to the highest level.