Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
120 payments, qualifying work, and which plans count in 2026.
PSLF forgives your remaining Direct Loan balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments (10 years) made while working full-time for a government or 501(c)(3) nonprofit employer. Payments must be on a qualifying plan - in 2026 that means an income-driven plan such as RAP or IBR. The new tiered Standard, classic Standard, Graduated and Extended plans do not count. PSLF forgiveness is not federally taxed. General information, not advice.
Source: Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov). Data as of June 2026.
General information, not financial or legal advice. Federal student loan rules are changing in 2025-2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act - figures here are estimates from public sources and the final program rules are still being implemented. Always verify with your loan servicer and studentaid.gov. See our disclaimer.
Which plans count toward PSLF
| Plan | Counts toward PSLF | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) | Yes | Income-driven |
| New tiered Standard plan | No | Fixed |
| Income-Based Repayment (IBR) | Yes | Income-driven |
| Standard 10-year plan | No | Fixed |
| Graduated repayment plan | No | Fixed |
| Extended repayment plan | No | Fixed |
| SAVE plan (Saving on a Valuable Education) | Yes | Income-driven |
| Pay As You Earn (PAYE) | Yes | Income-driven |
| Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) | Yes | Income-driven |
PSLF in four steps
- Work full-time for a qualifying employer (government or 501(c)(3) nonprofit).
- Have Direct Loans (consolidate FFEL/Perkins into a Direct Consolidation Loan if needed).
- Repay on a qualifying income-driven plan (RAP or IBR in 2026).
- Make 120 qualifying monthly payments, certifying employment along the way.
Frequently asked questions
What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?
PSLF forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments (10 years) made while working full-time for a qualifying employer - government at any level, or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The forgiven amount under PSLF is not taxed as federal income.
Which repayment plans count toward PSLF in 2026?
You generally need an income-driven plan. RAP and IBR count toward PSLF (as did SAVE/PAYE/ICR while available). The fixed Standard, the new tiered Standard, Graduated and Extended plans do NOT count - so new borrowers pursuing PSLF should use RAP.
Do RAP payments count toward PSLF?
Yes. OBBBA amended PSLF so that payments made under the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) count toward the 120 PSLF payments, effective on the law's enactment. With PSLF, forgiveness can arrive after 10 years instead of RAP's 30.
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Last updated: 2026-06-22