Skip Navigation
Schools Students Deserve Public Dollars for Public Schools
Representation Rights Responding to the Workforce Crisis Retiring With Security Seminars School Safety
Vermont-NEA Conferences & Events Education Support Professionals (ESPs) Certified Educators Aspiring Educators Online Professional Learning Professional Learning
Educators' Bill of Rights Learn. Act. Vote. School Funding Compensation Contact Your Elected Officials New from VT-NEA
Our Purpose, History, & Structure Our Leaders Who We Represent Careers at VT-NEA For The Press
Bylaws Resolutions Policies Board Meetings Annual Union Elections Fall District Meetings
Angelo J Dorta Award for Teaching Excellence ESP of the Year Award Human & Civil Rights Awards Maida Townsend Scholarships Martha W. Allen Friend of Public Education Award
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, provide ads, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
NEA Toolkit

Student Debt Forgiveness for Higher Educators

By raising our voices together, we have won improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that are changing lives.
HE
By: National Education Association
Published: September 2022
This resource originally appeared on NEA.org

Student Debt

We know that nearly half of higher-ed faculty and staff took out loans to pay for their higher education, and many are still struggling to pay it back while making ends meet.  

Through their unions, NEA members are making a difference. By raising our voices together, we have won improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, enabling thousands of educators to erase their debt. Last year, University of Maine associate professor Rob Glover had $150,000 in debt forgiven through PSLF. This year, UMass Amherst assistant professor Shane Mecklenburger had $70,000 in debt forgiven. 

NEA has the tools and the resources that higher-ed faculty and staff need to navigate PSLF and take advantage of the new White House cancellation program. 

NEA Research: Student debt among higher educators 

Our researchers have measured the depth of higher educators’ debt and its financial and emotional impact. 

Learn more about faculty debt

Learn more about Higher Ed Staff Debt

Need Help? Get Help!

The NEA Student Debt Navigator is free for all NEA members. 

Check it out!

Ready, Set, Grow!

VT-NEA provides high-quality, member-driven professional learning to improve professional practice, support student success, and build educator community across Vermont.
VT-NEA members pose with signs that say, "Fair contract now!," "Settle now," "We love kids," and "Support our teachers."

Working conditions are learning conditions

Good working conditions for educators promote student learning and engagement. Find resources for educators & support professionals to advocate for the working conditions you deserve.
Logo

The Union of Vermont Educators

The Vermont-National Education Association is the union of Vermont educators, 13,000 professionals who teach the state's children every day. As the state's largest union, Vermont-NEA is proud to represent the people who make a difference in the lives of students in classrooms across Vermont.
Contact us
Join VT-NEA

The Vermont-NEA is a state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.

Learn more at NEA.org