Student Deferment
NSL borrowers who have entered repayment may receive additional deferments for up to 10 years for full-time or half-time enrollment in a collegiate nursing school. The program in which the borrower is enrolled must lead to a baccalaureate or a graduate degree in nursing.

Borrowers with NSLs obtained after November 4, 1988 have up to 10 years of deferment for full-time or half-time enrollment and advanced professional training combined. For example, if a borrower deferred a NSL for five years on the basis of full-time student status, that borrower would only be able to obtain another five years of deferment for advanced professional training. Borrowers with NSLs obtained prior to November 4, 1988 have a five-year limit on such deferments.

Advanced Professional Training
NSL borrowers may obtain deferments for up to 10 years if they are pursuing advanced training in nursing or are engaged in training to become a nurse anesthetist. The regulations define advanced training in nursing as full-time or half-time training beyond the borrower's first diploma or degree in nursing.

Advanced training must:

• take one year or longer to complete; and
• strengthen the borrower's skills in the provision of nursing services.

Note that NSL borrowers may not obtain more than 10 years of deferment for full-time or half-time enrollment and advanced professional training combined.

Deferment form

Borrowers who perform active duty as a member of a uniformed service (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps, or the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps) are eligible for deferment for up to three years. Such service performed during the grace period does not count as part of the maximum deferment period for which the borrower is eligible, nor does it entitle the borrower to a grace period after the deferment period ends.

This deferment provision is specifically limited by statute to borrowers on active duty who are members of a uniformed service and does not apply to borrowers who are employed by one of the uniformed services in a civilian capacity. For example, a borrower who is working for the Public Health Service (PHS) and who is not a member of the Commissioned Corps would not qualify for deferment.

Deferment form

Borrowers who volunteer under the Peace Corps Act are eligible for deferment for up to three years. Such service performed during the grace period does not count as part of the maximum deferment period for which the borrower is eligible, nor does it entitle the borrower to a grace period after the deferment period ends.

Service in VISTA does not qualify for deferment.

Deferment form

Nursing Loan borrowers may request a financial hardship forbearance if they are experiencing financial difficulty, but do not qualify for any other type of deferment. Forbearance only defers principal payments. Interest continues to accrue. All interest is due at the end of the forbearance period, and cannot be capitalized (added to the principal balance, and charged interest upon the new balance). Forbearance may be requested by completing our Financial Arrangement Form.

Please note – Forbearance periods count toward the 10-year repayment period allowed for Federal Nursing Loans. This will cause a balloon payment as the last payment in the 10-year cycle, which could be quite large. Forbearances should only be used when absolutely necessary.

Financial arrangement form