After you graduate , leave school , or drop below half - time enrollment , you will have a six - month grace period before you are required to begin repayment. During this period, you'll receive repayment information from your loan servicer , and you'll be notified of your first payment due date. Payments are usually due monthly. Learn more about repaying your loan.


There are several repayment options available that are designed to meet the individual needs of borrowers. Your loan servicer can help you understand which repayment options are available to you. Generally , you ll have 10 to 25 years to repay your loan, depending on the repayment plan that you choose. Learn more about your repayment options.


If you are unable to make your scheduled loan payments , contact your loan servicer immediately. Your loan servicer can help you understand your options for keeping your loan in good standing. For example , you may wish to change your repayment plan to lower your monthly payment or request a deferment or forbearance that allows you to temporarily stop or lower the payments on your loan. Learn more about deferment or forbearance options.


Can I cancel a loan if I decide that I don t need it or if I need less than the amount offered?


Yes. Before your loan money is disbursed , you may cancel all or part of your loan at any time by notifying your school. After your loan is disbursed , you may cancel all or part of the loan within certain time frames. Your promissory note and additional information you receive from your school will explain the procedures and time frames for canceling your loan.


Can my loan ever be forgiven or discharged?


Under certain conditions , you may be eligible to have all or part of your loan discharged or forgiven canceled. Find out about loan cancellation, discharge, or forgiveness.


Where can I find information about the student loans I ve received?


Visit My Aid to view information about all of the federal student loans and other financial aid you have received and to find contact information for the loan servicer for your loans.


Avoiding Student Aid Scams


Avoid student aid scams and protect your identity while searching for scholarships, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA form, managing your loans, and giving information to schools and lenders. FREE help is available.


Save Your Money


Protect Your Identity


Beware of Student Loan Debt Relief Companies


Report Fraud and Identity Theft


You Don t Have to Pay for Help Finding Money for College or Career School


Commercial financial aid advice services can cost well over $1,000. Of course , simply charging for help or information that s available for free elsewhere is not fraudulent. However , if a company doesn t deliver what it promises , it s scamming you.


If you re unsure whether to pay a company for help finding financial aid , stop and think for a minute : What s being offered? Is the service going to be worth your money? Do the claims seem too good to be true? You might have heard or seen these claims at seminars, over the phone from telemarketers, or online : Buy now or miss this opportunity. Don t give in to pressure tactics. Remember , the opportunity is a chance to pay for information you could find yourself for free. We guarantee you ll get aid. A company could claim it fulfilled its promise if you were offered student loans or a $200 scholarship. Is that worth a fee of $1,000 or more? I ve got aid for you ; give me your credit card or bank account number. Never give out a credit card or bank account number unless you know the organization you are giving it to is legitimate. You could be putting yourself at risk of identity theft.


Here is some free information about ways to pay for college.


You Don t Have to Pay for Help With the FAFSA Form


Several websites offer help filling out the FAFSA form for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education ED. We urge you not to pay these sites for assistance that you can get for free elsewhere. The official FAFSA form is available from fafsa.gov , and you can get free help from the financial aid office at your college or the college you re thinking about attending ; the FAFSA form s online help ; and the Federal Student Aid Information Center.


If you are asked for your credit card information while filling out the FAFSA form online , you are not at the official government site. Remember , the FAFSA site address has .gov in it!


The FAFSA form is free. Fill the FAFSA form out here.


You Don t Have to Pay for Help With Your Federal Student Loans


Many student loan debt relief companies charge a fee to provide services that you can take care of yourself for free by contacting your loan servicer. At no cost , the U.S. Department of Education and our federal loan servicers can help you lower your monthly loan payment ; change your repayment plan ; consolidate multiple federal student loans ; postpone monthly payments while you re furthering your education or are unemployed ; see if you qualify for loan forgiveness or other programs ; and get your loans out of default.


Have questions or need help with your student loans? Contact your loan servicer or lender for FREE assistance.


Find Out Which Legitimate Companies the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Works With


There are private companies lenders, servicers, and private collection agencies that work on behalf of ED.


ED contracts with loan servicers who handle the billing and other services on your federal student loans. Your federal loan servicer will work with you on repayment plans and loan consolidation and will assist you with other tasks related to your federal student loan. Find a list of our loan servicers here.


ED also works with private collection agencies PCAs to get federal student loan borrowers out of default and ensure defaulted borrowers are aware of their options. Here s a list of PCAs that work with ED. If you re in default , please contact ED s Default Resolution Group for personalized assistance at 1 - 800 - 621 - 3115.


These lenders, servicers, and PCAs are affiliated with ED and can be trusted , so you should contact them if you need assistance.


Change Your FSA ID Password If It Has Been Shared


Identity theft can occur when criminals access personal data such as names, Social Security numbers, and bank and credit card information. Using the stolen data , the criminal can illegally obtain credit cards, set up mobile phone accounts, and more. Take the following precautions to reduce your risk when applying for federal student aid : Apply for federal student aid by filling out the FAFSA form at the official website or on our myStudentAid mobile app. After completing the FAFSA form online, exit the application and close the browser ; any cookies created during your session will be deleted automatically. Don t tell anyone your FSA ID username or password, even if that person is helping you fill out the FAFSA form. Review your financial aid offers and keep track of the amounts you applied for and received. Never give personal information over the phone or internet unless you made the contact. If you have questions about an offer of aid or about your student loan account , ask your college or contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center. We securely store your information within the National Student Loan Data System NSLDS database and provide access to it when you log in to your account. However , if you complete or even request a student loan application from a lender , you may be granting the lender permission to access your file. Before providing personal information to an organization , review its privacy policy. Keep receipts and documents for example, credit applications or offers, checks and bank statements with personal information in a safe place, and shred them when you are finished with them. Keep your purse or wallet safe at all times; store it and other items containing personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates. Immediately report all lost or stolen identification to the issuer e.g., the credit card company or your state s Department of Motor Vehicles and to the police, if appropriate.


Log in to your account using your username and password. Once logged in , change your Account Information in your account settings. You ll be prompted to enter your current password and choose a new password. Be sure to keep track of your new password and do not share it with anyone! If someone has access to your FSA ID information , they can make changes to your account without your permission.


If you cannot log in because you do not know your current username and/or password , retrieve your lost credentials.


Note: To retrieve your username or password , you ll either need to have a code sent to your mobile phone or your email address , or you ll need to answer your challenge questions. If a student loan debt relief company had access to your FSA ID , it s possible that they may have changed the email address or phone number associated with your account. If you don t have access to or haven t verified the mobile phone number or email address associated with your FSA ID, and you don t know the answers to your challenge questions , you will have to contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1 - 800 - 433 - 3243. An agent will walk you through self - service options. If that does not resolve the situation , you will go through the FSA ID Account Recovery process. You ll send in copies of identification , and the email address on your account will reset to one you can access. This process takes 7 10 days from the time you send in your documentation.


