Perkins Loan Cancellation 2026: The Full Guide

Do you have an older “Federal Perkins Loan” on your student aid dashboard? If so, you might be sitting on a goldmine. Unlike other forgiveness programs that make you wait 10 or 20 years, Perkins Loan Cancellation works incrementally. You can have a portion of your loan wiped out every single year, eventually reaching 100% forgiveness. This guide covers the 2026 eligibility list, including firefighters, librarians, and law enforcement.

The Perkins Loan Cancellation Schedule (5 Years)

This is what makes Perkins unique. You do not have to wait until the end to get relief. For most eligible professions, the loan is cancelled in stages over 5 years of service:

• Year 1: 15% cancelled.
• Year 2: 15% cancelled.
• Year 3: 20% cancelled.
• Year 4: 20% cancelled.
• Year 5: 30% cancelled.
• Result: After 5 years, 100% of the loan is gone.

Who Qualifies for Perkins Loan Cancellation?

Most people know about teachers, but Perkins covers many other careers. You generally qualify if you work full-time as:

• Firefighters: If you serve a local, state, or federal fire agency.
• Law Enforcement: Police officers and corrections officers.
• Nurses & Medical Techs: Registered nurses and certified medical technicians.
• Librarians: With a master’s degree working in a Title I school.
• Speech Pathologists: With a master’s degree working in a Title I school.
• Public Defenders: Full-time attorneys in public defense.
• Early Childhood Educators: Staff in licensed pre-K or child care programs.

Important: Do You Actually Have a Perkins Loan?

The Federal Perkins Loan Program ended in 2017. No new loans have been issued since then.

• Check your Dashboard: Log in to StudentAid.gov. Look for a loan explicitly labeled “Federal Perkins Loan.”
• Servicer: Unlike other federal loans managed by companies like Nelnet, Perkins loans are often managed by the school you attended (or a servicer they hired, like ECSI).

How to Apply

You cannot apply for this on the standard StudentAid.gov website.

1. Contact Your School: You must contact the financial aid office of the college that gave you the loan. Many schools use the Heartland ECSI service to manage these loans.
2. Request the Form: Ask for the official “Request for Deferment/Cancellation” form for your specific profession.
3. Check Other Options: If you don’t qualify, check our Student Loan Forgiveness 2026 Ultimate Guide for other solutions like PSLF.
4. File Annually: You must file this form every single year to get that year’s percentage cancelled.
5. Official Rules: You can verify your eligibility on the Federal Student Aid Perkins page.

Frequently Asked Questions

• “Can I consolidate a Perkins Loan?” Be careful! If you consolidate a Perkins Loan into a Direct Consolidation Loan to get PSLF, you lose your exclusive Perkins Cancellation rights. Only consolidate if you are sure PSLF is a better deal for you.
• “Is it tax-free?” Yes. Perkins Loan cancellation is generally tax-free.
• “What if I switch jobs?” Since cancellation happens year-by-year, you keep the percentage you already earned. If you quit after Year 2, you keep the 30% forgiveness you already received.