{"id":265556,"date":"2025-05-31T16:30:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T16:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/business\/finance\/trade-school-loan-forgiveness-programs\/"},"modified":"2025-05-31T16:30:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T16:30:29","slug":"trade-school-loan-forgiveness-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=265556","title":{"rendered":"Trade School Loan Forgiveness Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Student loan forgiveness<\/a> applies to a variety of degrees, even trade schools. So even if you went to a trade school, vocational school, or apprenticeship program, you could be eligible to get your student loans forgiven. <\/p>\n

If you attended school for HVAC repair, cosmetology, the culinary arts, or any other trade program, your student loans could qualify for one of these student loan forgiveness programs.<\/p>\n

We cover the factors that make trade school student loans unique, and how you can figure out whether your trade school loans qualify for loan forgiveness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Why Trade School Loans Are Unique<\/h2>\n

Unlike a community college<\/a> or a traditional university, Trade schools aren’t necessarily accredited<\/a> and may not offer two or four-year degrees. In many cases, the schools offer short programs that allow you to meet state and local educational requirements to operate as a licensed professional.<\/p>\n

When a trade school or a trade program isn’t accredited, you can’t take out federal student loans<\/a> to finance your education. You may have covered your costs with private student loans, credit cards, or another type of financing. These alternative loan options aren’t typically covered by student loan forgiveness programs because they aren’t truly student loans. <\/p>\n

You Qualify If You Took Out A Federal Loan<\/h2>\n

In general, student loan forgiveness is focused on federal loan forgiveness. That said, many trade schools, including most for-profit colleges<\/a>, are accredited. If you took out loans to attend a trade school, you probably took out some federal student loans to fund your education. That means you may qualify for one of the following trade school loan forgiveness programs.<\/p>\n

Public Service Loan Forgiveness<\/h2>\n

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)<\/a> is one of the best loan forgiveness programs available. This program provides complete loan forgiveness after working 10 years (or 120 payments) in public service. The great thing for trade school graduates is that the definition of “public service” is very broad.<\/p>\n

For example, if you’re a plumber, electrician, or other trade, and you work for the government (federal, state, local), a school district, or non-profit, you could qualify.<\/p>\n

It’s not the degree or certification that matters, it’s the employer.<\/p>\n

Read our full list of public service jobs that qualify for loan forgiveness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Closed School Discharge<\/h2>\n

You may qualify for the Closed School Discharge<\/a> program if your school closed while you were enrolled. The Closed School Discharge is only available if you were unable to complete your education through some alternative means such as transferring credits or a “teach out” program at another school.<\/p>\n

In August 2021, the U.S. Department of Education discharged $1.1 billion<\/a> to 115,000 borrowers who attended the now-defunct ITT Technical Institute (ITT).<\/p>\n

Visit the Department of Education’s website<\/a> to learn more about this discharge program. It has a school-by-school guide, so you can understand the exact steps to take to proceed with a discharge if you’re eligible.<\/p>\n

Borrower Defense To Repayment Discharge<\/h2>\n

The Borrower Defense to Repayment Discharge allows for federal student loans to be discharged due to a school’s harmful acts, misrepresentations, or omissions of facts. Students who borrowed money to attend a school that lied to them may be able to have their loans discharged. <\/p>\n

If your school ever signed student loans on your behalf or misrepresented information about any of the following, you may qualify for borrower defense to repayment discharge<\/a>.<\/p>\n