On Monday, applications for the Panthers Forward student debt relief program opened. Students who are currently in their senior year can apply, and those accepted will receive up to $5,000 of federal student loan forgiveness upon graduation.

The University currently offers six “student success programs.” Four of these programs are specific to Pitt and are aimed at helping students and families understand, prepare for and afford the cost of a Pitt education.

The University of Pittsburgh recognized the inaugural class of Panthers Forward, a program which seeks to relieve student debt, on Friday.

While there’s little Pitt can do to procure more funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the University wants to help students deal with their debt. Pitt announced the creation of Panthers Forward yesterday, a new debt easement program that aims to to help fund current students’ education by utilizing the University’s alumni network.