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
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2007-2008 AELF program.
An extension of the program may be approved for 2008-2009. Please check this page for updates or to download 2008-2009 applications, when they become available.
Contact
If you have additional questions regarding this program, please contact us at (800) 233-0557, ext. 5473. Loan Forgiveness Counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Send written request(s) to:
Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness Program
AES Loan Forgiveness Group
PO Box 2461
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2461
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 forgiveness.