Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Portland State University is a qualifying employer for public service loan forgiveness. Employees who have Federal Direct Loans and have made 120 payments on the Federal Direct Loans (after Oct. 1, 2007) may be eligible for the remaining loan balance to be forgiven. Only payments made under certain repayment plans can be counted toward the required 120 payments, and loans may not be in default to be forgiven.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is administered by the Federal Student Aid office of the U.S. Department of Education.
PSU Human Resources Office will complete a section of the Employment Certification form to certify their employment with the university.
For additional information on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, see the Federal Student Aid Website.
In February 2022 SB 1572 passed. These changes affect part-time faculty employees/PSUFA members only.
- For any term where an employee worked worked 7 or more credits, payments made toward a federal student loan are now considered qualifying payments for PSLF. Importantly, this applies retroactively back to 2007, and each month that loans were in pandemic forbearance can also be counted toward forgiveness.
- Full-time status can also be achieved by piecing together part-time employment from multiple qualifying employers.
- Full-time is an average of 30 hours per week
For example, an employee who teaches four credits at Portland Community College in the fall, then eight credits at PSU in the winter, and 12 credits at PSU in the spring, has taught an average of eight credits per term. Payments made toward loans during those terms would count toward loan forgiveness.
A total of 120 qualifying payments is required to achieve loan forgiveness. Certify now to see learn about progress toward eligibility for loan forgiveness.
Steps To Apply For Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Make Sure Loans Qualify For PSLF
Unless and employee has just a single direct loan, there are action items to be completed at this step. If an employee has multiple direct loans, consilidation is recommended so that the most recent loan can be forgiven at the same time as the oldest loan.
Consolidate Loans
Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), Perkins Loans, or any other loans without the word “Direct,” must be consolidated for this program.
Complete the PSLF form
Employees have two options for filling out the PSLF Form
Employees are strongly encouraged to read the "Become a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Help Tool Ninja" before or as they fill out the form.
Option 1 (recommended)
- Visit the PSLF Help Tool web page to get started - either login or create an account
- Fill in and answer each section of the form.
- Use askhrc@pdx.edu as the email address they can send the form for review and approval
- After HR completes their portion of the PSLF form they will send an email stating the document was processed and a copy of the signed form will be attached to that email
Option 2
- Print out and fill in a paper copy of the PSLF form
- Upload the form on the PSU Human Resources website (link below)
- In the dropdown menu click on Public Service Loan Forgiveness Form for your employment type
- A PSU ID number is required for this upload process
- Check for a confirmation email upon submission
- Employees in part-time faculty positions who work for other qualifying employers during the time also worked with PSU must reply to PSU’s HR upload confirmation email with the names of the other qualifying employers
- After HR completes their portion of the PSLF form they will send an email stating the document was processed and a copy of the signed form will be attached to that email
Resources
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Help Tool
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program FAQ
Submit a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Reconsideration Request