With many federal student loan borrowers struggling to repay their debt, consumer advocates and financial advisors say it’s crucial that consumers know about the U.S. Department of Education’s affordable repayment plans and forgiveness programs.
Unfortunately, some don’t.
“Many borrowers end up paying more than necessary simply because they aren’t aware of the full range of relief options available to them,” said certified financial planner K.C. Smith, managing associate at Henssler Financial in Kennesaw, Georgia, which ranked No. 46 on CNBC’s Financial Advisor 100 list for 2025.
Indeed, 15% of federal student loan borrowers said they have heard “nothing at all” about the government’s income-based repayment plans, according to a new survey by The Institute for College Access & Success, a nonprofit that advocates for college affordability. Nearly a quarter of borrowers, or 23%, said they didn’t know about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and 47% of borrowers were not aware of a program that cancels loans for certain disabled borrowers.
The survey, conducted in September, is based on responses from more than 1,000 self-identified federal student loan borrowers.
