Other Loans

Avery/GSE Forgivable Loans

Loan Forgiveness Program

The Dorothy Durfee Avery Forgivable Loan and GSE Forgivable Loan are separate loan programs but share the same loan terms. Both are institutional loans available only to students in the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP). If you are eligible for one of these loans it will be offered on your financial aid notification. Funds are limited and students can be offered only one of these loans, not both.

  • $40,000 maximum for the 2026–2027 academic year.
  • The loan will accrue interest at 5.0% during your STEP enrollment, your six-month grace period, and your ten-year repayment period. However, no payments toward principal or interest are due while you are enrolled or during the deferment period while you are teaching in an approved program. Both principal and interest will be forgiven for borrowers who qualify.
  • No Credit Check required. If you are not in default on a prior educational loan, do not owe a repayment of federal grant funds, and meet federal aid eligibility requirements, you will be approved to borrow the loan.
  • Eligibility for a Dorothy Durfee Avery/GSE Forgivable Loan requires valid work authorization in the U.S.

Criteria for Forgiveness

  • STEP graduates teaching in public schools are eligible for forgiveness, and those teaching in private schools that benefit underserved communities will also be considered. Those who teach at schools in foreign countries are not eligible for loan forgiveness. The School of Education will make the final determination of eligibility.
  • You will be required to provide documentation establishing your eligibility every year.
  • The entire amount of the Avery or GSE loan is eligible for forgiveness.
  • 50% of your loan is forgiven after your second year of teaching; the remaining 50% is forgiven after your fourth year.
  • If you do not complete four years of teaching, once you stop teaching you will be required to begin repayment to Stanford.

How to Apply for the Avery or GSE Forgivable Loan

1) Accept Your Loan in Axess

  • If the loan is shown on your financial aid notification, you can accept it in Axess. From the My Finances menu, select Financial Aid > Accept/Decline Loans. Use the red Change button to switch to the correct academic year, if necessary. Use the drop-down under Award Decision to Accept or Decline your loan. If you wish to accept a lower amount, choose Accept, then click the Reduce box, then enter the amount you wish to accept. When you are ready, click Submit.

2) Complete your Self-Certification Form and Promissory Note

  • You will receive an email message from Educational Computer Systems Inc. (ECSI) within three business days of accepting your loan in Axess. The email will include a link to ECSI’s website and a PIN that you will need to create your ECSI account. If you do not receive an email message from ECSI, you can call ECSI at (888) 549-3274 for assistance.
  • Once you have created your ECSI account using the PIN, you will be prompted to review loan disclosure documents, complete a self-certification form, and complete and electronically sign your loan promissory note.
  • After you have signed your promissory note, ECSI will send you a finalized loan disclosure confirming the terms of your loan. At the time that this final disclosure is delivered, your "right-to-cancel" period begins. During this period of three business days, you may cancel the loan by calling ECSI at (888) 549-3274 or the Stanford Financial Aid Office at (650) 723-3058.

Receiving Your Loan Funds

Loans are generally divided evenly over the three quarters of the academic year, not including Summer quarter. If your promissory note is completed and signed, your loan funds will be credited to your University bill a few days prior to the beginning of each quarter. If the quarter has already begun, you can monitor your loan disbursements in Axess.

Note: your loan funds cannot be credited to your bill before the end of the "right-to-cancel" period.

Updated on June 9, 2026 9:03 AM