How ED Keeps Your Information Safe


We care about the privacy of your personal information. The information you share with us via our secure websites goes through a process called encryption. Encryption uses a mathematical formula to scramble your data into a format that is unreadable to a hacker. This is how we do our part to keep your information safe but you need to do yours as well.


Identify a Student Loan Scam


Borrowers have reported receiving phone calls, emails, letters, and/or texts offering them relief from their federal student loans or warning them that student loan forgiveness programs would end soon. Usually , the so - called student loan debt relief companies offering these types of services don t offer any relief at all. Often they re just fraudsters who are after your money.


Here are some examples of the false claims made in these communications : Act immediately to qualify for student loan forgiveness before the program is discontinued. You are now eligible to receive benefits from a recent law that has passed regarding federal student loans, including total forgiveness in some circumstances. Federal student loan programs may change. Please call within 30 days of receiving this notice. Your student loans may qualify for complete discharge. Enrollments are first come, first served. Student alerts : Your student loan is flagged for forgiveness pending verification. Call now!


Communications using this type of aggressive advertising to lure borrowers are NOT coming from the U.S. Department of Education ED or its partners.


Here are some signs to help you identify a scam by a student loan debt relief company : They require you to pay up - front or monthly fees for help. It is illegal to charge an up - front fee for this type of service , so if a company requires a fee before they actually do anything, that s a huge red flag especially if they try to get your credit card number or bank account information. In some cases , they may even step in and ask you to pay them directly, promising to pay your servicer each month when your bill comes due. Free assistance is available through your federal loan servicer. They promise immediate and total loan forgiveness or cancellation. No one can promise immediate and total loan forgiveness or cancellation. Most government forgiveness programs require many years of qualifying payments and/or employment in certain fields before your loans can be forgiven. Also , student loan debt relief companies do not have the ability to negotiate with your federal loan servicer for a special deal under the federal student loan programs. Payment levels under income - driven payment plans are set by federal law. They ask for your FSA ID username and password. ED or its partners will never ask you for your FSA ID password. Your FSA ID is used to sign legally binding documents electronically. It has the same legal status as a written signature. Do not give your FSA ID password to anyone or allow anyone to create an FSA ID for you. If a company has access to your FSA ID information , they can make changes to your account without your permission. They ask you to sign and submit a third - party authorization form or a power of attorney. These are written agreements giving the third party legal permission to talk directly to your federal loan servicer and make decisions on your behalf. Debt relief companies often want these authorizations so that they can change your account and contact information , so you don t realize that they aren t actually paying your monthly student loan bill. They claim that their offer is limited and encourage you to act immediately. Student loan debt relief companies often try to instill a sense of urgency by citing new laws or discontinuing programs as a way to encourage borrowers to contact them immediately. While there are some deadlines you need to meet regarding your student loans for instance , if you re paying under an income - driven repayment plan , you need to recertify annually our programs are limited only by the eligibility requirements. Their communications contain spelling and grammatical errors. While many of the communications sent out by these companies look very formal for example, fold - and - tear letters with safety patterns , they often contain spelling and grammatical errors. If you notice unusual capitalization, improper grammar, or incomplete sentences in the communication you receive , that s likely a red flag that the company is not affiliated with ED.


For more tips on identifying a student loan scam , visit the Federal Trade Commission s website.


How Student Loan Debt Relief Companies Work


Student loan debt relief companies are private companies that provide or claim to provide student loan management services for a fee. Often these companies are charging for services you can easily manage yourself. They will say they can help reduce your monthly payment or get your loans forgiven , but after you pay, you might be worse off. You might not get the promised help or your money back , and the company may have made changes to your loan repayment plan that you didn t authorize or want. If you stopped paying your loans , your credit could be damaged and your loan balances could balloon.


The tricky part is that, although these companies are not affiliated with ED, they sometimes claim to be. In their communications , these companies will claim to work with the U.S. Department of Education or claim to be consumer advocacy groups. In an effort to appear legitimate , some of these companies may even include your loan balance information in their communications. Remember : ED and our federal loan servicers will never charge fees to help borrowers with their student loans. If you re asked to pay an up - front or maintenance fee , you re not dealing with ED, so do not share your information.


If you re not sure whether you can trust a company that contacts you , refer to this list of trusted companies that work with ED to provide student loan services.


List of Companies Banned From Debt Relief


The Federal Trade Commission FTC and other government entities have taken action against many of these companies.


The problem is, many student loan debt relief companies operate under many different names and use many different phone numbers to avoid detection. Some even go as far as to reopen under different names after being sued or shut down. That s why it s important that you consult our list of trusted partners, and take steps to avoid these scams.


View the FTC s list of companies and people banned from debt relief.


Report Financial Aid Fraud


A company charging for financial aid advice is not committing fraud unless it doesn t deliver what it promises. For more information about financial aid fraud or to report fraud , contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.


Report Fraudulent Activity by a College or Career School


Contact ED s Office of Inspector General Fraud Hotline to make a confidential report if you suspect your school or an individual of fraud, waste, or abuse involving federal student aid (e.g., Federal Pell Grants, Direct Loans, etc.


Contact ED s Federal Student Aid Feedback Center if you believe that someone at your school has misrepresented any aspect of the educational program, its cost, or its outcomes ; or the school s administration of the federal student aid programs, and/or the school s recruitment practices, may have violated federal regulations.


Report Identity Theft


If you suspect that your student information has been stolen , it is important to act quickly. These offices will help you determine what steps to take depending on your situation : ED s Office of Inspector General Fraud Hotline Federal Trade Commission Social Security Administration Equifax Credit Bureau Experian Information Solutions TransUnion Credit Bureau


Report Student Loan Debt Relief Companies


If you have already shared your information or paid a student loan debt relief company , you should do the following : Contact your federal loan servicer to revoke any power of attorney or third - party authorization agreement that your servicer has on file. You should also make sure no unwanted actions were taken on your loans. Contact your bank or credit card company, and request that payments to the company be stopped. File a complaint with the FTC. File a report of suspicious activity through our Feedback Center.


Also , be sure to log in and change your account password. Do NOT share your new account password with anyone!


Student loan forbearance allows you to temporarily stop making payments.


Find out if a forbearance is the best option for your situation.


With forbearance , you won t have to make a payment , or you can temporarily make a smaller payment. However , you probably won t be making any progress toward forgiveness or paying back your loan. As an alternative , consider income - driven repayment.


NEW : Automatic Suspension of Monthly Payments as a Result of the COVID-19 National Emergency


To provide relief to student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency , federal student loan borrowers are automatically being placed in an administrative forbearance, which allows you to temporarily stop making your monthly loan payments. This suspension of payments will last from March 13 , 2020, through Sept. 30 , 2020 , but you can still make payments if you choose.


