The College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP) is an incentive program to allow each branch assistance in meeting recruiting goals. Under the program, the military will repay a portion of eligible college loans for non-prior service military members.
To be eligible, you must enlist for three years on Active Duty or six years in the Reserve, and your loan status must not be in default. For Active Duty Soldiers, you can receive up to $65,000 to repay your college loans. For Reserve Soldiers, you can receive up to $20,000 to repay your college loans.
The Army, Navy and Air Force offer enlistment incentives for all non-prior service enlisted personnel. For the Army and Navy Reserves, those with prior military service are eligible. Officers are not eligible.
The Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force Reserves do not offer the College Loan Repayment Program.
Qualifying Loans
- Auxiliary Loan Assistance for Students (ALAS)
- Stafford Student Loan, formerly know as the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL)
- Parents Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). Must be incurred for the use of the individual contracting for the program (not others such as relatives)
- Consolidated Loan Program. Only covers Soldier’s education expenses
- Federally Insured Student Loans (FISL)
- Perkins Loan, formerly known as the National Direct Student Loan (NDSL)
- Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS)
Army
The Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is a special enlistment incentive offered to qualified applicants at the time of enlistment. Under the LRP, the Army will repay one-third of your loan, or $65,000, for each year of full-time duty served. The Army will pay up to $20,000 for Reserve enlistments (including the Army National Guard).
Navy
The Navy’s Loan Repayment Program (LRP) will also pay for up to $65,000 of loans acquired from a post-secondary education. The LRP is available to all active Navy enlisted positions. The Navy Reserves will repay up to $10,000 for Navy Reserve enlistments.
Air Force
The Air Force will repay up to $10,000 for non-prior service, active duty enlistments. The Air National Guard offers CLRP of up to $20,000, for designated shortage AFSCs (jobs).
Marine Corps
The Marine Corps is conducting their own “test” program and offers college loan repayment of up to $30,000 for some officer candidates in exchange for extending their service commitment by six months. This “test” is set to end in 2011.