• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Personal Financestudent loans and debt

It’s not just graduates: Borrowers currently in college are eligible for Biden’s $10,000 in student loan forgiveness

Kaitlyn Koterbski
By
Kaitlyn Koterbski
Kaitlyn Koterbski
Personal Finance Expert
Down Arrow Button Icon
Kaitlyn Koterbski
By
Kaitlyn Koterbski
Kaitlyn Koterbski
Personal Finance Expert
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 24, 2022, 2:09 PM ET
Large group of college students in a classroom
Gen Z students are less open than previous generations to the idea of incurring massive debt to fund their education.Getty Images

College classrooms around the country are celebrating as President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that current students will be eligible for $10,000 in federal student loan debt forgiveness.  

Though specific details of the president’s broad loan forgiveness effort are not yet available, the White House said federal borrowers, including those currently attending school, will have up to $10,000 in debt forgiven if they meet certain income requirements.

Additionally, students who receive Federal Pell Grants as a part of their financial aid award will be eligible for up to $20,000 in relief. That aid is awarded to low to moderate-income students who show exceptional financial need.

Eligibility for students who are dependents will be based on their parents’ income. The eligibility cuts off at $125,000 in annual income for single parents and $250,000 for married couples and heads of household. For independent students, eligibility will be based on their own annual income during the pandemic. 

Nearly 8 million current borrowers may see loan relief automatically since “relevant income data is already available,” but an application will also be accessible “no later” than the end of the year for all other borrowers, according to the U.S. Department of Education. 

In addition to debt relief, Biden announced that the federal payment pause will be extended for one last time, through December 31, 2022. Federal borrowers have not had to make any payments on their student loans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As it stands, Biden has only announced that current students are included in the federal loan relief, so prospective students should remain patient as more details on eligibility surface.

Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.

About the Author
Kaitlyn Koterbski
By Kaitlyn KoterbskiPersonal Finance Expert
LinkedIn icon

Kaitlyn Koterbski earned a bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in personal finance with an emphasis in financial planning and a certificate in entrepreneurship. She currently works as an accounting assistant at WHR Global.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.