Have questions? Find out what loans qualify and get additional information about this forbearance and other student loan flexibilities due to the COVID-19 national emergency.


If you re having trouble repaying your loans due to circumstances that may continue for an extended period, or if you re unsure when you ll be able to afford to make your monthly loan payments again , a better option might be to change to an income - driven repayment plan. Income - driven repayment plans base your monthly payments on your income and family size. In some cases , your payment could be as low as $0 per month. They can also provide loan forgiveness if your loan is not paid in full after 20 or 25 years.


If you re seeking Public Service Loan Forgiveness PSLF or income - driven repayment forgiveness , forbearance will not allow you to make progress toward forgiveness.


Be Aware That Interest Might Accrue During a Forbearance


If you are granted a forbearance , you are still responsible for paying the interest that accrues during the forbearance period.


How It Works


During a forbearance , you can either pay the interest as it accrues , or you can allow it to accrue and be capitalized added to your loan principal balance at the end of the forbearance period. If you don t pay the interest on your loan and allow it to be capitalized , the total amount you repay over the life of your loan may be higher. Unpaid interest is capitalized only on Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loan FFEL Program loans. Unpaid interest is never capitalized on Federal Perkins Loans.


Request a Forbearance


Most types of forbearance are not automatic you need to submit a request to your student loan servicer, often using a form. Also , for some types of forbearance , you must provide your student loan servicer with documentation to show that you meet the eligibility requirements for the forbearance you are requesting. Learn more about requirements and how to access request forms.


Understand Eligibility for a Forbearance


There are two main types of forbearance: general and mandatory.


General Forbearance


Your loan servicer decides whether to grant a request for a general forbearance. For this reason , a general forbearance is sometimes called a discretionary forbearance.


You can request a general forbearance if you are temporarily unable to make your scheduled monthly loan payments for the following reasons : Financial difficulties Medical expenses Change in employment Other reasons acceptable to your loan servicer


Loan Programs Eligible for General Forbearance


General forbearances are available for Direct Loans, Federal Family Education FFEL Program loans, and Perkins Loans.


Duration of a General Forbearance


For loans made under all three programs , a general forbearance may be granted for no more than 12 months at a time. If you re still experiencing a hardship when your current forbearance expires , you may request another general forbearance. However , there is a cumulative limit on general forbearances of three years.


For more information , review the General Forbearance Request.


Mandatory Forbearance


If you meet the eligibility requirements for a mandatory forbearance , your loan servicer is required to grant the forbearance. You may be eligible for a mandatory forbearance in the following circumstances.


Note : The mandatory forbearances discussed below apply only to Direct Loans and FFEL Program loans unless otherwise noted.


AmeriCorps


You are serving in an AmeriCorps position for which you received a national service award.


Request an AmeriCorps forbearance.


Department of Defense Student Loan Repayment Program


You qualify for partial repayment of your loans under the U.S. Department of Defense Student Loan Repayment Program.


Complete the Mandatory Forbearance Request : Medical or Dental Internship / Residency, National Guard Duty, or Department of Defense Student Loan Repayment Program.


Medical or Dental Internship or Residency


You are serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program , and you meet specific requirements.


National Guard Duty


You are a member of the National Guard and have been activated by a governor , but you are not eligible for a military deferment.


Student Loan Debt Burden


The total amount you owe each month for all the federal student loans you received is 20 percent or more of your total monthly gross income, for up to three years.


Complete the Mandatory Forbearance Request : Student Loan Debt Burden.


Note: This mandatory forbearance type applies to Direct Loans, FFEL Program loans, and Perkins Loans.


Teacher Loan Forgiveness


You are performing teaching service that would qualify you for teacher loan forgiveness.


Apply using this form : Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forbearance Request.


Duration of Mandatory Forbearances


Mandatory forbearances may be granted for no more than 12 months at a time. If you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for the forbearance when your current forbearance period expires , you may request another mandatory forbearance.


You MUST continue making payments on your student loan until you have been notified that your request for forbearance has been granted. If you stop paying and your forbearance is not approved , your loan will become delinquent and you may go into default.


Don t get discouraged if you're in default on your federal student loan.


You have multiple options to get out of default.


If you failed to make your payments on your federal student loan and now are in default , don t let the consequences of default affect your financial future. Find out how to get out of default.


Stopped Collection Activity and Temporary 0% Interest as a Result of the COVID-19 National Emergency


To provide relief during the COVID-19 national emergency , the U.S. Department of Education ED has stopped collection activity on defaulted federally owned student loans and/or grant overpayments. In addition , interest is temporarily set at 0% on defaulted federally owned student aid debt. This 0% interest and stopped collections period will last from March 13 , 2020, through Sept. 30 , 2020. You can still make payments if you choose.


Have questions? Find out about federal student aid flexibilities due to the COVID-19 national emergency.


One way to get out of default is to repay the defaulted loan in full , but that's not a practical option for most borrowers. The two main ways to get out of default are loan rehabilitation and loan consolidation. While loan rehabilitation takes several months to complete , you can quickly apply for loan consolidation. However , loan rehabilitation provides certain benefits that are not available through loan consolidation. Take a look at the chart below to compare the benefits of loan rehabilitation versus the benefits of loan consolidation.


Loan Rehabilitation and Consolidation Comparison Chart


* NOTE : We previously indicated that loan consolidation would result in removal of the record of default from a borrower s credit history. That cell of the table has now been corrected to indicate that loan consolidation will not result in removal of the record of default from the borrower s credit history.


If you rehabilitate a defaulted loan , the record of the default will be removed from your credit history. However , your credit history will still show late payments that were reported by your loan holder before the loan went into default. If you consolidate a defaulted loan , the record of the default as well as late payments reported before the loan went into default will remain in your credit history. Late payments will remain on your credit report for seven years from when they were first reported. It s important that you fully understand loan rehabilitation and loan consolidation before making your decision. Learn more about loan rehabilitation and loan consolidation.


Unless you make three voluntary, on - time, full monthly payments on a defaulted loan before you consolidate it , your choice of repayment plans for the new Direct Consolidation Loan will be limited to one of the income - driven repayment plans. If you make three voluntary, on - time, full monthly payments before consolidating , you can choose from any of the repayment plans available to Direct Consolidation Loan borrowers.


Loan Rehabilitation


One option for getting your loan out of default is loan rehabilitation. To start the loan rehabilitation process , you must contact your loan holder. If you re not sure who your loan holder is , you can log in and select View loan servicer details to get your loan holder s contact information.


William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program


To rehabilitate a defaulted Direct Loan or FFEL Program loan , you must agree in writing to make nine voluntary, reasonable, and affordable monthly payments as determined by your loan holder within 20 days of the due date, and make all nine payments during a period of 10 consecutive months.


