Can you get a federal job if you owe student loans?

Asked by: Ms. Alice Kilback  |  Last update: October 18, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (46 votes)

Student loan debt -particularly debts owed to the federal government as a lender – must be reported on the SF-86, and failure to make payments can certainly result in clearance denial in the future.

Can you get a federal job with federal debt?

This will depend on the nature of the indebtedness and the nature of the job. Such financial considerations also may or may not affect an individual's eligibility for a security clearance, depending on the nature, extent, and circumstances of the indebtedness, and his or her willingness or intent to pay the debt.

Do federal jobs forgive student loans?

The 10-year PSLF program allows borrowers employed at government organizations and qualifying nonprofit organizations to have their federal Direct Loans forgiven after ten years of repayment (or 120 qualifying payments).

Does student loan debt affect getting a job?

Yes. An employer can reject you because of your student loan debt. Student loan debt does not put you into one of the legally-protected classes (race, religion, national origin, familial status). Further, it's absolutely legal for employers to consider your credit rating or other credit factors.

What happens if I don't pay my federal student loans?

If you are delinquent on your student loan payment for 90 days or more, your loan servicer will report the delinquency to the national credit bureaus, which can negatively impact your credit rating. If you continue to be delinquent, you risk your loan going into default.

What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans

26 related questions found

Do student loans go away after 7 years?

Student loans don't go away after seven years. There is no program for loan forgiveness or cancellation after seven years. But if you recently checked your credit report and wondered, “why did my student loans disappear?” The answer is that you have defaulted student loans.

What happens if you don't pay your student loans and leave the country?

In some cases, you could lose some of your financial privileges. You might see a reduction in your tax refund, Social Security benefits or even experience wage garnishment. Plus, there's no statute of limitations when it comes to federal loans. In other words, the federal government could take you to court at any time.

Is student loans considered bad debt?

Some loans are better for your finances than others. “Good debt” includes funding that puts you in a better financial situation in the long run, while “bad debt” leads to credit problems. Student loans are typically considered good debt because a higher education can lead to the career or income you want.

Can employers see student loans?

Though prospective employers don't see your credit score in a credit check, they do see your open lines of credit (such as mortgages), outstanding balances, auto or student loans, foreclosures, late or missed payments, any bankruptcies and collection accounts.

Are student loans considered in debt-to-income?

Student loans add to your debt-to-income ratio

DTI includes all of your monthly debt payments – such as auto loans, personal loans and credit card debt – divided by your monthly gross income. Student loans increase your DTI, which isn't ideal when applying for mortgages.

What careers qualify for student loan forgiveness?

Qualifying Public Services for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
  • Civilian service to the military. ...
  • Emergency management. ...
  • Military service. ...
  • Public safety. ...
  • Law enforcement. ...
  • Public interest law. ...
  • Early childhood education. ...
  • Public service for individuals with disabilities.

Do federal employees have to pay back student loans?

As a federal employee, you may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you've made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan while working full-time for the federal government.

Is it bad to take out federal student loans?

Borrowing money to pay for college is not a bad thing. In fact, it's how most students pay for college. However, borrowing can go bad if you take too much. You will spend decades of your life repaying that burden, which can sometimes create a domino effect in how you save and spend for a lifetime.

What disqualifies you from getting a federal job?

Federal Employment Background Check Disqualifiers
  • Felony criminal convictions.
  • Arrests for serious misdemeanors.
  • Financial issues indicating irresponsibility.
  • Dishonesty on resumes or applications.
  • Serious mental health conditions.
  • Substance abuse.

What fails a federal background check?

You may be disqualified from a high security clearance job if your record contains any of the following: a single serious crime, a series of lesser offenses, embezzlement, income tax evasion (or other financial crimes), sexual offenses, crimes related to excessive alcohol or drug consumption, a history of personality ...

Can I get secret clearance with debt?

As with credit scores, there is no set amount of debt that can disqualify you from being granted a security clearance. None of the major branches of the military looks only at how much you owe in making a decision on your candidacy. The reviewer of your case tries to put that amount in context.

Does student loan debt count against you?

Since student loans are a type of installment credit, having them on your credit report adds to your "credit mix," which makes up 10% of your score calculation. This is good for your credit since it adds variety to the kind of loan products you have and shows you can manage different types of debt.

Can student loans prevent you from getting a job?

Many employers check credit scores during the hiring process, and having a lot of debt (including student loan debt) could lead you to not getting the job.

Can you be denied a job because of bad credit?

Generally, yes. Many employers will look at your credit report as part of an employment background check. If you're turned down for a job because of something in your credit report, they must notify you.

How serious is student loan debt?

Key Takeaways

Carrying student debt can affect your ability to buy a home if your debt-to-income ratio is too high. If you have too much student loan debt, you won't be able to save as much for retirement. Student loan debt can lower your credit score, especially if you fail to make on-time payments.

How do the rich use debt to get richer?

Wealthy individuals create passive income through arbitrage by finding assets that generate income (such as businesses, real estate, or bonds) and then borrowing money against those assets to get leverage to purchase even more assets.

Can student loan debt ruin your life?

Approximately half of student loan debt holders say their debt has impacted their life choices. One third say it has impacted their ability to continue their education (33%) while 14% say it has impacted their decision to start a family.

Is it illegal to not pay student loans UK?

By law, you must repay your loan in line with the loan contract and regulations. If you don't make repayments, SLC have the right to take legal action to recover your debt. This means SLC can get a court order to make you repay the total debt plus interest and penalties in a single payment.

Does US debt follow you to another country?

If you choose to move to a different country while you have debt in the U.S., nothing can stop you. However, you'll still be obligated to pay your debt no matter where you live. Your contract with the credit card companies and other creditors states that you must pay no matter the circumstances.

What happens if I move abroad and don t pay my student loan UK?

While you are out of the UK, if you don't keep your account details up-to-date, you may be charged a fixed amount which could be higher than the repayment amount due, based on your actual income. SLC may also ask you to repay the full amount of loan, plus interest and penalties, in one lump sum.