The South Carolina Teacher Loan Program encourages residents to enter the teaching profession. A teacher can cancel portions of his or her student loan by teaching in certain critical geographical and subject areas. Both rural and suburban schools are designated as critical geographic areas. These areas are designated annually by the State Board of Education. It is a recipient's responsibility to determine a school's designation prior to accepting employment. Freshmen and sophomores may borrow up to $2,500 per year. Juniors, seniors, and graduate students may borrow up to $5,000 per year. Career Changers may borrow up to $15,000 per year and up to an aggregate maximum of $60,000. Critical Needs Certification Program participants may borrow up to $1,000 per year, not to exceed an aggregate maximum of $5,000. In order to apply for the programs, the borrower must complete the application and sign the Promissory Note. The second section of the application must be completed by an authorized official in the applicant's college's Education Department who will then submit all pages of the application to the Financial Aid Office. Please submit the application to the college as soon as possible. The college's Financial Aid Office is responsible for returning the completed application to SC Student Loan. Please visit the award's website for more information.