Under a loan rehabilitation agreement , your loan holder will determine a reasonable monthly payment amount that is equal to 15 percent of your annual discretionary income, divided by 12. Discretionary income is the amount of your adjusted gross income from your most recent federal income tax return that exceeds 150 percent of the poverty guideline amount for your state and family size. You must provide documentation of your income to your loan holder.


If you can t afford the initial monthly payment amount described above , you can ask your loan holder to calculate an alternative monthly payment based on the amount of your monthly income that remains after reasonable amounts for your monthly expenses have been subtracted. You ll need to provide documentation of your monthly income and expenses, including a completed Loan Rehabilitation: Income and Expense Information form. Depending on your individual circumstances , this alternative payment amount may be lower than the payment amount you were initially offered. To rehabilitate your loan , you must choose one of the two payment amounts.


Depending on your income , your monthly payment under a loan rehabilitation agreement could be as low as $5.


Your loan holder may be collecting payments on your defaulted loan through wage garnishment or Treasury offset taking all or part of your tax refunds or other government payments. These involuntary payments may continue even after you begin making payments under a loan rehabilitation agreement , but they can t be counted toward the required nine voluntary loan rehabilitation payments. Involuntary payments may continue to be taken until your loan is no longer in default or until you have made some of your rehabilitation payments.


Once you have made the required nine payments , your loans will no longer be in default.


Federal Perkins Loan Program


To rehabilitate a defaulted Federal Perkins Loan , you must make a full monthly payment each month, within 20 days of the due date, for nine consecutive months. Your required monthly payment amount is determined by your loan holder. Find out where to go for information about your Perkins Loan.


Benefits of Loan Rehabilitation


When your loan is rehabilitated , the default status will be removed from your loan , and collection of payments through wage garnishment or Treasury offset will stop. You ll regain eligibility for benefits that were available on the loan before you defaulted, such as deferment, forbearance, a choice of repayment plans, and loan forgiveness , and you ll be eligible to receive federal student aid. Also , the record of default on the rehabilitated loan will be removed from your credit history. However , your credit history will still show late payments that were reported by your loan holder before the loan went into default.


If you rehabilitate a defaulted loan and then default on that loan again , you can t rehabilitate it a second time. Rehabilitation is a one - time opportunity.


Loan Consolidation


Another option for getting out of default is to consolidate your defaulted federal student loan into a Direct Consolidation Loan. Loan consolidation allows you to pay off one or more federal student loans with a new consolidation loan.


To consolidate a defaulted federal student loan into a new Direct Consolidation Loan , you must either agree to repay the new Direct Consolidation Loan under an income - driven repayment plan, or make three consecutive, voluntary, on - time, full monthly payments on the defaulted loan before you consolidate it.


Note: If you choose to make three payments on the defaulted loan before you consolidate it , the required payment amount will be determined by your loan holder, but cannot be more than what is reasonable and affordable based on your total financial circumstances.


There are special considerations if you want to reconsolidate an existing Direct Consolidation Loan or Federal FFEL Consolidation Loan that is in default : To reconsolidate a defaulted Direct Consolidation Loan , you must also include at least one other eligible loan in the consolidation in addition to meeting one of the two requirements described above. If you have no other eligible loans that can be included in the consolidation , you cannot get out of default by consolidating a defaulted Direct Consolidation Loan. Your options are repayment in full or loan rehabilitation. You may reconsolidate a defaulted FFEL Consolidation Loan without including any additional loans in the consolidation, but only if you agree to repay the new Direct Consolidation Loan under an income - driven repayment plan. If you include at least one other eligible loan in the consolidation , you re eligible to reconsolidate a defaulted FFEL Consolidation Loan if you meet either of the two requirements described above.


In addition , if you want to consolidate a defaulted loan that is being collected through garnishment of your wages, or that is being collected in accordance with a court order after a judgment was obtained against you , you cannot consolidate the loan unless the wage garnishment order has been lifted or the judgment has been vacated.


If you choose to repay the new Direct Consolidation Loan under an income - driven plan , you must select one of the available income - driven repayment plans at the time you apply for the consolidation loan and provide documentation of your income.


Note: If you want to consolidate a defaulted PLUS loan that you obtained as a parent to pay for your child s education , the only income - driven plan you can choose is the Income - Contingent Repayment Plan ICR.


If you choose to make three consecutive, voluntary, on - time, full monthly payments on your defaulted loan before you consolidate it , you may repay the new Direct Consolidation Loan under any repayment plan you are eligible for.


After your defaulted loan has been consolidated , your Direct Consolidation Loan will be eligible for benefits such as deferment, forbearance, and loan forgiveness. You ll also be eligible to receive additional federal student aid , but unlike loan rehabilitation, consolidation of a defaulted loan does not remove the record of the default from your credit history.


Learn more about consolidation and how to apply for a Direct Consolidation Loan.


Repayment in Full


A third option for getting out of default is to repay the full amount of your defaulted student loan.


If you need your loan holder s contact information to make a payment , log in and select View loan servicer details.


Getting Help With Your Defaulted Loan


If you need help with your defaulted loan , you will need to contact the holder of your defaulted loan. Find out who holds your loan by logging in and selecting View loan servicer details.


Note : StudentAid.gov does not include information about any private student loans you may have received. Contact the loan holder of your private student loans for loan information.


If your school closes while you re enrolled or soon after you withdraw, you may be eligible for discharge of your federal student loan.


Learn about the eligibility requirements for discharge and how you can apply.


There are certain eligibility requirements to qualify for a closed school discharge ; you must apply to get a discharge.


It s important for you to obtain your academic and financial aid records if your school closes since you might need those records if you plan to attend another school or want your student loans discharged.


Discharge Criteria


You may be eligible for a 100 percent discharge of your William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Direct Loan Program loans, Federal Family Education Loan FFEL Program loans, or Federal Perkins Loans if you were unable to complete your program because your school closed, and if you were enrolled when your school closed ; you were on an approved leave of absence when your school closed ; or your school closed within 120 days after you withdrew.


You are not eligible for discharge of your loans if your school closes and any of the following is true : Except in exceptional circumstances , you withdrew more than 120 days before the school closed. You are completing a comparable educational program at another school through a teach-out, by transferring academic credits or hours earned at the closed school to another school , or by any other comparable means. You completed all the coursework for the program before the school closed, even if you did not receive a diploma or certificate.


Discharge Process


Contact your loan servicer about the application process for getting your loan discharged. Be sure to continue to make payments on your loan while your discharge application is being processed. Find out what happens if your loan discharge is approved. Find out what happens if your loan discharge is denied.


