A UNIVERSITY WIDE INITIATIVE
What is the Tufts Loan Repayment Assistance Program?
The Tufts Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is a new university-wide program that helps selected Tufts graduates working in public service pay a portion of their annual education loan bills. Believed to be the first university-wide program of this kind in the country, the purpose of the Tufts Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is to encourage and enable Tufts graduates to pursue careers in public service by reducing the extent to which their educational debt is a barrier to working in comparatively low-salaried jobs in the non-profit and public sectors.
Eligibility
* All Tufts graduates (with undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees; does not include certificate programs) with educational loans incurred for the purpose of attending Tufts (as certified by the Financial Aid Office at Tufts) and who are employed by a non-profit (501c3 or equivalent) or public sector agency are eligible to apply.
* Applicants must be currently repaying educational loans (or be in a grace period). Applicants who have deferred payment (in order to resume academic studies, for example), who have defaulted on their loans, or are delinquent on their loan payment are not eligible for the program.
Application Process
Applicants must apply by September 1st. Award recipients will be notified by December 1st. The following must be submitted:
* Completed application form
* Resume
* Current pay stub
* A copy of the most recent Federal Tax Return of applicant and his or her spouse or domestic partner if filing separately. (Applicants who did not file must submit a notarized statement attesting to this and list all income amounts earned the previous year).
* Employer Certification Form
* Foreign National Information Form. Must be completed by all international Tufts LRAP applicants.
How to Apply
Applicants may download the application here. Completed application and required documentation must be submitted by postal mail. For security purposes, e-mailing or faxing information is not permitted.
Selection Process
* Awards will be made by a committee in each Tufts school. The committee will consider each applicant’s income, level of indebtedness, and overall need.
* Applicants may reapply each year. However, not every applicant will receive an award. Moreover, receiving an award in one year does not guarantee receipt of an award in subsequent years.
Number and Size of Awards
The number and size of awards will depend on the total number of applications received and the funding that is available. LRAP awards will cover a portion the award recipient’s annual loan payments. Award assistance may vary each year.
Tax Efficiency
The Tufts LRAP is structured so that the awards should not be taxable, pursuant to special federal income tax rules that apply to the discharge of student loan debt (26 U.S.C. § 108(f)). In accordance with this provision, Tufts LRAP awards are made in the form of loans which are forgiven when the award recipient completes a year of continued public service employment. Applicants should consult a tax advisor with specific tax-related inquiries.
Additional Information
For additional information, consult the Frequently Asked Questions or contact:
Judi Kennedy
LRAP Administrator
Student Financial Services
Tufts University
Dowling Hall 770
Medford, MA 02155
E-mail: lrap@ase.tufts.edu
Phone: 617-627-4440
