If you’re a Valencia College graduate who took out loans to finance your education, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness or repayment assistance programs.
The student debt crisis is a growing problem in the United States, with over 44 million Americans now owing money on their student loans. It can be challenging to keep up with loan payments, especially if you’re not earning a high income. Fortunately, several programs can help you get out of debt.
The Department of Education offers some loan forgiveness programs for student loan borrowers. These programs are designed to help people struggling to make their loan payments. You may be eligible for loan forgiveness if you meet certain criteria.
This article will discuss the loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs available to Valencia College graduates.
About Valencia College
Valencia College is a public community college in Orlando, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System. Valencia College was founded in 1967 and has an enrollment of over 30,000 students. The College offers associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and certificates in a variety of fields.
Valencia College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Loan Forgiveness Programs
The Department of Education offers a number of loan forgiveness programs for student loan borrowers. You may be eligible for loan forgiveness if you meet certain criteria.
Public Service Loan forgiveness
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is a federal program that forgives student loan debt for borrowers who work in public service. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have been employed in a public service job for at least 10 years.
- You must have made 120 payments on your student loans.
- Your payments must have been made under a qualified repayment plan.
If you meet all of the above criteria, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness. The amount of debt that is forgiven will depend on the type of loan you have.
Borrowers Defense to Repayment
The Borrowers Defense to Repayment (BDR) program is a federal program that allows borrowers to cancel their student loans if they can prove that their school misled them or engaged in other misconduct.
To qualify for BDR, borrowers must submit a complaint to the Department of Education. The department will then review the complaint and determine if the borrower has a case. If the department finds that the borrower does have a chance, it will cancel the borrower’s student loans.
Income-Driven Repayment
Income-driven repayment (IDR) is a repayment plan that allows borrowers to make monthly student loan payments based on their income and family size.
There are four IDR plans:
- Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
- Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)
- Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
- Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE)
Each of the four plans has different eligibility requirements monthly payments.
Student Loan Consolidation
Student loan consolidation allows borrowers to combine multiple student loans into one loan with a lower monthly payment.
Borrowers can consolidate their federal student loans through the Department of Education’s Direct Consolidation Loan program.
Borrowers can also consolidate their private student loans through a private lender.
Total and Permanent Disability Discharge
The Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge program is a federal program that allows borrowers to have their student loans discharged if they become permanently disabled.
To be eligible for a TPD discharge, borrowers must provide proof of their disability to the Department of Education. You can do this by submitting a disability certification form or by providing documentation from a doctor or other medical professional.
Valencia College Tuition and Fees
Valencia College tuition and fees vary depending on residency status, course load, and degree level.
Undergraduate tuition and fees for Florida residents range from $103 to $245 per credit hour.
Undergraduate tuition and fees for non-Florida residents range from $305 to $457 per credit hour.
Undergraduate tuition and fees for international resident students range from $379 to $531 per credit hour.
Valencia College Acceptance Rate
Valencia College has an acceptance rate of 100%.
However, the College has an open admissions policy, which means that any student who meets the minimum admission requirements will be accepted into the school.
The minimum admission requirements for Valencia College are as follows:
- You must have a high standard school diploma or equivalent that meets the Florida Department of Education requirements.
- You must have a Certificate of Completion from a state-approved high school.
- You must have a GED or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) certificate.
Valencia College Graduation Rate
Valencia College has a graduation rate of 61%.
This is the percentage of students who complete their degree within six years of enrolling.
Valencia College Reviews
Valencia College generally has positive reviews from both students and alumni.
On Niche.com, Valencia College has a 5/5 stars rating from 1865 reviews.
On the website GradReports, Valencia College is rated 2.2 from 18 reviews.
On Yelp.com, Valencia College has a 3.5/5 stars rating from 12 reviews.
The most common praises for Valencia College are its affordable tuition, diverse student body, and friendly staff. The most common criticism is that the school is not challenging enough.
Need Help with student loans?
If you’re having difficulty keeping up with your student loan payments, or want to learn more about your alternatives, do not hesitate to contact us. You can call or fill out a form and speak to one of our student loan advisors.
We have a number of resources that can help you make the best decision for your financial future.