Automatic Closed School Discharge


If you meet the eligibility requirements for a closed school discharge of your loans obtained to attend a school that closed on or after Nov. 1 , 2013, and you have not enrolled at another school that participates in the federal student aid programs within three years of the date your prior school closed , you will receive an automatic closed school discharge. This discharge will be initiated by the U.S. Department of Education ED , and you will be notified by your loan servicer.


Although this closed school loan discharge is granted automatically after three years have passed since your school s closure , nothing prevents you from applying for and receiving a closed school discharge as soon as your school s official closure date is confirmed by ED. If you 1) attended a school that closed less than three years ago, 2) meet the eligibility requirements for a closed school discharge, and 3) want your loans discharged, contact your loan servicer about applying for a closed school discharge now instead of waiting for three years to receive an automatic closed school discharge.


Q&A on Closed School Loan Discharges


I have nonfederal loans through private lenders. Can I get those loans discharged?


By receiving a closed school loan discharge , you have no further obligation to repay the loan , you will receive reimbursement of payments made voluntarily or through forced collection , and the record of the loan and all repayment history associated with the loan, including any adverse history, will be deleted from your credit report.


You will need to contact the private lender that made the loan to get that information.


I received loans for several different programs of study at the same school, but I was unable to complete any of the programs or transfer credits from one program to another before the school closed. Can all the loans be discharged?


Only loans you received for a program that you were unable to complete because of the school s closure are eligible for discharge.


For example , if you initially enrolled in Program A, but decided not to continue with that program and transferred to Program B , and you were then unable to complete Program B because the school closed , only loans you received for Program B could potentially be discharged.


In the example , you would not be eligible for discharge of any loans you received for Program A, because the school s closure did not prevent you from completing that program.


I did not complete the program, but I received a diploma or certificate. Does that make me ineligible for a loan discharge?


No. Before closing , some schools may issue a diploma or certificate to students who did not complete the program of study. If you did not complete your program of study , the fact that the school gave you a diploma or certificate does not disqualify you for discharge.


I transferred credits from a closed school to a completely different program of study at a new school and completed the new program. Does that make me ineligible for discharge of the loans I received at the closed school?


No. Transfer of credits from the closed school to a completely different program of study at the new school does not disqualify you for discharge.


I attended a school that is now closed. Where can I obtain a copy of my academic transcript?


Contact the state licensing agency in the state where the school was located to find out if the state has the records.


My school informed me that they have arranged a teach-out with neighboring schools. What is a teach-out?


A teach - out is a written agreement between schools that provides for the equitable treatment of students and a reasonable opportunity for students to complete their program of study if a school ceases to operate before all students have completed their program of study.


If my school closes and I then enroll in a comparable program at another school, can I still receive a discharge of the loans I received at the closed school?


It depends. If you completed or are in the process of completing a comparable program of study at another school through a teach - out , by transferring academic credits or hours from the closed school, or by any other comparable means , you are not eligible for a closed school discharge.


However , you may be eligible for discharge if you completed or are in the process of completing a comparable program at another school , but you did not participate in a teach - out, transfer credits or hours from the closed school, or benefit from the training you received at the closed school by any other comparable means, and if you otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for a closed school discharge.


Federal Work-Study jobs help students earn money to pay for college or career school.


Undergraduate and graduate students with work - study jobs will work part - time on or off campus while enrolled.


Federal Work - Study provides part - time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student s course of study.


Here s a quick overview of Federal Work - Study : It provides part - time employment while you are enrolled in school. It s available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with financial need. It s available to full - time or part - time students. It s administered by schools participating in the Federal Work - Study Program. Check with your school's financial aid office to find out if your school participates.


What kinds of jobs are there?


The Federal Work - Study Program emphasizes employment in civic education and work related to your course of study whenever possible.


Are jobs on campus or off campus?


Both. If you work on campus , you ll usually work for your school. If you work off campus , your employer will usually be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency , and the work performed must be in the public interest.


Some schools might have agreements with private for - profit employers for work - study jobs. These jobs must be relevant to your course of study to the maximum extent possible. If you attend a proprietary school i.e., a for - profit institution , there may be further restrictions on the types of jobs you can be assigned.


If you re interested in getting a Federal Work - Study job while you re enrolled in college or career school , make sure you apply for aid early. Funds are limited.


How much can I earn?


You ll earn at least the current federal minimum wage. However , you may earn more depending on the type of work you do and the skills required for the position.


Your total work - study award depends on when you apply, your level of financial need , and your school s funding level.


How will I be paid?


How you re paid depends partly on whether you re an undergraduate or graduate student. If you are an undergraduate student , you're paid by the hour. If you are a graduate or professional student , you're paid by the hour or by salary, depending on the work you do. Your school must pay you at least once a month. Your school must pay you directly unless you request that the school send your payments directly to your bank account or use the money to pay for your education - related institutional charges such as tuition, fees, and room and board.


Can I work as many hours as I want?


No. The amount you earn can t exceed your total Federal Work - Study award. When assigning work hours , your employer or your school s financial aid office will consider your class schedule and your academic progress.


Are you a student? A parent? An adult thinking about going back to school? Want to know how to prepare for college or career school?


We ve provided checklists with the steps you can take to help your or your child s chances of getting into and being able to afford the school of your choice.


Students , college prep is about more than the classes that you take. It s also about developing the skills that will help you succeed in college and life. For instance , as you balance studying and having fun , you ll be practicing time management ; and as you save for college, you ll be learning money management. Our checklists suggest these and many other steps you can take, as well as websites you can explore, as you prepare academically and financially for college.


Parents , each of the checklists from elementary school through high school includes items for you, such as how to support your child in his or her studies, where to set up a college savings account, and what to do when it s time to apply for financial aid.


Adult students , we ve got an adult student checklist just for you so that you can skip all the information about what classes to take in high school and get straight to exactly what you need.


Try This Resource College Preparation Checklist Helps students elementary, middle, and high school, as well as adults and parents prepare financially and academically for college.


College Preparation YouTube Playlist


Curious about what college is like? Take a look at the videos in our Prepare for College " YouTube playlist. The playlist includes such topics as What s the biggest myth about college? and What s the best tip about going to college?


What is the Most Surprising Thing About College?


Checklists


Whether you re a student or parent, years away from college or just about to start , the following checklists will help you get ready. Elementary School Checklist : Student and parent checklists that start the student on the road to enjoying learning and point the parent to resources for college savings accounts.


Middle School Checklist : Student and parent checklists that get the student thinking about high school and possible careers and encourage the parent to keep an eye on the student s progress.


High School Checklist : Student and parent checklists that help the student focus on succeeding academically and learning about financial aid and provide the parent with tips for supporting the student and participating in the financial aid application process. 9th Grade Checklist 10th Grade Checklist 11th Grade Checklist 12th Grade Checklist Grad School Checklist : Checklist to help individuals get prepared for graduate or professional school. Adult Student Checklist : Checklist for adults applying to college , including those who left high school before graduating, graduated high school, completed some college courses, or may be in the workforce. Getting a Late Start? Last - minute Checklist : Checklist for anyone who has been accepted at a college and is starting classes soon but hasn t applied for financial aid yet.


