Nearly 6,000 Mississippians have been approved for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program offers debt relief to those who serve as teachers, first-responders, certain medical personnel and non-profit workers.

Coshunda Ellis of Jackson has served as both a teacher and a healthcare professional. She says she got a letter last week stating that her remaining student loan debt had been forgiven.

"I'm passionate about being in education. I desire to do things for our youth." she said. "I can now explore so many more opportunities, just because I don't have those loans hanging out there."

Those that qualify are required to make 120 monthly payments before the remainder of their debt is forgiven. Ellis says public employees like teachers are deserving of the program because they "wear so many hats" in the workplace.

"Of course, being a teacher, it's not like you have the highest salary," she said. "but you have so many hats and so many roles... there's always going to come a time when you're going to ask yourself, is it worth it?" 

The US Department of Education says the program has approved approximately 42 billion dollars in loan forgiveness nationwide, and nearly 6,000 borrowers have been given debt relief in Mississippi.