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Helpful Topics

Plain-English answers to the student loan questions borrowers actually ask — payments, forgiveness, mortgages, bankruptcy, and more.

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Yes — really. The old “never” is outdated. Since 2022, thousands of borrowers have had student loans discharged in bankruptcy.

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A program for public-service and nonprofit workers: make qualifying payments and the rest of your federal loans can be forgiven — tax-free.

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Every lender sets its own policy, but most follow the guidelines of the loan program you’re applying for. Here’s how student debt factors in.

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IDR plans set your monthly payment based on your income and family size. Stay on one long enough and the remaining balance can be forgiven.

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Estimate your monthly student loan payment with the Department of Education’s Loan Simulator — and see which plans could bring it down.