Available scholarships for paying off student loans
For many people, paying off student loans is a top priority. Unfortunately, not everyone can do so without help.
Many scholarships are available for people who want to pay off their loans as quickly as possible.
Banks and lenders offer some of the most common scholarships, but many private scholarships are also available.
Most of these scholarships are based on academic achievement or financial need. Some scholarships also focus on specific fields, such as engineering or business. Scholarship opportunities abound, so research is essential to find the best one for you.
Why is Student Loan Scholarships a Good Idea?
Scholarships for student loans may help clear your debt from education. The money, unlike most scholarships, is not for your tuition.
But there is more to learn about student loan scholarships. To apply, you might need to have graduated from high school.
Additionally, taxes on the money you win might be due. And doing so entails including the sum on your yearly tax returns.
Some awards could cancel your loan, allowing you to cease making payments. Others are monetary amounts used to pay back the loan in whole or part.
Student Loan Forgiveness
There are various meanings of student loan forgiveness. A grant is one.
The money from them may pay off some or all of your debt. The phrase also describes a program that \”forgives\” or \”cancels\” your debt.
Therefore, you will stop making student loan payments. But you might not receive any cash. The giver\’s severe requirements must be met.
For instance, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is open to full-time employees of nonprofit organizations or government agencies that have been awarded approval.
The federal government will forgive your debt under the PSLF program. You must, though, make 120 qualifying payments. And work for a company that they have allowed.
Can you pay off someone else\’s student loan?
Yes, you can take on someone else\’s debt in various ways, depending on the type of debt.
You can gift the person the money so they can pay off the balance in full without worrying about paying you back.
How to pay off student loans
There are different ways you can pay off someone else\’s student loan or make someone pay your loan as a student.
Be a co-signer on the student loans.
Loan co-signers, typically parents, can make tax-free donations of any amount by making loan payments. As a co-signer for a student\’s school loan, there are no restrictions on the number of fees you can make.
Even paying out the entire amount for the student is possible without worrying about gift taxes. Having a co-signor for a student loan enables the graduate to start investing and saving for future aspirations like home ownership, travel, relocation, and getting married while making smaller payments on the loan with advantageous interest rates.
There is a way to contribute to the student loan repayment if you weren\’t the original co-signer and now want to do so without paying the annual gift tax.
This is especially helpful if the student\’s credit history resulted in the first loan term having a high-interest rate or large monthly payments.
If the student loan qualifies for refinancing, take advantage of the chance. Refinancing private and federal student loans with a bank, credit union, or online lender results in favourable interest rates and merges the loans into one loan, making for an easier payback.
Meet loved ones and friends to lend a hand.
Family members, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other blood relatives, are permitted to donate and make tax-free cash donations to assist pay off student loans.
None of the benevolent family members are required to pay gift taxes as long as each gives a graduate an amount less than the total amount of nontaxable cash.
Maximum annual tax-free gift
You can also give the student loan borrower cash or a cheque so they can pay the loan themselves. This can seem like a good idea for various reasons, but the IRS only exempts up to a certain amount in dollars from paying taxes. The IRS has imposed a $15,000 cap on tax-exempt gifts for 2021.
Only monetary contributions over the annual gift limit set by the Internal Revenue Service are subject to gift taxes.
Your financial donation is exempt from gift taxes as long as it stays below the annual exclusion threshold.
Are there scholarships to pay off student loans?
Sure, many scholarship programs can pay off student loans. Some of these programs come with financial aid from big organizations.
Loan Repayment Program for Nurse Corps
One of the available scholarships that can pay off your student loan is the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. This repayment program is specifically for nurses.
And these nurses must apply for a debt repayment plan through the Health Resources and Services Administration before accessing it.
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will cover up to 85% of the student loans for registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and nursing faculty.
To be eligible for this pay-off scholarship program, you must complete accredited nursing programs in the United States to qualify for this program.
Also, you must work for two years at a facility with a significant shortage or a nursing school.
Student Loan Repayment Program
The Student Loan Repayment Program is another available scholarship program that can pay off your student loan.
