Educational Debt Relief: Students
Many students choose to serve the public interest but soon find that high educational debt pushes them toward more fiscally lucrative careers. Learn how to start planning now to reduce the burden of your educational debt.
Printer-friendly versionThere are relief and forgiveness programs available that can help!
Equal Justice Works' Educational Debt Relief program provides information and guidance that can help you make decisions about your chosen path of public interest, and to plan and work toward building that career in light of your educational debt. We have played a leading role in advocating for and shaping educational debt relief programs that can help public interest students manage seemingly insurmountable educational debt.
Knowledge of available relief and forgiveness programs, including Income-Based Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, as well as how to use Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs) available from schools, employers and government, can help you overcome some of the financial barriers you may see in pursuing a public interest career and focus on the classes and clinics you need to get you there.
We offer a wealth of information to help you understand the requirements of repayment assistance, relief and forgiveness programs. We have information on:
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
One of the most significant breakthroughs in a generation for those working in public service positions. Find out how working in public service can help you earn forgiveness in 10 years.
Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
Substantially reduce monthly student loan payments if you have high educational debt relative to your income.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs)
Find out about these programs often offered by schools, employers, states and the federal government to help you manage educational debt.
PLUS: Find out how you can advocate for your school to support students and alumni who pursue public interest work.
Free Interactive Webinars
Learn how each type of relief program works; and how they can work together: LRAPs can provide you funds to put toward lowered, income-based monthly payments while you are working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness!
Register to attend one of our interactive webinars on educational debt relief programs to get started now!
Learning about these programs before you borrow can help you make sure you're taking the right steps. You'll be able to focus on taking classes and building your experience knowing that, because you have chosen to serve the public interest, there is relief available for you.