For purposes of applying for federal student aid, what s the difference between a dependent student and an independent student?


Read the definitions, find out who has to provide parent information on the FAFSA form, and learn what to do if you aren t in contact with your parents.


Your dependency status determines whose information you must report on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA form. If you re a dependent student , you will report your and your parents information. If you re an independent student , you will report your own information and, if you re married, your spouse s.


The federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it is primarily your and your family s responsibility to pay for your education. A dependent student is assumed to have the support of parents , so the parents information has to be assessed along with the student s, in order to get a full picture of the family s financial strength. If you re a dependent student, it doesn t mean your parents are required to pay anything toward your education ; this is just a way of looking at everyone in a consistent manner.


Am I dependent or independent?


Your answers to questions on the FAFSA form determine whether you are considered a dependent or independent student. The questions change a little from one year s application to the next year s ; for instance, the 2020 21 FAFSA form asks whether you were born before Jan. 1 , 1997, while the 2021 22 FAFSA form will ask whether you were born before Jan. 1 , 1998. Here are the questions that determine your dependency status, first in a graphic format and then for 2020 21 specifically in a table of dependency status questions :


View text-only version


Dependency Status Questions on the 2020 21 FAFSA Form


* Answer " No " you are not a veteran if you 1 have never engaged in active duty including basic training in the U.S. armed forces , 2 are currently a Reserve Officers Training Corps ROTC student or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy , 3 are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only for state or training purposes, or 4 were engaged in active duty in the U.S. armed forces but released under dishonorable conditions. Also answer No if you are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces and will continue to serve through June 30 , 2021.


* Answer " Yes " you are a veteran if you 1 have engaged in active duty including basic training in the U.S. armed forces or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for other than state or training purposes, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies and 2 were released under a condition other than dishonorable. Also answer Yes if you are not a veteran now but will be one by June 30 , 2021.


* * If you do not have a determination that you are homeless , but you believe you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self - supporting and at risk of being homeless , answer No to the FAFSA questions concerning being homeless. Then contact your financial aid office to explain your situation. Homeless means lacking fixed or regular housing. You may be homeless if you are living in shelters, parks, motels, hotels, cars, or temporarily living with someone else because you have nowhere else to go.


What if I answered "Yes" to one or more of the questions above?


If so , then for federal student aid purposes , you re considered to be an independent student and will not provide information about your parents on the FAFSA form.


What if I answered "No" to every question?


If so , then for federal student aid purposes , you re considered to be a dependent student , and you must provide information about your parents on the FAFSA form.


Not living with parents or not being claimed by them on tax forms does not make you an independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid.


Note : Law school and health profession students may be required to provide parent information regardless of their dependency status. The parent information is used in determining eligibility for programs such as Health Professions Student Loans from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


Try This Resource Am I Dependent or Independent? Worksheet to help students determine their dependency status when filling out the FAFSA form.


Which parent s information should I report on the FAFSA form?


If your legal parents are married to each other, or are not married to each other and live together , you should report information about both of them on your FAFSA form. Your legal parents are your biological or adoptive parents, or your parents as determined by the state for example, if the parent is listed on your birth certificate. However , we recognize that many situations are a little more complicated, so we ve provided information on how to figure out which parent should provide information on the FAFSA form.


Try This Resource Who s My Parent When I Fill Out My FAFSA? Graphic that helps dependent students determine which parent's information to include on the FAFSA form.


What if I don t live with my parents?


You still must answer the questions about your parents if you re considered a dependent student.


What if my parents aren t going to help me pay for college and refuse to provide information for my FAFSA form?


You can t be considered independent of your parents just because they refuse to help you with this process. If you do not provide their information on the FAFSA form , the application will be considered rejected , and you might not be able to receive any federal student aid. The most you would be able to get depending on what the financial aid office at your college decides would be a loan called an unsubsidized loan. The FAFSA instructions will tell you what to do if you are in this situation. Learn more about how to fill out the FAFSA form when your parents aren t supporting you and won t provide their information.


What if I have no contact with my parents?


If you have no contact with your parents and don t know where they live , or you ve left home due to an abusive situation , fill out the FAFSA form and then immediately get in touch with the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend. The financial aid staff will tell you what to do next. Learn more about how to fill out the FAFSA form if you have special circumstances that prevent you from providing parent information.


Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional StudentsWilliam D. Ford Federal Direct Loan ProgramFederal Direct PLUS Loan Request for Supplemental Information


What is a Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional Students?


This is a request for supplemental information in connection with your application for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Direct PLUS Loan through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Direct Loan Program. Some schools may have a different process for obtaining the additional information needed to process your Direct PLUS Loan application.


The information that you provide will be sent to the school that you select. The school you select will use the information collected to determine your eligibility for a Direct PLUS Loan and process your application.


Before you can receive a Direct PLUS Loan , you must complete a Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note Direct PLUS Loan MPN, which explains all of the terms and conditions of Direct PLUS Loans and constitutes your legally binding agreement to repay all Direct PLUS Loans that you receive under the Direct PLUS Loan MPN. You will have an opportunity to complete the Direct PLUS Loan MPN after you complete the Direct PLUS Loan Request.


The Direct PLUS Loan Application allows you to authorize the school to use your loan funds to satisfy other educationally related charges after tuition and fees, and room and board have been paid. You are not required to provide this authorization.


BEFORE YOU CONTINUE: If you have placed a security freeze on your credit file , you must lift or remove the freeze at each credit bureau before you continue. Your application will not be processed if you have a security freeze.


Apply for a PLUS Loan


Start Demo


Students with criminal convictions have limited eligibility for federal student aid.


Make sure you understand your status, and don t assume you can t get aid.


Your eligibility for federal student aid can be affected by incarceration and/or the type of conviction you have.


Try This Resource Federal Student Aid Eligibility for Students Confined in Adult Correctional or Juvenile Justice Facilities Provides information for incarcerated individuals on federal student aid eligibility.


If I m incarcerated, can I get federal student aid?


You have limited eligibility for federal student aid.


Once you re released , most eligibility limitations will be removed. In fact , you may apply for aid before you re released so your aid is processed in time for you to start school. However , if your incarceration was for a drug - related offense or if you are subject to an involuntary civil commitment for a sexual offense , your eligibility may be limited.


If I m on probation or parole, can I get federal student aid?


Yes ; if you are on probation or parole or living in a halfway house, you may be eligible for federal student aid. But remember , if you were convicted of a drug - related offense or if you are subject to an involuntary civil commitment for a sexual offense, your eligibility may be limited.


