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Medical School Loan Forgiveness Calculator
See exactly how much of your medical school debt gets forgiven — under PSLF, IDR, or state programs — based on your specialty, employer, and training timeline.
Calculate my forgiveness amount →Two forgiveness tracks for physicians
Medical school loan forgiveness for physicians works differently than forgiveness for other professionals. The training years are the key variable: a physician who completes a 4-year residency and 1-year fellowship at a qualifying employer banks 60 of the 120 payments required for PSLF before earning a single attending paycheck.
That's the reason PSLF works so well for lower-to-mid income specialties in academic or nonprofit medicine. The training period does most of the heavy lifting — leaving only 5 years of attending-level IBR payments before the remaining $100,000–$300,000 in debt is forgiven tax-free.
PSLF Track — 10 years, tax-free
Work at a qualifying employer, make 120 IBR payments, and the remaining balance is forgiven with zero federal tax. The physician-specific advantage: training years count toward the 120.
IDR Track — 20–25 years, taxable
Stay on IBR for 20–25 years regardless of employer. Any remaining balance is forgiven, but it counts as ordinary income in the year of forgiveness — a "tax bomb" that can reach $50K–$150K for physicians.
Medical school loan forgiveness programs compared
Federal and state programs available to physicians in 2026.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)★ Best for most physicians
Tax-freeTimeline
10 years (120 payments)
Amount
Remaining balance after 120 payments
Eligible employers
Nonprofit, VA, government, academic hospitals
Notes
Best option for most physicians. Banks training years.
IDR Forgiveness (IBR)
TaxableTimeline
20–25 years
Amount
Remaining balance after 20–25 years
Eligible employers
All federal loan borrowers on IBR
Notes
Tax bomb: forgiven amount taxed as ordinary income.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
Tax-freeTimeline
2–3 years of service
Amount
Up to $50,000 per 2 years
Eligible employers
Primary care physicians in HPSA sites
Notes
Requires working in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
State Loan Forgiveness Programs
TaxableTimeline
Varies (2–5 years)
Amount
Varies ($20K–$100K+)
Eligible employers
Varies by state
Notes
Often stacked with PSLF for maximum benefit.
How much PSLF forgives by specialty
Estimates for a physician completing a 4-year residency + 1-year fellowship at a qualifying employer, then 5 years as an attending at a qualifying employer. Lower-income specialties have lower IBR payments → more remaining balance at forgiveness.
| SPECIALTY | STARTING DEBT | TOTAL PAID | FORGIVEN (TAX-FREE) | NET COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatry | $255K | $108K | $210K+ | $108K total cost |
| Pediatrics | $245K | $112K | $198K+ | $112K total cost |
| Family Medicine | $240K | $118K | $155K+ | $118K total cost |
| Internal Medicine | $250K | $128K | $164K+ | $128K total cost |
| Neurology | $248K | $145K | $130K+ | $145K total cost |
| Emergency Medicine | $245K | $190K | $85K | $190K total cost |
Forgiveness figures are estimates assuming IBR payments throughout residency + fellowship + 5 attending years at qualifying employer. Actual amounts depend on interest accrual, household size, filing status, and exact payment count. Salary data from Marit Health 2026.
Medical school loan forgiveness FAQ
Can medical school loans be forgiven?
Yes. Federal medical school loans can be forgiven through PSLF (after 120 qualifying payments at a nonprofit/government employer, tax-free) or through IDR forgiveness (after 20–25 years on income-driven repayment, taxable). Private medical school loans are not eligible for federal forgiveness programs.
How does PSLF work for medical school debt?
PSLF forgives the remaining balance on federal loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time at a qualifying employer (nonprofit hospital, VA, government facility, or academic medical center). For physicians, training years count: a 4-year residency + 1-year fellowship at a qualifying program banks 60 of the 120 required payments before attending salary begins.
What is the income limit for PSLF for doctors?
There is no income limit for PSLF. However, income matters because PSLF is most valuable when your IBR payments are lower than what you'd owe on a 10-year standard plan — meaning more balance remains to be forgiven. High-income specialties (orthopedic surgery at $573K, radiology at $471K) often have IBR payments so high that little or nothing remains after 120 payments.
Is the PSLF forgiveness amount taxed?
No. PSLF forgiveness is completely tax-free under federal law. This is a major advantage over IDR forgiveness (20–25 year plans), where the forgiven balance counts as ordinary income in the year of forgiveness — potentially creating a $50,000–$150,000 tax bill for physicians with large balances.
What happens to my PSLF progress if I leave my qualifying employer?
Your existing qualifying payment count is preserved. You do not lose credit for months already completed. However, months spent at a non-qualifying employer do not count — your clock pauses. If you return to a qualifying employer, your count resumes from where it stopped. You can also work part-time at a qualifying employer if it totals 30+ hours/week.