Private Student Relief is a consulting organization specializing in private student loan relief. We educate former college students on effective strategies to extinguish their private student loan debts, using debt validation techniques as outlined in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Law.

Private Student Loan Forgiveness: Understanding Your Options

Looking for private student loan forgiveness? Private loans don't qualify for federal programs like PSLF, but that doesn't mean you're out of options.

Depending on your situation, there may be ways to reduce, settle, or potentially eliminate your private student loan debt.

Can Private Student Loans Be Forgiven?

There is no broad government forgiveness program for private student loans.

However, some borrowers may qualify for other forms of debt relief. Depending on your loan, financial situation, and account status, this can include:

Debt validation
Hardship-based settlement
Lender-specific discharge options
Bankruptcy in qualifying cases
Other debt resolution strategies

What may be available depends on the details of your loan.

What About Sallie Mae, Navient, or Other Private Lenders?

Private student loan relief isn't limited to one lender. If your loan is with Sallie Mae, Navient, Discover, SoFi, or another private lender, your options depend on your specific circumstances.

A private loan also doesn't become eligible for federal forgiveness simply because you work in public service or have made payments for a certain number of years.

Find Out What May Apply to You

Rather than trying to determine your eligibility from a general list, start with your actual loan information.

01

Tell us about your loans

Share your approximate balance, payment, lender, and current situation.

02

Review your options

We'll help you understand which forms of relief may be relevant to your circumstances.

03

Decide what makes sense

If an appropriate option is available, you'll have the information you need to decide whether to move forward.

Private vs. Federal Student Loan Forgiveness

Federal loansGovernment-backed

May qualify for programs such as PSLF, income-driven repayment forgiveness, or other federal discharge programs.

Private loansOur focus

Do not qualify for those federal programs, but may have other forms of relief available through the lender, negotiation, debt resolution, or applicable legal protections.

If you have both types of loans, the strategies are usually different.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the private student loan forgiveness questions borrowers ask us most often.

Can private student loans actually be forgiven?

Not through the federal forgiveness programs available for federal loans. However, certain private loans may qualify for other forms of debt reduction, settlement, or discharge depending on the circumstances.

Does PSLF apply to private student loans?

No. Public Service Loan Forgiveness applies to qualifying federal loans, not private student loans.

Can Sallie Mae loans be forgiven?

There is no general federal forgiveness program for Sallie Mae private loans. However, other relief options may be available depending on the loan and your circumstances.

What if my private student loans are in default?

Yes. A debt validation program is usually the best solution for people in default because it's the most affordable way extingusih the debt.

Does bankruptcy eliminate private student loans?

Usually not. Filing for Chapter 7, Chapter 11, or Chapter 13 does not automatically eliminate private student loan debt. Discharging these loans through bankruptcy can be difficult and typically requires meeting specific legal requirements. Only a limited number of borrowers are able to have some or all of their private student loan debt discharged.

How much does the eligibility check cost?

The initial eligibility check is free and there is no obligation to move forward.

See What Options You May Have

If you're struggling with private student loan debt, find out whether you may qualify for a relief option.

Free consultation No upfront fees No obligation