Is it true that drug convictions might affect my ability to get federal student aid?


Yes ; your eligibility might be suspended if the offense occurred while you were receiving federal student aid grants, loans, or work - study. When you complete the FAFSA form , you will be asked whether you had a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid. If the answer is yes , you will be provided a worksheet to help you determine whether your conviction affects your eligibility for federal student aid.


If your eligibility for federal student aid has been suspended due to a drug conviction , you can regain eligibility early by successfully completing an approved drug rehabilitation program or by passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an approved drug rehabilitation program. If you regain eligibility during the award year , notify your financial aid office immediately so you can get any aid you re eligible for.


If you are convicted of a drug - related offense after you submit the FAFSA form , you might lose eligibility for federal student aid , and you might be liable for returning any financial aid you received during a period of ineligibility.


What other convictions might affect my aid?


If you have been convicted of a forcible or nonforcible sexual offense, and you are subject to an involuntary civil commitment upon completion of a period of incarceration for that offense , you cannot receive a Federal Pell Grant.


Types of Financial Aid


Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work - study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable.


A variety of financial aid sources are available to help you pay for college or career school Grants Scholarships Work-Study Jobs Loans Aid for Military Families Aid for International Study Aid and Other Resources From the U.S. Federal Government Aid From Your State Government Aid From Your College or Career School


A variety of financial aid sources are available to help you pay for college or career school.


Financial aid can come from federal, state, school, and private sources to help you pay for college or career school.


Besides financial aid , you should also think about what you can do to lower your costs when you go to college.


Types of Federal Student Aid Video


Check out this video to learn about federal grants, loans, and work - study jobs and how they can help fund your education. Captioning available in English and Spanish; just start the video and click on the CC symbol at the bottom.


Grants


A grant is a form of financial aid that doesn t have to be repaid unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund, or you receive a TEACH Grant and don t complete your service obligation. A variety of federal grants are available, including Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants FSEOG, Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education TEACH Grants, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.


LEARN ABOUT GRANTS


Scholarships


Many nonprofit and private organizations offer scholarships to help students pay for college or career school. This type of free money, which is sometimes based on academic merit, talent, or a particular area of study, can make a real difference in helping you manage your education expenses.


LEARN ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS


Work-Study Jobs


The Federal Work - Study Program allows you to earn money to pay for school by working part - time.


LEARN ABOUT WORK-STUDY


Loans


When you receive a student loan , you are borrowing money to attend a college or career school. You must repay the loan as well as interest that accrues. It is important to understand your repayment options so you can successfully repay your loan.


LEARN ABOUT LOANS


Program Reviews


As part of its oversight duties , Federal Student Aid FSA routinely conducts program reviews to confirm that a school meets FSA requirements for institutional eligibility, financial responsibility, and administrative capability. During a program review , reviewers evaluate the school s compliance with FSA requirements, assess liabilities for errors in performance, and identify actions the school must take to improve its future administrative capabilities.


After completing a program review , Federal Student Aid issues a Final Program Review Determination FPRD, which is a report that includes each finding identified in the program review report, the school's response, and the Department s final determination. The FPRD also identifies liabilities, if any, calculated based on the findings of the program review; provides instructions for the payment of liabilities, as appropriate; notifies the institution of its right to appeal the existence and amount of any liabilities identified, as appropriate; and closes the program review, if appropriate. The FPRD may or may not require additional action by the institution.


Future FPRDs will be posted regularly.


Below are the Final Program Review Determinations and Expedited Determination Letters issued in FY2019 FY2018 FY2017 FY2016 FY2015 FY2014 FY2013


To access all documents associated with focused - Clery Act reviews , visit the " Clery Act Reports " page. To locate Final Program Review Determinations from completed third - party servicer program reviews , visit the " Third - party Servicer Program Reviews " page. An overview of the top program review and audit findings by fiscal year is also available. These annual reports detail by frequency the most common findings identified in the annual compliance audits conducted by independent auditors, and identified through program reviews conducted by the Department of Education at institutions of higher education.


Meet Aidan (Beta)


Introducing Aidan, a virtual assistant that can answer questions about federal student aid. Aidan uses advanced technology artificial intelligence and natural language processing to answer your most common questions. Whether you want to find out your current loan account balance, learn more about grants, or get help contacting your loan servicer , Aidan is here to help you find an answer.


Aidan can currently assist you with the following tasks:


Answering your common financial aid questions


You could type : " What kind of grants are available to pay for college? "


Quickly finding pages on our website


Just type : " Where is "


Retrieving loan balance on your account


Simply type: " What is my account balance? "


Making a payment on the spot


You could type: Make a payment


Understanding your repayment plan


You could type: What s my repayment plan?


Finding customer support information


You can type: " Find contact info "


Finding your loan servicer(s)


Type : " Who is my servicer? "


Aidan Is Always Learning


The virtual assistant is still in the early stages of development beta mode , so Aidan is still learning and acquiring new skills. Be sure to check back in the future to discover new ways that Aidan can help you navigate the student aid process!


Frequently Asked Questions About Aidan


Can someone else use Aidan using my phone or computer?


Yes , we keep a record of your conversations with Aidan. Your interactions will help us to improve quality assurance, maintain an accurate log of your requests, and identify new skills for Aidan to learn.


No , not if you protect your username and password. Be sure to log out of your account each time you are done chatting with Aidan. Also , never share your account username and password , and keep your personal account information private.


Is Aidan secure and private?


Yes. Federal Student Aid will handle and store the data from your interactions with Aidan securely, and will never share it with third parties. Review our privacy policy for more information.


Which languages can Aidan speak?


At the moment , Aidan speaks only English.


How to Find Aidan


Currently , Aidan beta version is available only to a pilot group of users when they are logged in to their accounts. To see if you are one of those users , simply log in to your account , and then look for the Aidan owl icon in the bottom right - hand corner of any page of the site on either your desktop or mobile device. If you don t see the Aidan icon , please check back in the future as we roll out this new service to a wider audience.


What is a Co-Signer?


A co - signer is the spouse of an applicant who initiated an Income - Driven Repayment Plan Request. As a co - signer you are not obligated to repay this loan by signing a borrower's IDR application.


The IDR applicant should have provided you with a Reference Number / Co - sign Code. If you do not have the Reference Number / Co - sign Code , contact the IDR applicant. An e - mail containing the Reference Number / Co - sign Code was sent to him or her. The IDR applicant can also access the Reference Number / Co - sign Code by logging in to StudentAid.gov and clicking on the appropriate link.


Directions to access the Reference Number / Co - sign Code If the applicant completed an Income - Driven Repayment Plan Request that was not part of a Direct Consolidation Loan Application , he or she will click on " Income - Driven Repayment Plan Requests " under " My Loan Documents " to locate and provide you with the Reference Number you need. If the applicant completed an Income - Driven Repayment Plan Request as part of a Direct Consolidation Loan Application , he or she will click on " Direct Consolidation Loan Applications " under " My Loan Documents " to locate and provide you with the Co - sign Code you need.