This program is specifically for students in their final year of medical school or dental school who may be eligible for the Students to Service Loan Repayment Program.
That means you must be a final-year medical student to be eligible. To be eligible, you must be a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician assistant.
The Health Resources and Services Administration runs the program, which provides student loan grants of up to $120,000. Recipients agree to work for three years in clinical settings that have been approved.
National Institute of Mental Health Loan Repayment Program
The National Institutes of Health manage a program for repaying medical professionals\’ debt.
The initiative offers up to $50,000 in annual grants to help students pay off their debt and recruit health professionals for research positions.
As a researcher in the program, you must concentrate on subjects such as health inequalities in underrepresented groups.
Also, you must focus on clinical research for those from underprivileged backgrounds and study contraception and infertility.
Loan Repayment Program for NIMH
The National Institute of Mental Health administers a debt repayment program for select healthcare professionals.
The nonprofit National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Program funds researchers in mental health.
To be eligible for this student repayment scholarship, you must be a clinical researcher in mental health, children\’s health, health inequities, and new fields with significant implications for human health.
This program offers up to $50,000 in annual student loan repayments.
Student Loan Repayment Program John R. Justice
Law school debt can be relatively high, discouraging graduates from working in the public sector, where it pays less.
The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program seeks to alter this situation. Public defenders and state prosecutors can use the funding.
Recipients consent to serve for a minimum of three years as public defenders or prosecutors for the state. The award offers $10,000 a year for up to six years.
Programs for Repaying NHSC Loans
The National Health Service Corps offers three debt payback programs open to doctors, nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers, psychiatric nurse specialists, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors.
Participants in the programs who consent to work in a qualifying program for at least two years are eligible to receive up to $100,000 in loan repayment.
For example, there is a rural community program for people who reside in rural areas and a substance use problem program for addiction specialists.
DOJ Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program
The Department of Justice (DOJ) draws legal professionals with its student loan repayment program.
The program offers up to $6,000 yearly repayment help to DOJ attorneys.
The curriculum includes a three-year service requirement. Attorneys must apply and meet the needs to participate in the competitive process. Recipients may take part in the program for an additional year.
IHS ( Indian Health Service) Loan Repayment Program
The Indian Health Service, which provides medical treatment to American Indians and Alaska Natives, offers a debt payback program for medical professionals who work at qualified healthcare facilities.
If participants agree to serve for two years, they may get up to $40,000 in student loan payback aid.
Among the qualified health professionals are behavioral health specialists, advanced practice nurses, dentists, registered nurses, doctors, dietitians, and medical laboratory scientists.
Program for loan repayment in veterinary medicine.
The United States Department of Agriculture\’s veterinary medicine loan payback program offers up to $75,000 to veterinarians who agree to serve in designated areas for at least three years to pay back federal and private school loans.
You won\’t need to worry about paying income taxes manually because tax payments equal to 39% of the loan repayment amounts will be automatically credited to your IRS account.
How Do I Apply for Scholarships for Student Loans?
The application procedure will vary depending on the specific scholarship you\’re applying to. However, the following is a general overview:
1. Look for a scholarship that suits your needs.
Look into scholarships that are offered in your state.
If you\’re willing to enlist, look into scholarships offered to those who work for the government or nonprofit organizations like Teach for America or the Peace Corps.
Completing the form
An application should be available on the websites of the organizations providing the scholarships. You may need to print it out and mail it, or you may do it online.
Depending on the type of scholarship, some organizations may want you to submit a CV, recommendation letters, or an essay explaining your motivation for applying and the job you do.
Pay attention to the deadlines
Remember that many funds are awarded on a cycle and typically set a deadline each year.
As a result, if you missed the application deadline for a grant that seems like it may be a good fit, find out when it will open again and set a calendar reminder to apply.
As many grants have a limited budget and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, it is better to do this early in the cycle.
Conclusion
Many scholarships are available for students looking to pay off their student loans.
By taking the time to research and apply for these scholarships, students can significantly reduce their loan balances and get one step closer to becoming debt-free.
