If you’re experiencing financial difficulties, you might wonder if you can get private student loan forgiveness to ease some of your trouble. It’s technically possible, but it’s rare. 

While there are definite paths to getting federal student loans forgiven, private lenders aren’t held to the same requirements as the federal government. They choose whether to forgive a debt or not.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to private student loan forgiveness, such as loan repayment assistance, that can still give you relief while being easier to obtain. 

Getting private student loan forgiveness means your lender will erase your student loan debt. It’s very uncommon, but it’s not impossible. 

For example, lenders might forgive private student loan debt if the borrower dies. Many lenders also let you out of the debt if you become disabled and can’t work. 

But aside from these extreme circumstances, you’re typically on the hook for repaying your private student loans, no matter what else happens in your life. And if you have a cosigner, they’re responsible for the debt, too. 

However, there are a few methods you can use to get your private student loans forgiven.

Unlike federal loans, which are eligible for programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), private student loan forgiveness is not so clear-cut. Your options may depend on your career, your employer, and even your finances. 

Loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) provide funds to help with repaying private student loans. Some law schools, state governments, and bar associations offer LRAPs for graduates, which provide a forgivable loan for repaying educational debt in exchange for a required service obligation. This may include working in government or for public interest groups.

There are also programs like the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, which offers funds to nurses and physicians in exchange for service contracts in rural, urban, and tribal areas. Participants can earn $50,000 toward their loans for two years of full-time work.

To be eligible for programs like these, you’ll typically need to be a U.S. resident and work in some sort of public service capacity, although exact requirements vary by program. 

Another way to get help with your student loans might be at work. Many employers offer student loan repayment assistance in addition to (or in place of) tuition reimbursement. 

Typically, you can get up to $5,250 annually in assistance from employers who offer this employee benefit. 

To be eligible, you often need to be employed with the company for a certain number of hours per week, and sometimes you have to work there for a year or two to receive this benefit. 

You don’t need to work for a big corporation to get money for your student loans. There are 46 states that have a fund, called the State Loan Repayment Program, that provides help to repay your student loans if you move there and you work in the healthcare field. You can also get this help in Washington, D.C., the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. 

Also check to see if your state has rural opportunity zones, which are rural areas offering financial incentives including loan reimbursement. You could get assistance paying off your loans while enjoying the slow pace of country life, too.

It’s not forgiveness, exactly, but your private student loan debt can be discharged in bankruptcy. You’ll need to show undue hardship and take an extra step called an adversary proceeding. But if you file for bankruptcy and have qualified educational debt from a private lender, you can take the steps to get it discharged.

Plus, if your private student loans were for certain costs like fees and living expenses, you might be able to have them discharged without meeting the extra standard. 

If those methods won’t work for you, explore some alternatives that might suit your situation.

If you’re struggling with your payments, speak with your lender. They may offer an alternative repayment plan or even forbearance (if you’ve lost your job, for example). Your lender wants you to be successful in repaying your loans, and they’ll often find ways to make that work — as long as you speak up.

For example, Citizens (a Credible partner lender), offers loan deferment for up to six months after graduation. You can also reach out to them if you’ve experienced a job loss, suffered a disability, or are juggling large medical bills. They may allow a temporary pause in payments. CollegeAve is another Credible partner lender that provides a six-month grace period.

With this option, you can pay off your existing student loans with a new loan, which might have better terms, a lower interest rate, or a lower monthly payment. 

Refinancing can combine multiple loans or just change the terms on one loan. Depending on the lender, you can usually choose your preferred term length. The interest rate you receive will be based on a combination of factors including your credit score, loan amount, income, and other existing debts. When you refinance, you can choose fixed or variable interest rates, which can range between 5% and 15%.

If you have funds remaining in a 529 account, you can apply up to $10,000 to a qualified student loan balance. If you have siblings with student loan debt, you can use an additional $10,000 of your 529 money toward their loans as well. 

You could also try settling your debt directly with the lender. With debt settlement, you negotiate with your creditors to reduce the amount you owe. Using this method, you might convince them to release you from the debt, or lessen it significantly.

On the other hand, it might not work. 

Most lenders are not going to settle your debt for less than you owe unless you’re in default, or very near it. You can hire a debt settlement company to negotiate on your behalf, but you’ll have to do some research to ensure they’re reputable. They often charge high fees, and you’ll also have to pay any late fees for missed loan payments, not to mention the damage defaulting can do to your credit.

Student loan debt doesn’t have to hold you back forever. Exploring your alternatives is a good way to discover options you may not have considered.

Related: Learn more about getting a private student loan on Credible.com