Debt strategy tool
Loan Repayment & PSLF Modeler
Model standard payoff, extended repayment, income-driven repayment, and PSLF. Adjust your residency length to see how training-year payments can change the loan outcome.
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PSLF reaches forgiveness after 10.0 years, with ~$123,922 forgiven.
Training-year payments count in the PSLF schedule when the employer is qualifying. Full schedule comparison is below.
See exactly how residency length changes loan math.
Unlock the full scenario comparison to see standard payoff vs IDR vs PSLF, and see how extending your training impacts the amount forgiven.
Common questions
Does residency count toward PSLF?
Yes, as long as you are directly employed by a qualifying 501(c)(3) or government employer, which applies to the vast majority of residency and fellowship programs. Each monthly payment made under a qualifying IDR plan during residency counts toward the 120 required payments.
Do I have to use an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan for PSLF?
Yes, you must be on an IDR plan (like SAVE or PAYE) or the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan. Since the 10-year Standard plan would pay off the loan exactly in 120 payments, leaving nothing to forgive, IDR plans are effectively required to benefit from PSLF.
Are PSLF forgiven amounts taxed as income?
No. Unlike general IDR forgiveness (which is currently tax-free federally until 2025 but may be taxed after), PSLF forgiveness is permanently tax-free at the federal level, and in most states.