Wouldn’t it be nice to graduate from college, go to work in a career field you love, and have some assistance in repaying your loans? Well, such programs do exist, and their purpose is to encourage students in specific career fields, volunteer and service programs, and geographic regions to contribute their time and expertise in exchange for loan repayment or cancellation.

Such programs offer what is called “loan forgiveness.” It’s a benefit most commonly offered to those that perform volunteer work or military service, or who serve as teachers, attorneys, doctors, or nurses in needy or rural areas. If you happen to remember the offbeat television show Northern Exposure—in which a New York doctor practiced medicine in rural Alaska—you get a basic idea (albeit a Hollywood one) of what loan forgiveness programs are all about.

Even if none of these areas or fields apply to you, you may still be eligible for loan forgiveness through loan repayment programs included as part of employee benefits packages. Medium to large employers (especially large national or multinational companies) are often the best bet for such benefits.

As the saying goes, a little “forgiveness” goes a long way.