For students who have earned college credit, were not recently enrolled, and have outstanding college debt, Henry Ford College is here to help you return and complete your degree.

This innovative program helps you return to complete your college degree at HFC or at one of our partner institutions, removing financial holds and paving the way to your success. We will assist any previously enrolled HFC student in returning to college by forgiving half of your debt to HFC, if you meet the criteria. Our debt-forgiveness partners, Oakland University, Wayne State University, and UM-Dearborn have similar programs.

How the program works

  1. You fill out the form below.

  2. We review your records, and reach out to you with further details on how to proceed. Goals are:
    1. Eliminate any financial holds on your account by getting you into a repayment plan for half of your existing debt,
    2. Forgive the other half of your debt,
    3. Help you complete your college degree.
  3. If you wish to attend HFC, you will enroll in classes at the College to work toward your certificate or degree program.

  4. If you wish to attend one of our three debt-forgiveness partner institutions, you will enroll in classes at Oakland University, UM-Dearborn or Wayne State University.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible if you meet the qualifications:

  1. You have not been enrolled in college for the past 24 months or longer.

  2. You have unpaid debt to Henry Ford College of at least $200.

  3. You have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at Henry Ford College.

  4. You agree to set up and comply with a payment plan for the half of your debt that is not forgiven through the program*. (You may also pay this portion by lump sum, if you prefer.)

  5. You agree to stay up-to-date with any new costs incurred when you re-enroll in college.

  6. You enroll and work toward a certificate or degree at Henry Ford College, Oakland University, or Wayne State University.

*Here are the payment plan requirements for you to pay 50% of your existing debt:
Your payment will be either a lump sum, or 4 payments at intervals specified by HFC, as follows. You must meet these criteria to be eligible to have 50% of your original balance waived.

  1. 33% of your 50% balance
  2. 22% of your 50% balance
  3. 22% of your 50% balance
  4. 23% of your 50% balance

How do I calculate my payment, and how do payments work?

Your total payment amount will be half (50%) of your current balance.

Your payment will be either a lump sum, or 4 payments at intervals specified by HFC, as follows. You must meet these criteria to be eligible to have 50% of your original balance waived.

33% of your 50% balance 22% of your 50% balance 22% of your 50% balance 23% of your 50% balance

What else do you need to know?

  1. The Hawk Pathways program can only forgive debt that you owe to Henry Ford College. We are not able to forgive debt you owe to other colleges or entities, such as federal loans, private loans, or other types of debt. If you have outstanding educational debt to other lenders, this may affect your ability to re-enroll in college. Let us know what your circumstances are, and we will try to help.

  2. You may be eligible for financial aid when you re-enroll. We will help you determine your eligibility as part of the re-enrollment process.

  3. You may enroll in any for-credit academic program at Henry Ford College, OU, UM-Dearborn or WSU. You do not have to re-enroll in the program you originally started.

  4. You may enroll part-time or full-time, depending on what works best for you.

  5. Avoid loan-forgiveness or debt-forgiveness scams. Scams have been reported, and we want to make sure you are safe from these illegal practices. Learn more about debt-forgiveness scams and how to avoid them.

  6. Reducing outstanding debt can increase your credit score, making it easier to purchase a home or achieve other life goals.

If you are interested in HFC’s Hawk Pathways debt forgiveness program, please fill out the form below. We will review your information and contact you about next steps. NOTE: Students from one of our debt-forgiveness partner institutions, OU or WSU, should fill out the Reconnector form rather than the form below. You will still be eligible to enroll at HFC, but you need to connect through the institution you previously attended.

Additional questions?

If you have questions about the debt forgiveness program that are not answered on this website, please contact enrollment@hfcc.edu, and specify Hawk Pathways program in the subject line.

Fill out the form below to be considered for the Hawk Pathways program.

Someone will reach out to you after we review your information.

If you’re not sure, enter your best guess