PSLF forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments made while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
How it works
Subtracting qualifying payments already made from 120 gives the payments still needed. Multiplying that by the current monthly payment shows what would be paid without forgiveness — the amount PSLF is designed to eliminate.
What this does not include
This doesn’t verify actual PSLF eligibility (qualifying employer, qualifying repayment plan, Direct Loan status) — the official PSLF Help Tool at studentaid.gov tracks and certifies actual qualifying payment counts.
How to use this calculator
- Enter qualifying payments already made and the current monthly payment.
Frequently asked questions
Do PSLF qualifying payments need to be consecutive?
No — payments don’t need to be made consecutively to count toward the 120 required, as long as each one otherwise qualifies.
Can a $0 payment count as a qualifying payment?
Yes — under certain income-driven repayment plans, a calculated payment of $0 can still count as a qualifying payment toward PSLF.
What loan types qualify for PSLF?
Only Direct Loans qualify directly — other federal loan types generally need to be consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan first to become eligible.
