NEA is working to ensure education is affordable and accessible to all

By working to cancel student debt and improve forgiveness programs, we can make sure everybody who wants to learn and grow can do so—without exceptions.

Higher education must be affordable and accessible to all. Yet, for too many, pursuing our college and career dreams means years, even decades of paying off student debt. This is especially true for educators. This system is working for the student loan providers and banks, but not for us.

For years, NEA members have advocated together in favor of cancelling college debt to help fix the educator shortage. Now, because of the Biden administration’s life-changing actions, the student loans taken out by 43 million borrowers are being substantially reduced, forgiven, or even cancelled outright.

Fixing the student debt crisis makes our public schools stronger.

Young or old, Black or white, educators of all ages and races have had to take on student debt to enter the profession. This reality keeps too many talented young people out of the profession and pushes out those who do enter it. With this crisis, however, comes the opportunity to create a better, more just system.

Imagine it. A world where every student, educator, parent, and friend can dream without limits. Where a higher education only means greater possibilities. Together, we will create this world.

NEA’s student debt experts have created tools designed to help educators through the complicated student debt system.

Stories of Student Debt Cancellation

Educators from across the country share how they got their student debt cancelled, and the impact it made on their lives.

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Did you get your student debt cancelled? We want to hear from you!

If you are one of these thousands of individuals impacted by this life changing advocacy, please fill out this short survey so we can capture what loan forgiveness has meant to our educators.

Share Your Story

NEA is fighting to cancel student debt, and to expand and protect programs that help.

Thanks to NEA members who are speaking up and demanding change, we have achieved a new cancellation program and fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, making it actually work for educators.

Our voices are strongest when we are united. Become a member of the National Education Association today to be part of the movement to make higher education affordable to everyone.

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Explore Our Stories on Educator Student Debt

NEA Rallies Support for Student Debt Cancellation

NEA President Becky Pringle and others spoke out at the Supreme Court this week, as the justices heard arguments over the legality of President Biden's student debt cancellation plan.

NEA SCOTUS filing argues for student debt relief

Amicus brief: Debt relief addresses the educator shortage, with “implications across the profession as financially secure educators are less likely to leave the profession.”

Woman with mask is sitting at a table and looking down at a tablet device.

NEA President: Court Decisions Halting Student Debt Cancellation are 'Nonsensical'

America’s largest labor union calls on Biden to extend payment pause, will continue advocacy

Student Debt Cancellation, PSLF & More: What Educators Need to Know

The Biden administration recently announced a new student debt cancellation plan, on top of its temporary Public Service Loan Forgiveness program waiver. It's complicated, yes! But it's also good news for educators and current college students.

NEA Advocacy Leads to Key Change in PSLF

Thanks to NEA’s persistent advocacy, it is now clear: Teachers who received Teacher Loan Forgiveness will not be delayed in getting the more valuable Public Service Loan Forgiveness, too.

Meet The Educators Whose Student Debt Has Been Forgiven

NEA members have fought hard for fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. With the new PSLF waiver, announced in October, many are finally seeing relief.

You Did This! Fixing Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Department of Education announced an overhaul of its broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, after receiving 168,000 emails from NEA members.

Person with a calculator and credit cards deals with financial issues.

The Depth of Educators’ College Debt

The rising cost of higher education has led to mountains of student debt among college-educated Americans. New NEA research shows the pervasiveness of this problem among educators, young and old, White, Black, and Hispanic.

The Making of the Student Debt Crisis, Explained

The author of "The Debt Trap," a book that describes how the federal student loan program became a "national catastrophe" and offers solutions to the problem, recently met with members of NEA's National Council of Urban Education Associations. Today, he sits down with NEA Today.

When we unite and speak truth to power, we can have an enormous impact. Stay up to date on the latest actions you can take to protect and improve public schools for all students.

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NEA is working to ensure education is affordable and accessible to all

Fixing the student debt crisis makes our public schools stronger.

Cancel Your Student Debt

NEA members get free access to individualized support through the NEA Student Debt Navigator.

Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

President Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan