Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness Program
The Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness (AELF) program helps eligible graduates repay student loans when they return to Pennsylvania to work in a qualifying agriculture field. PHEAA will forgive up to $2,000 per year on outstanding AES-administered, federally insured student loans for each year of satisfactory employment.
General eligibility
To qualify for the AELF program, you must:
- Hold a degree in veterinary medicine or agriculture from an accredited college or university, or have a current teaching certification in agriculture from a postsecondary institution located within Pennsylvania.
- Be a resident of Pennsylvania.
- Have a current outstanding balance on AES-administered, federally insured loans as approved by PHEAA/AES (does not include commercial loans or personal loans from relatives or friends).
- Meet additional eligibility requirements specific to the qualifying agriculture field of employment.
How to apply
Applications are not being accepted at this time.
Contact
If you have additional questions regarding this program, please contact us at 1-800-233-0557, ext. 5473. Loan Forgiveness Counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
A note on the tax status on loan forgiveness benefits
AES/PHEAA is obligated to issue a form 1099-C to the IRS and the student borrower reporting all forgiveness of indebtedness. AES/PHEAA, however, cannot advise any borrower whether debt forgiveness reported in the form 1099-C must be included in taxable income for state or federal tax purposes. Borrowers should consult their tax advisor in order to determine the state and federal tax consequences of AES/PHEAA loan forgiveness.