Illinois Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
Illinois has several student loan forgiveness programs that are specific to just the State of Illinois.
However, residents of the State of Illinois can also potentially qualify for various Federal student loan forgiveness programs.
You can find a great list of Federal student loan forgiveness programs here: Top Student Loan Forgiveness Programs.
If you have private student loans, it might make more sense to refinance your loans and see if you can get a lower interest rate and payment. We recommend Credible for student loan refinancing because you can find out in 2 minutes or less if it's worth it. Try out Credible here. If you refinance with Credible, you can get a $200 bonus!
If you're not quite sure where to start or what to do, consider hiring a CFA to help you with your student loans. We recommend The Student Loan Planner to help you put together a solid financial plan for your student loan debt. Check out The Student Loan Planner here.
Illinois Loan Forgiveness Programs
Program: Illinois Teachers Loan Repayment Program
- Amount: Up to $5,000
- Description: The Illinois Teachers Loan Repayment Program provides awards to encourage academically talented Illinois students to teach in Illinois schools in low-income areas. If these obligations are met by a Federal Stafford loan borrower who has qualified for the federal government’s loan forgiveness programs, Illinois may provide an additional matching award of up to $5000 to the qualifying teacher to repay their student loan debt.
- Requirements:
§ Be a US citizen
§ Be an Illinois resident
§ Be a borrower who has had an amount of your educational loans forgiven under the federal government’s loan forgiveness programs
§ Have a remaining balance on your loans
§ Have fulfilled your five-year teaching obligation in an Illinois elementary or secondary school designated as a low-income school or have worked full time for 2 consecutive years in a child care facility that serves a low-income area in Illinois.
- How To Apply: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/applications/index.html
- Program Information: https://www.isac.org/students/after-college/forgiveness-programs/illinois-teachers-and-child-care-providers-loan-repayment-program.html
Program: John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program
- Amount: Up to $4,000 per year, maximum of $60,000
- Description: The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program provides for the payment of eligible educational loans (both Federal Family Education Loan Program [FFELP] and Federal Direct Loans) for state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who agree to remain employed as public defenders and prosecutors for at least three years.
- Requirements:
§ Must be a US citizen or legal resident
§ Have an outstanding balance on eligible loans
§ be an attorney (or have accepted an employment offer) continually licensed to practice law, and
§ a full-time employee of the state of Illinois or unit of local government (including tribal government) who prosecutes criminal or juvenile delinquency cases at the state or unit of local government level, or
§ a full-time employee of the state of Illinois or unit of local government (including tribal government) who provides legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases, or
§ a full-time employee of an nonprofit organization operating under a contract with Illinois or unit of local government who devotes substantially all of the employee's full-time employment to providing legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile cases, or
§ employed in Illinois as a full-time federal defender attorney in a defender organization pursuant to Subsection (g) of section 3006A of Title 18, United States Code
- How To Apply: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/applications/index.html
- Program Information: https://www.isac.org/students/after-college/forgiveness-programs/john-r-justice-student-loan-repayment-program.html
Program: Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program
- Amount: Up to $5,000, for a maximum of 4 years
- Description: The Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program encourages longevity and career change opportunities. The program is intended to pay eligible loans to add an incentive to nurse educators in maintaining their teaching careers within the State of Illinois.
- Requirements:
§ Must be a US Citizen or Legal Resident
§ Must be an Illinois resident
§ Must have an outstanding balance on an eligible loan
§ Be a nurse educator who meets licensing requirements of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
§ Have worked as a nurse educator instructing practical or professional nurses in an approved Illinois institution for at least the past 12 consecutive months prior to the date of each application for this program
§ Not be in default on any federal guaranteed educational loan, nor owe a refund on any scholarship or grant program administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
- How To Apply: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/applications/index.html
- Program Information: https://www.isac.org/students/after-college/forgiveness-programs/nurse-educator-loan-repayment-program.html
Program: Veterans’ Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program
- Amount: Up to $5,000 for a maximum of 4 years
- Description: The Veterans' Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program provides for the payment of eligible educational loans as an incentive for nurses to pursue and continue their careers at State of Illinois veterans' homes.
- Requirements:
§ Must be a US citizen or legal resident
§ Must be an Illinois resident
§ Have an outstanding balance on eligible loan
§ Be a nurse who meets licensing requirements of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
§ Be a nurse who has completed the prescribed employment probationary period and whose employment is in good standing as determined by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs
§ For each year during which an award is received, fulfill a separate 12 month period as a registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse in an approved State of Illinois veterans' home
§ Not be in default on any federal guaranteed educational loan, nor owe a refund on any scholarship or grant program administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
- How To Apply: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/applications/index.html
- Program Information: https://www.isac.org/students/after-college/forgiveness-programs/veterans-home-nurse-loan-repayment-program.html
Return to Student Loan Forgiveness Programs by State.
