Teacher Loan Forgiveness vs. PSLF: Can Teachers Get Both?

If you teach at a low-income school, you may have two federal programs open to you: Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). The most common question we hear from teachers is whether they can get both. The short answer is yes, but the same years of teaching cannot count twice. Picking the wrong order can cost you years of credit, so it pays to plan first. Legal Touch lays out your options and handles the work for you.

How Teacher Loan Forgiveness Works

Teacher Loan Forgiveness can cancel up to $17,500 of your federal student loans after five complete and consecutive academic years of full-time teaching at a qualifying low-income school or educational service agency. At least one of those years must have been after the 1997-98 school year.

• Up to $17,500 for highly qualified secondary math or science teachers and special education teachers
• Up to $5,000 for other highly qualified full-time elementary or secondary teachers
• Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and FFEL Stafford Loans can qualify; PLUS loans do not
• The loans must have been taken out before the end of your five years of teaching

For the full program rules, see our Teacher Loan Forgiveness guide.

How PSLF Works for Teachers

Public Service Loan Forgiveness can forgive the entire remaining balance on your Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments while you work full time for a qualifying employer. Public schools, public colleges, and many nonprofit schools count. Payments do not have to be in a row, and there is no cap on how much can be forgiven. Our PSLF guide covers the details.

Can You Get Both? The No Double Counting Rule

Yes, you can benefit from both programs, but one period of teaching can only earn credit for one of them. If you use five years of teaching to get Teacher Loan Forgiveness, the payments you made during those same five years will not count toward PSLF. That can mean starting PSLF with about 60 fewer qualifying payments than you thought you had.

Teachers usually end up in one of three spots:

• Larger balance and staying in public service. PSLF alone often forgives more, because it can wipe out the whole balance with no cap.
• Smaller balance or not sure you will stay. Teacher Loan Forgiveness may make sense, since it pays out after five years.
• Already used Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Your later years of service can still count toward PSLF, just not the same five years.

The math depends on your balance, your repayment plan, and your income. A review can show which path likely forgives more in your case.

Common Mistakes That Cost Teachers Credit

• Applying for Teacher Loan Forgiveness on autopilot. It can quietly erase five years of PSLF progress.
• Having FFEL loans and assuming they count for PSLF. They only count after consolidation into a Direct Loan, and consolidating can affect other options.
• Being on the wrong repayment plan. Some months may not count toward PSLF.
• Missing employer certifications. Years of teaching can go uncounted until your school signs.
• Not checking the school list. Your school must be on the low-income directory for the years you taught.

What Legal Touch Does for You

You send us your information. We do the rest:

1. We review your federal loan records and payment history.
2. We confirm whether your school and years of teaching may qualify for each program.
3. We compare both paths and show you which one likely forgives more.
4. We prepare the forms and get them to your school for signature.
5. We file with your servicer and track your progress until a decision comes back.

Legal Touch handles PSLF cases through our PSLF Help service. See all of our Loan Help Services, including default resolution if any of your loans are behind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Teacher Loan Forgiveness and PSLF at the same time?

You can use both programs, but not for the same years of teaching. The five years that earn Teacher Loan Forgiveness cannot also count toward the 120 payments for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Legal Touch reviews your history to see which order likely forgives more.

How much is Teacher Loan Forgiveness?

Up to $17,500 for highly qualified full-time math or science teachers at the secondary level and special education teachers. Up to $5,000 for other highly qualified full-time teachers who meet the rules.

Is PSLF better than Teacher Loan Forgiveness?

It depends on your balance and plans. PSLF can forgive the whole remaining balance after 120 qualifying payments, so it often forgives more for larger balances. Teacher Loan Forgiveness may make sense for a smaller balance or if you may leave public service.

Does Teacher Loan Forgiveness work with FFEL loans?

Yes. Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and FFEL Stafford Loans can qualify. PLUS loans do not. PSLF only counts Direct Loans, so FFEL loans would need to be consolidated first, which Legal Touch reviews before anything is changed.

Does Legal Touch guarantee forgiveness?

No. The U.S. Department of Education and your loan servicer decide every case. Legal Touch is not a law firm and makes no guarantees.

Get Your Free Teacher Loan Review

Find out in one call which program likely forgives more for you. Check My Eligibility or call 800-261-2946.

Questions first? Contact our team.

Legal Touch is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Results are not guaranteed. Every decision is made by the U.S. Department of Education or your loan servicer. Free help is available at studentaid.gov.