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Serving in the military might help with your student loan repayment. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard offer programs for repaying part or all of your federal student loans, if you qualify.
In this guide, you’ll learn about military student loan forgiveness and other repayment relief options.
Key Points
• Military branches offer student loan repayment assistance programs that may cover significant portions of federal student loans for eligible members who commit to specific service terms.
• The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard have distinct programs, with potential repayments reaching up to $65,000 depending on the branch and commitment length.
• Various programs exist specifically for health professionals and certain military roles, providing substantial repayment assistance up to $40,000 annually.
• Additional benefits for service members include interest rate caps and waivers on student loans while deployed in hazardous areas, enhancing financial relief during active duty.
• While military forgiveness options exist, the programs generally require careful navigation of eligibility criteria.
Does the Military Pay Off Your Student Loans?
The military does pay off student loans, but you must choose to work in specific military specialties, commit to years of duty, and meet other criteria to be eligible for military student loan forgiveness.
Here are repayment programs offered by the different military branches.
Military College Loan Repayment Program
Military enlistees, and some already enrolled members, may receive federal student loan repayment (LRP) assistance of up to $65,000 for a three- or six-year commitment. Many types of federal student loans may be forgiven.
To qualify for the LRP programs, you cannot have previous military experience. You must choose to work in one of the military occupational specialties that the military branch is seeking. And many of the programs will require withdrawal from the GI Bill program.
Army Student Loan Repayment: Active Duty
The Army’s Loan Repayment Program is offered to highly qualified applicants with federal student loan debt enlisting for at least three years. If you meet the eligibility requirements, including serving in one of the critical Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) and scoring at least 50 on the Armed Forces Qualification Test, the Army will pay up to 33.33% of your current principal balance, or $1,500, whichever is greater, per year served. The maximum in loan assistance is $65,000.
Army Reserve College Loan Repayment Program
For this Reserve repayment program, you must enlist for at least six years, serve in one the the critical MOS that qualifies for the program, and score at least 50 on the Armed Forces Qualification Test, among other eligibility requirements. The Army will repay 15% of your outstanding principal balance or $1,500, whichever is greater, after each year of service. The total cannot exceed $20,000.
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National Guard Student Loan Repayment Program
To qualify for the National Guard Student Loan Repayment Program, you must enlist for at least six years and have qualifying federal loans. You could earn up to $50,000 in total student loan repayment.
Navy Student Loan Repayment Program
The Navy will pay 33.33% of the principal balance of a borrower’s federal student loans or $1,500, whichever is higher, for each year of service, up to three years.
The Navy Loan Repayment Program may pay up to $65,000 toward a service member’s student loans.
Coast Guard Loan Repayment Program
The Coast Guard will pay up to 33.33% of the principal balance of a borrower’s federal student loans or $1,500, whichever is higher, to new members who commit to three years of service. The first payment will be issued after the first year of active service. The maximum assistance is $60,000.
Health Professions Student Loan Repayment Program
This program eases the student debt of doctors, dentists, and other health care professionals who are on active duty or in the Navy. Borrowers can get up to $40,000 of their federal student loans repaid annually.
Then there’s the Healthcare Professional Loan Repayment Program for active duty medical and dental corps officers in the Army National Guard who commit to serve for seven years. Qualifying borrowers may receive up to $40,000 for six years, with a lifetime cap of $250,000.
Prior Service Soldier Loan Repayment Program
Members of the Army Reserve with prior military service who re-enlist in the Army National Guard may receive up to $50,000 for federal student loan repayment if they meet certain eligibility requirements.
Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps Loan Repayment Program
Eligible judge advocate generals (JAGs) can apply for up to $65,000 in federal student loan repayment. After you have completed the first year as a JAG officer, payments are made for three years directly to the lender.
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Other Loan Forgiveness Programs for Military Personnel
There are additional student loan forgiveness programs for those who served in the military, including:
National Defense Student Loan Discharge
Active-duty soldiers who have served in hostile fire or imminent danger pay areas for at least one year are eligible for cancellation of their federal Perkins Loans.
