Navigating Student Loan Forgiveness Programs in Georgia

For professionals in Georgia burdened by student loans acquired while pursuing higher education, various avenues exist to alleviate this debt. The average student loan debt balance for 2018-2019 graduates in Georgia was $28,081. As of June 2020, the total number of borrowers in Georgia was 1.59 million, with an average student loan balance of $41,100. Fortunately, the State of Georgia offers several programs designed to provide student loan forgiveness or make repayment more manageable.

Loan Repayment Programs Administered by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW)

The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW) administers service-cancelable loan repayment programs to support healthcare professionals, including:

Physicians
Dentists
Physician Assistants
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Behavioral Health Providers
Nurse Faculty

These programs assist in repaying debt incurred for tuition, fees, and other expenses related to completing eligible health professional degrees.

Important Dates & Updates

Application Cycle Opens: September 1, 2025
Apply through the GBHCW Online Loan Repayment Application Portal
Last Day to ask questions: After October 20, GBHCW staff will contact applicants for any additional or missing information.
Application Cycle Concludes: November 3rd, 2025

Note: Beginning in 2026, the Loan Repayment Application Cycle will open August 1, 2026.

Loan Forgiveness Programs for Healthcare Workers in Underserved Rural Areas

For healthcare workers serving in underserved rural counties in Georgia (population 50,000 or less), several student loan forgiveness programs are available. These programs are based on the location of employment and the duration of service.

Physician Rural Access Program (PRAA): Licensed physicians in Georgia who practice full-time in underserved rural areas can receive a loan of $25,000 per year, with the option to re-apply annually.
Georgia Physician Loan Repayment Program (GPLRP): Similar to the PRAA program, the GPLRP offers $25,000 per year in student loan forgiveness for licensed physicians in Georgia.
Loan Forgiveness for Dentists: Licensed dentists in Georgia who work full-time in rural, underserved parts of the state are eligible for student loan forgiveness.
Loan Forgiveness for Physician Assistants: Physician assistants are eligible for up to $10,000 per year in student loan forgiveness through a program funded by the State of Georgia.
Loan Forgiveness for Nurses: Licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) may qualify for student loan forgiveness in Georgia.

Service-Based Loan Reduction and Cancellation Programs

Unlike traditional forgiveness programs, some loans offer the possibility of reduction or cancellation in exchange for fulfilling specific obligations, such as military service or working in a designated career field.

Military Career Scholarships: A full scholarship program is available to students pursuing a military career at the University of North Georgia.
GMC State Service Scholarship Loan: This loan offers full tuition for two years of education at Georgia Military College to students pursuing a military career.
Mercer University Scholarship for Engineering Education (SEE): Mercer University offers the SEE scholarship to students who plan to work in the engineering field in Georgia after graduation.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is a federal program that forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Qualifying employers include government entities and non-profit organizations. To be eligible for PSLF, borrowers must also meet specific requirements regarding the type of employment.

Georgia Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

Georgia teachers can access student loan forgiveness through the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness program. To qualify, teachers must be employed full-time for five consecutive years in a low-income public school or educational service agency. The forgiveness amount varies depending on the subject taught, with a maximum award of $17,500 for teachers in science, math, or special education. Cancellation of Perkins Loans is also available for Georgia teachers in non-profit or public schools serving low-income students or teaching special education or subjects with teacher shortages.

Federal Loan Discharge Options

Federal student loans may be discharged under certain circumstances, although it's not always automatic.

School Closure: Federal Direct Loans, Perkins Loans, and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) amounts may be fully discharged if the school's closure prevented the student from completing their degree.
Death: Federal loans are discharged in the event of the borrower's death.
Total and Permanent Disability: Borrowers with total and permanent disabilities may also have their federal loans discharged.

The SAVE Plan and its Uncertain Future

The Biden-Harris Administration introduced the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, an income-driven repayment plan designed to make student loan payments more affordable. The SAVE Plan aims to:

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Reduce monthly payments for low-income borrowers.
Eliminate monthly interest for borrowers who make their payments on time.
Shorten the repayment period for borrowers with smaller loan balances (less than $12,000), reducing it to 10 years.

In May, 16,340 Georgians with over $229 billion in debt were identified for student debt cancellation through the SAVE Plan.

However, the SAVE Plan has faced legal challenges. Georgia’s attorney general, Chris Carr, joined a lawsuit against the Biden-Harris Administration to stop the SAVE Plan. In June, a judge temporarily blocked any future student loan debt cancellations under the SAVE Plan, and another judge issued an injunction blocking all the remaining SAVE Plan provisions set to take effect in July. These injunctions are temporary, and the federal courts have not yet decided whether to strike down the SAVE repayment plan completely.

The Impact of Student Loan Debt in Georgia

Student loan borrowers in Georgia owe over $69 billion. Student loan debt can have significant economic and social impacts, affecting homeownership rates, credit scores, and delinquency rates on other debts. The SAVE Plan represents a beacon of hope for many, offering significant relief through innovative measures such as eliminating monthly interest for diligent borrowers, reducing payments for low-income families, and shortening the path to debt cancellation for those with smaller loan amounts.

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