The United States continues to experience a critical shortage of qualified teachers, and that puts students who are pursuing careers in education at a distinct advantage when it comes to financial assistance. Not only are there a wide variety of grants and scholarships dedicated to the next generation of teaching professionals, there is a surplus of college loan opportunities specifically designed to benefit students studying hard to become teachers. Moreover, there are a number of loan forgiveness and loan cancellation programs that will repay a teacher’s student loans in exchange for a period of service teaching in a critical need school district or area of expertise.
College loans for students pursuing degrees in education and careers in teaching are offered by Federal and state governments, as well as by private lending institutions. Loan forgiveness programs for teachers are mostly sponsored by Federal and state governments, though some are supported by professional associations interested in increasing the availability of qualified teachers in certain high demand disciplines.
Federal Loans for Students in Teaching Programs
Federal student loans are the most popular, and most affordable, college loans in the United States. They provide financial assistance for thousands of students every year, and should be every college-bound student’s first choice when it comes to securing a loan to finance their education. Students pursuing careers in teaching and education will find that Federal loans offer lower fixed interest rates and more attractive repayment options than private lender loans.