Texas Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
Texas offers eight student loan repayment assistance programs, all run by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Physicians and mental health professionals get the biggest awards, but teachers, nurses, nursing faculty, and peace officers each have a program of their own, and most open once a year after you complete a period of qualifying work. If your job isn't on the list, start with federal forgiveness programs.
Texas Programs At A Glance
| Program | Who Qualifies | Maximum Award | Service Required | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physician Education Loan Repayment Program (PELRP) | Physicians in HPSAs or serving Medicaid and CHIP patients | Up to $180,000 over 4 years | 1 year of qualifying practice per award | Annual Cycle |
| Mental Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program | Psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, MFTs, APRNs, school counselors, chemical dependency counselors | Up to $180,000 over 3 years (psychiatrists), plus bonuses | 12-month service periods in shortage areas or public settings | Expanded |
| Nurse Loan Repayment Assistance Program | LVNs, RNs, and APRNs working in Texas | $4,500 to $13,333/year for up to 3 years | 1 year of nursing in Texas per award | Annual Cycle |
| Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Assistance Program | Nursing faculty with a master's or doctorate | $16,000/year for up to 5 years | 9 months of teaching per academic year | Annual Cycle |
| Math And Science Scholars Loan Repayment Program | Certified math and science teachers | $10,000/year for up to 8 years | 9 months of teaching per academic year | Annual Cycle |
| Teach For Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program | Teachers in shortage fields or at shortage campuses | $7,000/year for up to 5 years | 9 months of teaching per academic year | Annual Cycle |
| Peace Officer Loan Repayment Assistance Program | Peace officers hired on or after Sept. 1, 2019 | $4,000/year, $20,000 total | Full-time peace officer work | Rolling |
| Texas State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) | 15 health professions at HPSA sites | Up to $25,000/year | 3 consecutive years in a HPSA | Annual Cycle |
Programs That Help Repay Loans You Already Have
Texas borrowers carry roughly $32,400 in federal student debt on average, according to our Texas student loans and financial aid breakdown. THECB pays physician and SLRP awards directly to your lender after each year of service, and state program funding depends on what the Texas Legislature appropriates. Many qualifying Texas employers, from public schools to state hospitals, also count for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Physician Education Loan Repayment Program (PELRP)
PELRP pays up to $30,000 in year one, $40,000 in year two, $50,000 in year three, and $60,000 in year four to physicians with loan balances above $180,000, for a total of $180,000 (THECB). Physicians with smaller balances receive 16%, 22%, 28%, and 34% of their balance in those years. THECB mails payments as paper checks to your lender, and our breakdown of student loan forgiveness for doctors shows how it compares with NHSC.
| Administered by | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Who qualifies | U.S. citizens or permanent residents with an unrestricted Texas Medical Board license who aren't in residency and are board eligible, becoming certified by the fourth year of assistance |
| Award | Up to $30,000, $40,000, $50,000, and $60,000 in years one through four; part-time service is prorated |
| Commitment | In a HPSA, serve Medicaid, CHIP, uninsured, or Medicare patients; outside a HPSA, provide outpatient primary care to at least 200 unduplicated Medicaid or Women's Health Program clients (150 for psychiatry, 25 for geriatrics) |
| Status | Annual cycle; you reapply each year, and applications are ranked against available funding |
| Official source | THECB Physician Education Loan Repayment Program |
Mental Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program
For providers who establish eligibility on or after September 1, 2025, THECB raised the maximum to $180,000 over three years for psychiatrists, $100,000 for doctoral-level psychologists, LCSWs, LPCs, and LMFTs, and $80,000 for advanced practice nurses (THECB). Master's-level counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and school counselors qualify for $60,000, and recently licensed chemical dependency counselors for $50,000. Providers can add $5,000 for fluency in a critical-need language and $10,000 for practicing in a county of 150,000 or fewer, and our graduate school forgiveness breakdown covers federal options for counselors.
| Administered by | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Who qualifies | Licensed mental health professionals without restrictions who serve Medicaid or CHIP patients in shortage areas, or work at state hospitals, correctional facilities, local mental health authorities, or public schools |
| Award | Up to $180,000 (psychiatrists) down to $15,000 (chemical dependency counselors with associate degrees), capped at your loan balance |
| Commitment | Service periods of 12 consecutive months, or 9 months of a 12-month academic year |
| Status | The 2025-26 application is closed, and THECB says to check back in fall 2026 for the 2026-27 cycle |
| Official source | THECB Mental Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program |
Nurse Loan Repayment Assistance Program
This program pays working Texas nurses up to $4,500 a year for LVNs, $6,500 for RNs, and $13,333 for APRNs, for up to three years (THECB). Each year's award is the lower of the annual cap or one-third of your verified loan balance, and part-time nurses receive a prorated amount. Nurses can stack it with the federal options in our roundup of student loan forgiveness for nurses.
