/pslf-pathway
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying public-service employer. After payment 120, the remaining balance is forgiven — federally tax-free.
34 CFR §685.219·2026-04-22HEROES Act §401·2026-04-22
Qualifying employer flowchart
501(c)(3) nonprofit?
Qualifying
Federal, state, local, or tribal government?
Qualifying
Active-duty military or full-time National Guard?
Qualifying
AmeriCorps or Peace Corps service?
Qualifying (during service term)
Non-501(c)(3) nonprofit doing qualifying public service?
May qualify — verify via PSLF Help Tool
For-profit company?
Not qualifying
Religious organization (worship-only role)?
Service must be non-religious in nature to count
The 120-payment counter
Payment 0Payment 120 · forgiveness
Example borrower: 65 of 120 qualifying payments · 55 to go.
The Buyback program
PSLF Buyback lets you pay for past months of forbearance or non-qualifying deferment — including SAVE forbearance — to fill gaps in your 120-count. The application backlog has been large and wait times vary; check StudentAid.gov for current processing times.
Specialist match
Want a one-on-one PSLF or tax-bomb review?
We don't yet have a vetted advisor partner to refer you to. When we engage one, their credentials, fee structure, and our disclosure will be listed here — until then we make no such claim and earn no fee from this slot.
In the meantime, the U.S. Department of Education's StudentAid.gov loan-servicer line can answer PSLF and plan questions at no cost.