Over the past two decades, student loans have grown to play a significant role in how students pay for college. Today, college graduates have an average loan debt of approximately $35,000, and outstanding student loan debt in the United States exceeds $1.5 trillion (College Board, 2023).
This report examines state-funded loan forgiveness and conditional grant programs, designed to alleviate student loan debt and address workforce shortages in high-need fields. These service-contingent programs incentivize graduates to work in targeted occupations or underserved areas in exchange for debt relief.
Conditional grants are awarded during college with service obligations post-graduation, while loan forgiveness applies to existing loans contingent on meeting service requirements. Failure to meet obligations typically results in repayment obligations.This report examines state-funded loan forgiveness and conditional grant programs, designed to alleviate student loan debt and address workforce shortages in high-need fields.
View the report.
