Nursing is a prestigious course that prepares you to assist doctors and attend to the medical needs of patients. It takes twelve to eighteen months to complete an LPN program, and the cost of completing the program is around $12000.

A good nursing degree can give students access to a range of job opportunities. Additionally, nurses enjoy a challenging, engaging, and rewarding career. Students often apply for student loans to pay for their nursing education.

Reports show that student debt is the largest type of outstanding consumer debt other than mortgages. If you are a nursing student struggling with your loan repayment, you may consider applying for student loan forgiveness for nurses.

What is Student Loan Forgiveness?

Student loan forgiveness programs can relieve you of the obligation to repay all or part of your student debt. Professionals like nurses, lawyers, public service workers, automotive professionals, and teachers are eligible for loan forgiveness.

However, the professionals are required to fulfill specific conditions and requirements. Income-driven repayment options and public service loan forgiveness options can help minimize your student debt to a considerable extent.

Qualifying for Student Loan Forgiveness for Nurses

Job opportunities for nurses are expected to grow by over 7% over the next decade. While qualified, employed nurses earn high salaries, the thought of managing heavy student debt immediately after your graduation can be daunting. Student loan forgiveness programs can help ease your stress.

Find Out if You Have a Private Loan or Federal Loan

Students obtain federal loans directly from the government and private loans from banks. Before applying for student loan forgiveness, you must determine if your loan is a government or private loan.


The eligibility criteria, application procedure, and terms and conditions of both these loans may vary. Only government loans qualify for loan forgiveness.

The USDE will forgive some or all your federal student loans. However, some banks and private lenders offer loan cancellation and forgiveness options to students.

Choose the Right Repayment Assistance Program

There are several loan repayment assistance programs that nurses may benefit from. They include:

  1. National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

Licensed primary care clinicians, including nurses, can apply for student loan forgiveness through this program. You have the option to leave your student loans unpaid in return for full-time employment for two years at approved service sites.

  1. Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

This program offers loan repayment assistance to RNs and APRNs. Eligible nurses should work in approved health care facilities that need the services of qualified nursing professionals. You can eliminate up to 60% of your student debt over two years with this program.

  1. Perkins Loan Cancellation Program

The Perkins loan cancellation and discharge program is ideal for students who need loan forgiveness for nurses. You can eliminate 100% of your loans in exchange for five years of full-time employment in an approved facility.

Final Thought

You can consider refinancing nursing student loans with a bank or private vendor if you do not qualify for student loan forgiveness for nurses. Additionally, nursing students should research interest rate waiver options and other loan suspension options before applying for student loan forgiveness.

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