Skip to content
Repayment Resources
Columbia University Loans
Direct Loans
Income-Driven Repayment Plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- IDR - Income Driven Repayment
An income-driven repayment plan sets your monthly student loan payment at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on your income and family size. The Department of Education offers two income-driven repayment plans that pertain to health profession students:
- Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE Plan)
- Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR Plan)
- PSLF - Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
- If you want to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness now or in the future, complete and submit the Employment Certification form as soon as possible. Too many borrowers wait to submit this important form until they have been in repayment for several years, at which point they learn that they have not been making qualifying payments. In order to ensure you’re on track to receive forgiveness, you should continue to submit this form both annually and every time you switch employers.
Unresolved Loan Servicer Issues
- Office of the Ombudsman (U.S. Dept. of Ed.)
The Ombudsman Group is dedicated to helping resolve disputes related to Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, Guaranteed Student Loans, and Perkins Loans.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly.
Back to top