A borrower may see 100% of their loan principal, plus interest, canceled for a term of service that began on or after Aug. 14, 2008.
Veterans Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPD)
If you are totally and permanently disabled, you may qualify for TPD discharge of your federal student loans or TEACH Grant service obligation.
Veterans can qualify by providing documentation from the VA that shows they received a VA disability determination.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
In the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, borrowers who serve full time in the military or who have gone on to other types of public service, including in qualifying government agencies, nonprofits, and public health organizations, may have federal student loan balance discharged after making 120 qualifying payments.
To be eligible, you must work for a qualifying employer and have eligible loans, including most federal Direct loans.
Recommended: Federal Programs That Help Borrowers Pay Off Student Loans
Other Student Loan Benefits for People in the Military
Interest Rate Cap
Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the interest rate on any debt incurred before enlisting in the military, including both federal and private student loans, is capped at 6% while you’re on active duty. Refinanced student loans may also be eligible for the cap if the refinancing was done before an individual’s active military service duty began.
Interest Waiver for Those at Dangerous Posts
Under the Higher Education Act, service members deployed to areas that qualify them for imminent danger or hostile fire pay would have no interest accrual on certain federal Direct student loans that were first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2008 for up to 60 months.
Student Loan Benefits for Military Spouses
The spouse of a military service member may be able to use Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits transferred to them by their service member spouse. (The GI Bill is one way the military helps veterans pay for college.) The transfer, which is called a Transfer of Education Benefits, must be approved by the Department of Defense. Once the transfer is approved, the military spouse can apply online to use the benefits for such things as undergraduate and graduate programs, non-degree college programs, and on-the-job training and apprenticeships.
Military spouse student loans may be another potential option. There are student loans for military dependents that spouses may want to look into as they explore ways to pay for their education.
As for a military spouse who has student loans to pay back, there are no specific student loan repayment programs to help. However, a spouse might be able to qualify for federal forgiveness under other programs, such PSLF if they work in public service, or the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program if they are a teacher and meet the rules for eligibility.
The Takeaway
Military student loan forgiveness is possible for borrowers with federal student loans if they qualify for one of the available programs and meet the eligibility criteria. There are other student loan benefits military personnel may be eligible for as well.
Some borrowers, particularly those with private student loans that aren’t covered by forgiveness programs, may wish to consider options to help make their student loans more manageable, such as student loan refinancing, especially if they can qualify for a lower interest rate or more favorable terms. Just be aware that refinancing federal loans means losing access to federal programs and protections.
Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.
FAQ
Does the VA forgive student loans?
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a student loan repayment program for employees in certain occupations. You may be eligible to receive up to $40,000 per year, with a maximum of $100,000, toward the debt.
The VA also offers the Education Debt Reduction Program for health care providers who serve veterans. Up to $200,000 in student loan repayment is offered over a five-year period.
How much student loan debt will the military pay?
The exact amount the military will pay in student loan debt depends on the military branch a borrower is serving in. The Army and Navy repay up to $65,000. The Coast Guard pays up to $60,000 in student loan debt, while the National Guard pays up to $50,000.
Do 100% disabled veterans pay student loans?
A veteran who is declared totally and permanently disabled may be able to qualify for a TPD discharge with the proper documentation from the VA. After receiving the discharge, the borrower is typically not required to repay federal student loans.
Will joining the military forgive my student loans?
It might. You may be able to get your federal student loans forgiven if you work in a specific military specialty and commit to a certain number of years of service, among other eligibility requirements. The Army, Navy, National Guard and Coast Guard all offer student loan forgiveness programs that forgive between $50,000 to $65,000 of student loan debt for those who qualify.
Can active-duty military members defer student loan payments?
Yes. Individuals on active duty military service in connection with a war, military operation, or national emergency may be eligible to defer their federal student loan payments during their service and for up to 180 days after their service ends.
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