| Administered by | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Who qualifies | LVNs, RNs, and APRNs with an unrestricted Texas Board of Nursing license who currently work in Texas and have at least one year of nursing service in the state |
| Award | $4,500 (LVN), $6,500 (RN), or $13,333 (APRN) a year, for up to three years |
| Commitment | Full time means at least 32 hours a week over a service period |
| Status | THECB doesn't publish the current application window; it notes that strong first-year participation led it to adjust year-two funding levels |
| Official source | THECB Nurse Loan Repayment Assistance Program |
Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Nursing faculty with a master's or doctoral degree can receive up to $16,000 a year, or one-fifth of their eligible balance if that's lower, for up to five years (THECB). That's up to $80,000 total. Faculty at public colleges can pursue PSLF at the same time.
| Administered by | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Who qualifies | Texas-licensed nurses with a master's or doctorate in nursing employed as faculty at a Texas college or university in a position that requires an advanced nursing degree |
| Award | Up to $16,000 a year (2025-26 maximum) for up to five years; part-time faculty are prorated |
| Commitment | At least one service period of nine months within a 12-month academic year |
| Status | The 2025-26 application is closed; THECB expects the 2026-27 cycle in spring 2027 |
| Official source | THECB Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Assistance Program |
Math And Science Scholars Loan Repayment Program
Certified math and science teachers who earned their degree with at least a 3.0 GPA can receive up to $10,000 a year for up to eight years (THECB). Teachers who established eligibility before September 1, 2023, must teach at a Title I school for their first four years. Pair it with our list of student loan forgiveness options for teachers, since federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness adds up to $17,500 for math and science teachers.
| Administered by | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Who qualifies | Full-time Texas public school classroom teachers certified to teach math or science, with an undergraduate or graduate degree in math or science and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 |
| Award | Up to $10,000 a year (2025-26 maximum) for up to eight years, capped at your eligible debt |
| Commitment | Service periods of at least nine months in a 12-month academic year |
| Status | The 2025-26 application is closed; THECB expects to post 2026-27 details in spring 2027 |
| Official source | THECB Math And Science Scholars Loan Repayment Program |
Teach For Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Teach for Texas pays up to $7,000 a year for up to five years to certified teachers in a critical shortage field or at a designated shortage campus (THECB). Teachers comparing state and federal help can use our teacher forgiveness breakdown.
| Administered by | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Who qualifies | Certified teachers teaching full time in bilingual/ESL, career and technical education, computer science, or special education (PK-12), or at a designated shortage campus |
| Award | The lower of $7,000 (2025-26 maximum) or one-fifth of your eligible balance each year, for up to five years |
| Commitment | At least one completed service period of nine months in a 12-month academic year |
| Status | The 2025-26 application is closed; THECB expects the 2026-27 cycle in spring 2027, and says it adjusted 2025-26 funding levels after strong participation |
| Official source | THECB Teach For Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program |
Peace Officer Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Texas peace officers who started full-time work on or after September 1, 2019, can receive the lesser of $4,000 or 20% of their eligible balance each year, up to $20,000 over five years (THECB). Applicants need at least 60 semester credit hours from a Texas college earned before becoming an officer. Officers at city, county, and state agencies also work for PSLF-qualifying employers, which our PSLF breakdown covers.
| Administered by | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
| Who qualifies | Peace officers as defined in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.12, working full time with at least one year of service completed |
| Award | The lesser of $4,000 or 20% of your eligible balance a year, up to $20,000 over five consecutive years |
| Commitment | At least 40 hours a week for 45 weeks a year; part-time and reserve service don't qualify |
| Status | Applications accepted year-round, first come, first served, subject to available funding |
| Official source | THECB Peace Officer Loan Repayment Assistance Program |
Texas State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
The federally funded Texas SLRP pays up to $25,000 a year directly to your servicer, after each year of service, to providers in 15 health professions who commit to three consecutive years at a site in a federally designated HPSA (THECB). Eligible professions include physicians, dentists, NPs, PAs, RNs, pharmacists, and mental health and substance abuse counselors. Staff at nonprofit clinics can also look at our nonprofit student loan forgiveness breakdown.
