Peace Officer Loan Repayment Assistance Program

The purpose of the Peace Officer Loan Repayment Assistance Program is to assist qualifying peace officers with the repayment of eligible student loans.

For more details, review Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 23, Subchapter H.

How to Apply

The application portal for the Peace Officer Loan Repayment Programs is now available.

To complete an application, click here. Applications are accepted year-round, and employment verification forms should be submitted within two weeks of request.

FOR PRIOR POLRP APPLICANTS: When creating an account in the new portal you must use the same email address, first name, and last name entered on your prior application. Once your account has been created, please clear your cache, and then log in. If your email or name has changed, please contact us prior to creating a new account at (833) 597-0454 or LoanRepaymentPrograms@highered.texas.gov.

Primary Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for loan repayment through this program, an individual must meet the definition of "peace officer" as described in Article 2.12, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and meet the following:

• be initially appointed as a full-time peace officer on or after September 1, 2019
• have earned at least 60 semester credit hours, or the equivalent, at an eligible institution of higher education in Texas prior to initial appointment as a peace officer
• be currently employed and have completed at least one year of employment as a full-time peace officer in Texas

Award Amount

• The annual amount of loan repayment assistance is the lesser of $4,000 or 20 percent of the total of unpaid eligible loan balance.
• The maximum amount of loan repayment assistance is $20,000 over a five-year period.
• An individual may not receive loan repayment assistance for more than five consecutive years.
• Loan repayment awards are contingent upon available funding.
• Loan repayment awards are reported to the Internal Revenue Service by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Eligible Loans

The following requirements apply for a loan to be eligible for repayment through this program:  

• must be evidenced by a promissory note which required the loan proceeds to be used to pay for the cost of attendance at an eligible Texas institution for a semester/term that ended in the five years immediately preceding the individual’s initial appointment as a peace officer
• must not be in default at the time of application
• must not have an existing service obligation
• must not be subject to repayment through another student loan repayment or loan forgiveness program, or as a condition of employment

Frequently Asked Questions

I began service as a peace officer prior to September 1, 2019, am I eligible for loan repayment?
No. The law states that your initial appointment as a peace officer must have begun on or after September 1, 2019.

How are applicants selected?
In the initial year of the program, applications will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis until funds are no longer available. After the initial program year, priority will be given to prior year recipients and initial applications will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis until funds are no longer available.

Do I have to apply each year?
Yes. Applicants who were enrolled in the program with their initial applications must submit a renewal application upon completion of each year of eligible service.

What is considered full-time?
Full-time is at least 40 hours per week for a minimum of 45 weeks per year.

Can I receive payment for part-time service or reserve time?
No. A recipient must be employed full-time to be eligible for loan repayment assistance.

I am participating in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Does this disqualify me from any loan repayment program?
No. This program requires a person to make 120 payments before the loan is potentially forgiven. The verification process does not take place until after all 120 payments have been made. A participant may complete the state program before all 120 payments have been made on their federal loans.

Is the percentage of the award amount based on my original loan balance or my current loan balance?
The percentage is based on the verified loan balance at the time of the initial application.

When will I receive my award?
The annual award will be mailed to the lender after you have completed each year of service and all required documentation has been received and reviewed.

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