5 Key Student Loan Forgiveness Programs in Washington, D.C.

Borrowers who live in Washington, D.C., carry about $6.6 billion in federal student loan debt. In fact, borrowers in the District of Columbia have an average loan balance of $53,897 — higher than any other state average. Many of its borrowers (an estimated 72,000 individuals) stood to benefit from President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program that was struck down by the Supreme Court. 

Although it might not be the decision you were hoping for, there are still other student loan forgiveness options for Washington, D.C., residents.

5 Little-known Washington, D.C. student loan forgiveness options

There are a couple of student debt cancellation opportunities for residents of the District of Columbia. But you’ll need to meet specific eligibility requirements to take advantage of these Washington, D.C., student loan forgiveness programs.

1. DC Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)

Amount: Up to $151,841.20 (physicians and dentists), up to $83,510.61 (other eligible providers)

The District of Columbia Department of Health (DC Health) offers loan repayment services to eligible primary care, mental health and dental providers. You must practice in an HPLRP-certified service obligation site and be one of the following:

• Physician (MD, DO)
• Dentist (DDS)
• Dental hygienist
• Registered nurse
• Advanced practice nurse
• Physician assistant
• Licensed clinical social worker
• Clinic psychologist
• Professional counselor

Qualifying physicians and dentists can receive loan repayment of up to $151,841.29 over four years. Other eligible providers can receive up to $83,510.61.

2. DC Bar Foundation Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

Amount: Up to $12,000 per year

The District of Columbia Bar Foundation (DCBF) provides loan repayment assistance to attorneys working for an eligible employer in Washington, D.C. 

The goal is increasing the number of attorneys providing assistance to low-income residents and assisting poverty lawyers with earning their law degree. Eligible employers include:

• Advocates for Justice and Education
• African Communities Together
• Amara Legal Center
• Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
• Ayuda
• Bread for the City
• Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition
• Catholic Charities Legal Network
• Central American Resource Center
• Children’s Law Center
• Christian Legal Aid of DC
• Community Family Life Services
• DC Affordable Law Firm
• DC Bar Pro Bono Center
• DC KinCare Alliance
• DC Volunteers Lawyers Project
• Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project
• First Shift Justice Project
• Georgetown University Law Center – Health Justice Alliance 
• Howard University School of Law
• KIND, Inc. 
• Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
• Legal Counsel for the Elderly
• Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project
• Mother's Outreach Network
• Neighborhood Legal Services Program
• Network for Victim Recovery of DC
• Open City Advocates
• Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities
• Rising for Justice
• School Justice Project
• The Safe Sisters Circle
• Torture Abolition & Survivors Support Coalition
• Tzedek DC
• University Legal Services
• Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
• Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless University Legal Services
• Whitman-Walker Health

DCBF provides one-year, interest-free, forgivable loans for up to $12,000 per year. Depending on residency, funds come from two separate programs: Public LRAP versus Private LRAP.

Other student loan forgiveness programs for Washington, D.C. borrowers

Although there are limited Washington, D.C. student loan forgiveness programs, you might benefit from federal programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

3. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

If you work for a nonprofit organization or a public employer (e.g., local, state, federal or tribal agency), PSLF should be on your radar. With PSLF, you can receive tax-free debt forgiveness on your remaining balance after making 120 qualifying student loan payments.

Washington, D.C. borrowers received more than $1 million in student debt relief under President Biden’s temporary PSLF Waiver, according to the District of Columbia’s Mayor, Muriel Bowser. And many more received additional PSLF credit, putting them on the fast-track to loan forgiveness. But if you didn’t benefit from the PSLF Waiver, you can still reap similar benefits under the upcoming IDR Waiver account adjustment.

4. Income-driven repayment forgiveness options

If you work in the private sector or are self-employed, then income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness might be an option. There are currently four IDR plans that offer loan forgiveness after 20 to 25 years of repayment, including:

• Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE). Monthly payments are based on 10% of your discretionary income.
• Pay As You Earn (PAYE). Payments are based on 10% of your discretionary income.
• Income-Based Repayment (IBR). Payments are based on 10% or 15% of your discretionary income, depending on when you took out the loans.
• Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). Payments are based on 20% of your discretionary income or a 12-year fixed payment calculation, whichever is less.

However, the Biden Administration finalized the new SAVE plan on June 30, 2023, giving borrowers future access to a more generous income-driven repayment plan. It includes a poverty line of 225% (instead of 150%) and payments based on 5% (undergraduate) or 10% (graduate) of discretionary income.

5. Teacher Loan Forgiveness program

Educators can take advantage of federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness. However, its benefits are more narrow than the PSLF program. 

You might be eligible for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness after working five consecutive years full-time in a low-income school or education service agency. However, this amount is limited to those who teach math, science or special education. If you teach outside of those disciplines, you might only qualify for up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness.

Get a custom student loan repayment strategy

If you’re a healthcare provider or lawyer in Washington, D.C., you might have access to student loan forgiveness options with generous benefits. But you’ll need to work for a qualifying employer that is geared toward helping underserved populations.

Additionally, federal student loan forgiveness programs offer substantial loan cancellation opportunities if you have a strategy in place to maximize forgiveness. 

That said, these programs can be challenging to navigate. Our team of student debt consultants take a holistic approach to reviewing your student debt and overall financial situation to create a custom repayment plan.