Cancellation and Discharge

Cancellation rewards individuals who perform certain types of public service or are employed in certain occupations. For each complete year of service, a percentage of the loan may be canceled. The total percentage of the loan that can be canceled depends on the type of service performed- in some cases 100% of a loan may be canceled. You cannot receive a refund of money you paid toward a loan even if you were eligible, or eventually become eligible, to cancel that portion of the loan.  A discharge means you do not have to pay your loan principal or interest.

Cancellation Circumstances

Depending on the type of loan you have, and when that loan was borrowed, you may be eligible to cancel part or all of your loan if you have served as a:

  • Volunteer in the Peace Corps or an ACTION program (including VISTA)
  • Low income school teacher
  • Shortage area subject teacher
  • Special Education teacher
  • Member of the U.S. Armed Forces (serving in an area of hostilities)
  • Nurse or medical technician
  • Law enforcement or corrections officer
  • Firefighter
  • Public Defender
  • Speech Pathologist
  • Librarian
  • Early Childhood Education (Head Start) worker
  • Employee of a child or family services agency
  • Professional provider of early intervention services
  • Tribal College of University Faculty Service

Discharge Circumstances

  • 9/11 Survivors
  • Death
  • Service Connected Disability (Veterans)
  • Total and Permanent Disability (non-Veterans)

If a loan defaults and has been accelerated, an individual loses his or her eligibility for cancellation for services performed on or after the date of acceleration.

Cancellation and Discharge Application

Complete the appropriate form at the ECSI website. Mail these forms to:

University of Connecticut

c/o Heartland ECSI

P.O.Box 1289

Moon Township, PA 15108