| Student loans are often necessary to finance a | | | | Heath care workers and medical professionals may |
| college education. However, many graduates find it | | | | also qualify for student loan forgiveness programs. |
| difficult to repay student loans after graduation. | | | | Working in low-income communities or areas with a |
| While there is a grace period of six months before | | | | shortage of medical personnel is one way of |
| graduates must begin repaying loans, in today's job | | | | qualifying for some programs. Health professionals |
| marketplace it may take longer to secure | | | | can also have a set amount repaid on their behalf if |
| employment and often a new graduates begin at low | | | | they are conducting medical research through a |
| salaries making it difficult to repay student loans. | | | | special program offered by the US National Institute |
| Student loan forgiveness programs will officially | | | | of Health. |
| "forgive" all or part of the loan amount, which means | | | | Graduates of a variety of disciplines may consider |
| that that amount does not have to be paid back. | | | | the Americorps and Peace Corps volunteers student |
| There are student loan forgiveness programs for | | | | loan forgiveness programs. Americorps volunteers |
| teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers and other | | | | help in many areas of community service receive an |
| professions. | | | | education award of $4,725 for a year of full-time |
| Student loan forgiveness may be possible for | | | | service which can be to repay a student loans. |
| teachers by working full-time in an elementary or | | | | Peace Corps volunteers are eligible for a 15 percent |
| secondary school in low-income communities. Many | | | | cancellation of their outstanding student loan balance |
| education majors and others preparing for a teaching | | | | for each year of Peace Corps service. Additional |
| career take out Perkins loans. If a teacher meets | | | | educational and financial benefits are available. |
| certain qualifications it may be possible to cancel the | | | | If you have large student loan balances, check into |
| entire Perkins loan. Perkins loans are provided by the | | | | the many student loan forgiveness programs available |
| individual college or university, so graduates will need | | | | in employment and volunteer opportunities that can |
| to contact the financial aid department of the college | | | | help you reduce your debt. |
| attended to get information on debt forgiveness. | | | | |