| Administered by | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, with HRSA funding |
| Who qualifies | Licensed providers in 15 disciplines at eligible HPSA sites; county and local prisons, standard inpatient hospitals, and VA and military clinics don't qualify, while Critical Access Hospitals and IHS facilities do |
| Award | Up to $25,000 a year |
| Commitment | Three consecutive years of full-time or part-time service |
| Status | Application period currently closed; THECB hasn't posted a reopening date (833-597-0454, [email protected]) |
| Official source | THECB State Loan Repayment Program |
Federal Forgiveness Options For Texas Borrowers
Federal programs reach far more Texas borrowers than the eight state programs, and each one runs on its own rules for combining with a state award. Our full list of forgiveness programs covers every federal option.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Borrowers who make 120 qualifying payments while working full time for a government agency or qualifying nonprofit get their remaining Direct Loan balance forgiven tax-free (StudentAid.gov). Texas public school teachers, state agency and county employees, public university staff, and police officers all work for qualifying employers, and our PSLF breakdown covers the 2026 employer rule litigation.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Teachers with five consecutive years at a low-income school can receive up to $17,500 if they teach secondary math, science, or special education, or up to $5,000 in other subjects (StudentAid.gov). The same years can't count toward both Teacher Loan Forgiveness and PSLF, which our teacher forgiveness breakdown walks through.
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and IBR. RAP launched July 1, 2026, and forgives any remaining balance after 360 qualifying payments (How RAP Works). Borrowers deciding between plans can run the numbers in our RAP vs. IBR comparison.
Health care programs. The National Health Service Corps pays full-time primary care providers up to $80,000 for a two-year commitment, including a $5,000 Spanish-language enhancement (HRSA). Nurse Corps pays 60% of qualifying nursing debt for two years of service and another 25% for an optional third year (HRSA). Our nursing and health care forgiveness roundup covers eligibility for each.
Veterinarians. The USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program pays up to $25,000 a year for service in designated shortage areas (USDA NIFA). Vets carrying private loans should also check our list of private student loan forgiveness options.
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxed In Texas?
Texas has no personal income tax, so student loan forgiveness isn't taxed at the state level (The College Investor). That covers PSLF, Teacher Loan Forgiveness, and income-driven plan forgiveness.
Federal taxes still apply. Forgiveness under income-driven plans became federally taxable again on January 1, 2026, when the American Rescue Plan exclusion expired (Taxes And Student Loan Forgiveness), and our student loan tax bomb calculator estimates what you'd owe.
Ask THECB how your award will be reported for federal taxes before you file. Our explainer on the 1099-C and student loan forgiveness covers what to expect at filing time.
If Your Job Isn't Covered
Borrowers outside health care, teaching, and law enforcement won't find a Texas program, but three options remain. Employers can pay up to $5,250 a year toward your student loans tax-free, and our list of companies that offer student loan repayment assistance shows who offers it.
Borrowers with private loans or high-rate federal loans they don't plan to have forgiven can lower their rate through student loan refinancing. Refinancing federal loans into a private loan ends eligibility for PSLF, RAP, and IBR, so don't refinance a balance you expect to have forgiven.
Families with leftover 529 money can put up to $10,000 per beneficiary toward student loans, which our 529 plan for student loan repayment explainer covers. Texas savers should also review the Texas College Savings Plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas Have A Student Loan Forgiveness Program?
Texas offers student loan repayment assistance programs rather than broad loan forgiveness. THECB runs eight loan repayment programs for physicians, mental health professionals, nurses, nursing faculty, teachers, peace officers, and HPSA health providers. Borrowers outside those fields rely on federal programs like PSLF and income-driven plan forgiveness.
What Changed In The Texas Mental Health Loan Repayment Program?
Providers who establish eligibility on or after September 1, 2025, qualify for higher maximums, such as $180,000 for psychiatrists instead of $160,000, plus new language and rural bonuses (THECB). Counselors and social workers at nonprofits should also look at PSLF.
How Much Can Texas Teachers Get Toward Their Student Loans?
Math and science teachers can receive up to $10,000 a year for eight years, and teachers in shortage fields or campuses up to $7,000 a year for five years through Teach for Texas (THECB). Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness adds up to $17,500, covered in our teacher forgiveness breakdown.
Are The Texas Attorney Loan Repayment Programs Still Available?
Loan repayment for legal aid attorneys through the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and for Office of the Attorney General attorneys has existed in the past, but we couldn't confirm either program's current terms on an official page for this update. Attorneys at government offices and legal aid nonprofits can pursue PSLF, and we'll add the state programs back once we verify them.
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxable In Texas?
No, because Texas has no personal income tax (The College Investor). Income-driven plan forgiveness is federally taxable after 2025, so use our tax bomb calculator to estimate the federal bill.
Related Texas Resources
How We Sourced This Data
Program details on this page come from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's loan repayment program pages on its Hinson-Hazlewood (hhloans.com) site and HRSA's State Loan Repayment Program contact list. Federal program details come from StudentAid.gov, HRSA, and USDA NIFA. Read more about how we fact-check and update content.
Page refreshed annually in August, after Texas's legislative session and agency rule approvals, and reviewed in January for tax season. Last full refresh: September 23, 2026.
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Claire Tak