New Jersey K-12 Teachers in High-Need Subjects Can Now Apply for Student Loan Relief Under State Program

​Participants in Eligible Schools May Receive Up to $20,000 in Loan Redemption

TRENTON, NJ — As part of ongoing efforts to reinforce our state's educator workforce, eligible New Jersey teachers can now apply for up to $20,000 in student loan relief in exchange for their service in New Jersey classrooms. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) is currently accepting applications for a new round of the New Jersey Teacher Loan Redemption Program in which teachers hired in early 2022 or later can participate for up to four years, beginning in Academic Year 2026-2027.

“Good teachers in every classroom are the backbone of a strong education.  If we want to provide New Jersey students with the best possible education, we need to recruit and keep high-quality teachers," said Governor Mikie Sherrill. “Maintaining a comprehensive workforce of talented educators through initiatives such as the New Jersey Teacher Loan Redemption Program is crucial to ensuring New Jersey can deliver an exceptional K-12 education to children throughout our state."

“By alleviating the student loan debt of teachers educating students in high-need subject areas within eligible schools, participants are incentivized to serve in classrooms with the greatest need," said HESAA Acting Executive Director Jerry Traino. “The New Jersey Teacher Loan Redemption Program is one of several programs HESAA administers throughout the year to help address the workforce demands of our state."

The program aims to recruit and retain educators who teach high-need subjects in eligible New Jersey schools. To qualify, an educator must teach one or more of the following subject areas: mathematics, science, special education, English as a Second Language (ESL), world languages, or Career and Technical Education. Educators must teach these subjects at one of the schools designated under the law.

“Being able to not only teach students something new and exciting every day but to also be there for them as a mentor is one of the things I love the most about being a teacher," said Emily Loeb, an environmental and marine science teacher at Atlantic City High School who has participated in the program for the past two years. “As a participant in the Teacher Loan Redemption Program, I get to make a difference in my students' lives while receiving support from the State in paying down my student loan debt. It's a wonderful opportunity that I would encourage other New Jersey teachers to look into."  

Applications are currently open to teachers hired on or after January 18, 2022. Teachers must also meet all other eligibility criteria, including being a New Jersey resident, holding a current teaching certification from the New Jersey Department of Education, and being employed to teach in a high-need field at the time of hire by their current employer.

Annual payments are equal to 25% of the principal and interest of a participant's eligible student loan expenses, up to $5,000 per year. Approved applicants enter into a written contract with HESAA to participate in the program.

The application period for the New Jersey Teacher Loan Redemption Program opened on August 14 and will close at 11:59pm on September 30, 2026. To learn more and apply, visit www.hesaa.org/Pages/NJTLRP.aspx.​

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HESAA, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, is the New Jersey state authority with the sole mission of providing students and families with financial and informational resources for students to pursue their education beyond high school. For more information, visit www.hesaa.org.

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