Are there any circumstances other than being a teacher in which I can have my loan cancelled or forgiven? 

It is possible to have your student loan debt discharged (canceled) or reduced, but only under certain specific circumstances, including death or permanent and total disability; school closure; working as a teacher in a low-income school or in a teacher shortage subject area; or in the case of Perkins Loans, certain other professions (law enforcement, nursing, etc).  Your loan cannot be discharged because you were not satisfied with the education that was offered, because you did not complete the program of study, or because you did not get a job after completing the program of study.

For more information about discharge, contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center by calling 1-800-848-0979 if you have a Direct Loan. If you have a Federal Family Education Loan, contact the lender or agency that holds your loan. If you have a Federal Perkins Loan, contact the school that made you the loan.  If you are unsure of what type of loan(s) you have outstanding, you can check your loan history and find additional information on repaying your loans. Medical Professionals may also be eligible for loan forgiveness through the National Health Service Corps.  The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers registered nurses substantial assistance to repay educational loans in exchange for service in critical shortage facilities.