There are many counties and local governments in the U.S. that want to increase their population of educated professionals. One tool to attract them is offering money to repay college loans, ranging from $7,000 to $15,000. Some of these areas are urban, like Niagara Falls, and some are rural, like in Kansas, where there are over 70 counties that will write checks if you re-locate within them.
Other student loan forgiveness program include: joining the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps for teaching, Association of Medical Colleges, American Federation of Teachers, National Health Service, Corp. And no, your degree may have nothing to do with teaching to help others in AmeriCorps. Some law schools forgive loans if you work your first two years as a public defender or at a non-profit. Some law enforcement agencies have loan forgiveness and the U.S. military has programs that forgive up to $2,500.
Individual states offer student loan forgiveness for services that are in demand. Today, for example, Kentucky needs large-animal vets, Illinois and California need doctors and nurses, and so these states pay off some student loans for graduates that can fill these needs.
Of course, it is best to map out student-loan affordability before entering school, and adjusting as your interest and major changes, but there are options to reduce the burden of student loans if you can find a program that fits your future career plans.