NYS Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
The NYS Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program provides student loan forgiveness for the purpose of attracting and retaining teachers serving in hard to staff districts or who teach in subject shortage areas in New York State. Recipients can receive awards up to $5,000 per year for up to four years, not to exceed the total amount of the recipient’s student loan debt.
Eligibility
An applicant must:
- be a NYS resident and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to July 1, 2020;
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
- be certified as a teacher in NYS prior to July 1, 2020;
- be employed full-time in an elementary or secondary school in NYS prior to July 1, 2020;
- teach in either a subject shortage area or a hard to staff district in both the 2020 and previous school years;
- have an outstanding balance on an eligible student loan debt(s);
- be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or repayment of any NYS award; and
- be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a NYS award.
Eligible Subjects and Districts
View 2020-21 Subject Shortage Areas and Hard-to-Staff Districts.
View 2019-20 Subject Shortage Areas and Hard-to-Staff Districts.
Eligible Student Loans
A successful applicant must have an outstanding balance on eligible student loan debt used to fund an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university.
Eligible student loans include NYS or federal government loans, or private student loans made by commercial entities subject to governmental examination.
Parent PLUS loans are not eligible.
Ineligible loans also include non-educational student loan consolidations and home equity loans used to pay off student loans.
Award Amount
The maximum lifetime award under this Program is $20,000, or the applicant's actual eligible student loan indebtedness at the time eligibility is established, whichever is less. Awards will be paid in annual disbursements up to $5,000. Any additional payments made to reduce the outstanding balance may cause a reduction in the total amount of the award. Awards are subject to the availability of funding.
Note: Any loan forgiveness award payment received may have tax implications. A 1099 form will be issued by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller reflecting the total loan forgiveness payments received by the recipient for the year. Any questions regarding potential tax implications should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
Duration
Payments are available for up to four years.
How to Apply
The deadline for the NYS Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program has passed.
Payment
Payments are made directly to the recipient.
The NYS Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program Application will be used to establish an applicant’s eligibility as well as to process the first award payment.
In subsequent years, a recipient must submit a Payment Application and verification of teaching services for which payment is sought annually by the deadlines set by HESC.
Note: The number of awards paid under this Program is limited to available funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
View commonly asked questions pertaining to the NYS Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
Questions?
Please contact the Scholarship Unit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions regarding this Program.