| Many college students are struggling to pay back | | | | form to see if you qualify. |
| student loan debt due to lower paying jobs and | | | | The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers a |
| difficulty in finding a job in this economy. The average | | | | Federal Student Loan Repayment Program the allows |
| college student graduates with over $20,000 in student | | | | any federal agency to forgive up to $10,000 annually |
| loan debt and many also have credit card debt. It can | | | | for your federal student loans up to a maximum |
| take an entire lifetime to pay back student loan and | | | | amount of $60,000. For further details call OPM at |
| credit card debt if you just send in the minimum | | | | 202-606-1800 or visit their website at opm.gov/oca |
| monthly payment. Some common solutions are to live | | | | pay/StudentLoan. |
| below your means, work multiple jobs, work overtime | | | | You can do volunteer work by joining the AmeriCorps, |
| or live at home with your parents for as long as | | | | Peacecorps, or Vista. You can also get a job in a |
| possible. However, there is another alternative, student | | | | public service industry such as military service, public |
| loan forgiveness programs. Here are 4 ways to pay | | | | health, social work, emergency management, |
| off student loans. | | | | government, public safety, law enforcement, public |
| High school math and science teachers, and | | | | interest law services, or child care. Visit |
| elementary and high school special education teachers | | | | studentaid.ed.gov for more information. |
| who agree to work in low-economic areas for five | | | | If you have a Perkins loan you can have the loans |
| years can get up to $17,500 forgiven in Stafford loans. | | | | discharged if you served in the U.S. Armed Forces. If |
| The teachers have to teach full time for five | | | | you served in a hostile area or war area you can get |
| consecutive years. Visit the U.S. Department of | | | | fifty percent of your Perkins loans forgiven. More |
| Education website at studentaid.ed.gov and complete | | | | information about student loan forgiveness programs |
| the Cancellation and Deferment Option for Teachers | | | | can be found at the FinAid website at finaid.org. |