Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)
Making Journalism Careers More Accessible
Work in a local newsroom and get help to pay back your student loans.
“[LRAP] is not only an investment in our alumni, or those of other institutions — it’s an investment in the future of democracy.”
Our pilot Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) — the first of its kind in the journalism industry — was announced by Columbia Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb in 2023. The program may lend up to $30,000 over three years to help you make your loan payments, and then forgive that loan.
This next phase of the LRAP pilot is made possible through a transformative $3 million gift from the Knight Foundation. In partnership with Knight and other journalism schools, Columbia Journalism is committed to reducing the burden of educational debt for alumni who are dedicating their careers to strengthening local newsrooms.
Read more about the impact of LRAP in ‘A weight was lifted’: Journalism School awards $450,000 in loan repayment assistance to 45 graduates of journalism schools from Columbia Daily Spectator.
LRAP supports graduates from these top national journalism schools to build careers in public-interest journalism:
We gratefully acknowledge the following donors whose contributions of $100,000 or more have supported the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s grant to fund LRAP:
Ford Foundation
Lisa Y. Gokongwei-Cheng '93
Anonymous
Local newsrooms are under extraordinary pressure, needing to do more with less, while also striving to recruit talent to create newsrooms that reflect the communities served. Those entering journalism need to be highly skilled and committed to the public interest. Student debt and modest salaries make it difficult for journalism to compete for top talent with other professions. This program aims to change that.
LRAP is investing in helping graduates build careers in public-interest journalism. It underscores a commitment to ease the burden of educational debt for journalists starting their careers. LRAP also strengthens the newsrooms where our graduates work, while targeting financial barriers young journalists face.
LRAP gives recipients the financial freedom to choose work meaningful to them. It provides a safety net for those pursuing careers in public-interest journalism and aims to ensure that debt doesn’t hold them back from telling stories that matter.
LRAP is open to master’s degree graduates of Columbia Journalism School and Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, as well as bachelor's and master's degree graduates from the Cronkite School at Arizona State and Morgan State University's School of Global Journalism and Communication.
Specific requirements for potential recipients include:
- No outstanding financial obligations owed to their LRAP participating institution.
- Full-time employment (at least 35 hours per week) at a qualified U.S. local newsroom.
- A local newsroom is defined as one primarily focused on covering news that is relevant to and directly impacts a specific, geographically defined community.
- Degree granted by LRAP participating institution within the past five years.
- Certification of student loan by degree-granting institution.
To be considered for LRAP, you must submit an application with all required supporting documentation. Your school must submit verification of your degree and loan information, and your current employer must submit verification of your employment status.
Applicants earning $70,000 or less annually will be given priority, though any salary range will be considered.
Required materials to be uploaded with the application:
- Personal Statement
Describing your employer, the nature of your position, your reasons for taking the job, the contributions you hope to make to the organization using your journalism skills, your long-term career goals and how the LRAP, if awarded, will make a difference in your personal life and career trajectory. This information may be shared with program donors. (500 word limit) - Current Resume
- Outstanding Loan Debt Verification
Verification of outstanding loan debt from lenders or servicers, including a summary statement of total outstanding loan balances, required monthly repayment, history of previous loan payments, and information about your repayment plan and expected payoff dates. - Most Recent Tax Return
Copy of your most recent U.S. Federal Tax Return (1040), including all schedules and W-2 forms. - Most Recent Pay Statement
- Student Balance Statement From LRAP Participating Institution
- Consolidation Disclosure Statement*
Only required if your loans were refinanced. Statement provided by the lender, showing the underlying loans.
Required materials to be submitted by outside parties:
- Employment Verification
Certification from your employer (supervisor or HR representative) indicating the start date of employment, the nature of your position, hours worked per week and your annual salary (including any commission, bonuses or other financial remuneration). - School Verification
Certification from your LRAP participating institution (designated school representative) indicating graduation date and degree information, as well as loan information including type, amount borrowed, outstanding balance and your financial standing with that institution.
Your employer (supervisor or HR representative) and school’s designated LRAP representative will be emailed instructions with how to submit their verification form, which will be uploaded directly to your application.
Graduates who receive loan assistance will be required to submit confirmation materials after receipt of the award in order to continue to qualify for assistance.
January-March:
- Receive decision and accept award, if approved
- Sign Master Promissory Note
- Set up deposit account
- Receive funds
May:
- Submit proof of full award amount toward loan payment
- Submit proof of continued employment status (W-2 or paystub)
October:
- Submit proof of continued employment status (W-2 or paystub)
- Reapply for the next year or provide exit documentation
What if you leave or change your job?
You may still be eligible for LRAP if your new job meets eligibility requirements.
- If your new job is eligible, the following will be required:
- Verification of last day by original employer
- Verification of job status (salary, title, etc.) by new employer
- Submission of updated documents for new job (resume, employer information statement)
- Re-evaluation by LRAP Committee
- If you will no longer qualify for the LRAP program, the following will be required:
- Verification of last day by employer
- Repayment of funds prorated from date of separation
Any change in job status including but not limited to end of employment, change in hours or a leave of absence must be reported to the LRAP Office immediately.
Graduates will be required to repay any funds that were given to them for which they have later become ineligible.
Your Career. Your Story. Your Future.
Staff Writer, First Amendment Watch
“I took out the loans in expectation that I’d be paying high sums each month in response to my degree, but [LRAP] has already made that more feasible to me. And, it lets me continue to do the work rather than look for work outside of journalism.”
K-12 Education Reporter, The Texas Tribune
"I can't stress the importance of having this kind of program in place. I think it's a stepping stone. I would hope that, in a lot of ways, [LRAP] serves as an example of what other places can start to replicate... It's only going to make our industry better."
Health Care Reporter, The Gazette
"I'm deeply grateful to LRAP for taking some of that weight off of my shoulders, and giving me confidence I can sustain this job long-term. LRAP is a vote of confidence in me. But, more importantly, it's an investment in the people I serve."
Investigative Fellow, Chicago Public Media
"This LRAP award means that betting in yourself works. With this award, I am one step closer to being debt-free. And for that, I am immensely grateful."