Student Loans Can be Forgiven
By DAVID UFFINGTON

It's typical that college students will have many tens of thousands of dollars in education debt by the time they graduate. After a period of time, those loans come due and the payments start. However, for graduates in any number of fields, it's possible to get part or all of the student loans forgiven.

Teachers

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program will repay up to $5,000 in studentloan debt after five consecutive years of teaching. If you teach full time in math or science at eligible secondary schools, or work with special-education students, that forgiveness amount can climb to $17,500.

Law Enforcement

Full-time correction officers can have 15 percent to 30 percent of their loans paid off after working two to five years.

Nurses

Nurses and medical practitioners who work in areas without adequate medical care are eligible to have $35,000 of student-loan debt paid per year. Nurses who work in facilities with critical shortages can have up to 60 percent of loan debt paid after two years.

Peace Corps

Volunteers are eligible to have 15 percent of their loans paid for each year of service, topping out at 70 percent of the student-loan amount.

Americorps

Up to $4,725 can be earned for college debt after one year of service. Americorps is the domestic section of the Peace Corps.

VISTA

Up to $4,725 worth of Volunteers in Service to America student-loan debt can be erased after volunteering in organizations that work with illiteracy, homelessness, poverty and hunger.

If you work in those fields, it makes sense to inquire about student loan payment assistance. Once you graduate and move on with your life, the amount of student loan debt can impact your overall credit worthiness, possibly keeping you from getting a loan for a vehicle or a house.

From the Mailbag: Reader S.B. in Oregon asked for a list of phone numbers to contact charity watch groups. These groups can help you target charities that are in line with your philosophies and that spend as much as possible on the intended target instead of diverting too much to overhead and advertising.

American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) Phone: (773) 529-2300 GuideStar Phone: (757) 229-4631 Charity Navigator

Phone: (201) 818-1288

Write to David Uffington in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475 or send e-mail to letters.kfws@hearstsc.com.

(c) 2006 King Features Synd., Inc.