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While most Americans have been watching the headlines about student loan forgiveness being “blocked” or “canceled,” something remarkable has been happening behind the scenes.
The federal government has quietly discharged student loan debt for approximately 5.9 million borrowers.
Through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program alone, over $79 billion has been wiped out. Through income-driven repayment plans, borrower defense claims, disability discharges, and other programs, the total reaches well over $195 billion in forgiven student debt.
And yet, only 18.4% of eligible borrowers ever apply for loan forgiveness.
That means more than 8 out of 10 people who qualify for some form of student loan relief never claim it. They keep making payments — sometimes for decades — on debt that could be partially or completely erased.
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Why? Because the system is confusing, the rules keep changing, and most people simply don’t know which programs exist or whether they qualify.
2026 is bringing the most dramatic changes to student loan repayment in a generation. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is overhauling how loans are repaid. The SAVE Plan is being shut down. New repayment options are replacing old ones. PSLF rules are being rewritten. And existing programs that are still active may not be around much longer.
If you have federal student loans, this guide could save you tens of thousands of dollars — or more. We’re going to walk you through every active forgiveness program, who qualifies, how to apply, and what’s changing in 2026 that you need to act on now.
[NEXT PAGE: The Programs That Are Forgiving Loans Right Now →]