Co - sign Income - Driven Repayment IDR Plan Request


Spouse of an applicant who initiated an Income - Driven Repayment Plan Request.


How long will it take?


The entire Co - Sign process must be completed in a single session. Most people complete the Co - Sign process in 10 minutes.


You must be logged in with your own unique FSA ID in order to Co - Sign the applicant's IDR Request. Verified FSA ID Reference Number/Co-Sign Code The IDR applicant's SSN Financial Information Note: only if you file income taxes separately from your spouse


After you submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, you ll get a Student Aid Report that summarizes the information you provided on your application.


Review your Student Aid Report carefully to make sure it s correct and complete.


Your Student Aid Report SAR is a paper or electronic document that gives you some basic information about your eligibility for federal student aid as well as listing your answers to the FAFSAquestions.


How and when will I get my SAR?


Whether you receive your SAR online or on paper depends on whether you provide an email address on your FAFSA form.


If you provide a valid email address , you ll receive an email from noreply@FAFSA.gov with instructions on how to access an online copy of your SAR.


If you don't provide a valid email address on your FAFSA form , you will receive either a SAR or a SAR Acknowledgement via postal mail. The SAR lists your FAFSA information and provides space for you to make corrections. You will receive a paper SAR if you file a paper FAFSA form and don t provide an email address. The SAR Acknowledgement lists your FAFSA information, but you ll need to make any corrections at fafsa.gov. You ll receive a SAR Acknowledgement if you file an electronic FAFSA form and don t provide an email address.


If you have an FSA ID username and password and your FAFSA information has been processed , you can log in at fafsa.gov to view SAR information regardless of whether you filled out the FAFSA form online, on the myStudentAid app, or on a FAFSA PDF or whether you provided an email address or not.


you list on your FAFSA form The school will have access to your SAR data electronically within a day after it is processed.


Here s a summary of what you ll receive, and how soon after filing your FAFSA form, based on what type of FAFSA form you file.


* The time frames in this table indicate how long it takes for the SAR to arrive after the FAFSA form is submitted.


View accessible version of table


What information does a SAR contain?


If your application is complete , an Expected Family Contribution EFC will display in the upper right - hand corner of your SAR. If your application is incomplete, your SAR will not include an EFC , but it will tell you what you need to do to resolve any issues.


The SAR also contains a four - digit Data Release Number DRN, which appears on the first page in the upper right corner of the paper SAR and SAR Acknowledgement. On the electronic SAR , the DRN is located in the box that contains the Application Receipt date, below the EFC. You will need the DRN if you choose to allow your college or career school to change certain information on your FAFSA form.


Your SAR might also contain a note indicating that you ve been selected for verification. Find out what to do if you ve been selected for verification.


What am I supposed to do with my SAR?


When you get your SAR , review it carefully to make sure it s correct and complete. The school you listed on your FAFSA form will use your information to determine your eligibility for federal and possibly nonfederal financial aid. A school may ask you to verify the accuracy of your FAFSA data , so you need to be sure the information is correct.


If you don t have any changes to make to the information listed on your SAR , just keep it for your records.


What if I find a mistake on my SAR?


If you review your SAR and find a mistake , you will need to correct or update your FAFSA form.


How do I get a copy of my SAR?


Once your FAFSA form or FAFSA correction has been processed , you can get a copy of your SAR by logging in to fafsa.gov using your FSA ID and selecting the View or Print your Student Aid Report SAR " option near the middle of the My FAFSA " page ; or contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1 - 800 - 4-FED - AID 1 - 800 - 433 - 3243; TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing 1 - 800 - 730 - 8913 and requesting a copy be sent to you via U.S. mail allow 10 14 days for delivery.


You may still be eligible to receive a Direct PLUS Loan. To become eligible , you may take one of the following actions :


An endorser is someone who does not have an adverse credit history and agrees to repay the loan if you do not repay it. The endorser may not be the student on whose behalf you are requesting the Direct PLUS Loan.


The information causing the adverse credit decision is incorrect. There are extenuating circumstances relating to the adverse credit history. Note: Endorsers aren't eligible for this option. AND Complete PLUS Credit Counseling.


Provide a statement that contains an explanation of your extenuation circumstances and the documentation applicable / appropriate to support your claim.


The Secretary is able to use discretion and, based on your circumstances, consider whether extenuating circumstances allow you to qualify for a loan. The information below is a non - exhaustive list of examples of extenuating circumstances. If you believe that your situation fits within these examples, or presents a situation that otherwise qualifies for extenuating circumstances , review the information under Proof of Extenuating Circumstances to determine if your circumstances could qualify you for review. Review does not guarantee approval. Previous approval based on extenuating circumstances does not guarantee further approvals. Additional documentation may be required beyond the basic requirements listed below. Loss of a job , poor economy , etc. alone are generally not considered extenuating circumstances.


You have one or more of the debts listed above with a combined total outstanding balance greater than or equal to $2,085.


Debts listed above are not considered to be adverse credit if the combined total outstanding balance of those debts is less than $2,085.


Description


Charged Off Account : Any account open or closed that has been charged off written off during the two years preceding the date of the credit report with a balance greater than zero.


Collection Account : Any account open or closed that has been placed in collection during the two years preceding the date of the credit report with a balance greater than zero.


90 or More Days Delinquent on any Debt : Any open account that is currently 90 or more days past due.


Proof of Extenuating Circumstances


Borrower is authorized user on the account. Account has been paid in full. Satisfactory repayment arrangement has been established and six months of voluntary, consecutive, on - time, full monthly payments have been made. Example of documentation for the above : Documentation on creditor company letterhead documenting one of the above.


Account / debt included in a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Required documentation: Final Order from the bankruptcy court indicating the account in question is included in the bankruptcy.


Debt Consolidation. Required documentation: A letter from the debt consolidation company on the company's letterhead showing all accounts included in the debt consolidation. Proof that six months of voluntary, consecutive, on - time, full monthly payments have been made.


Divorce. Required documentation: Final Divorce Decree showing that the borrower is not responsible for repayment of the debt in question.


Acceptable only for 90 or More Days Delinquent on any Debt : Federal student loan has been consolidated. Required documentation: Proof of consolidation: Letter from current lender showing loan in question was consolidated and the consolidation loan is not delinquent. Letter from prior lender showing loan was bought through a consolidation and the consolidation loan is not delinquent.


Federal loan is no longer in default. Required documentation: Documentation on loan holder / servicer letterhead verifying that borrower has either made satisfactory repayment arrangements on the loan or has rehabilitated the loan.


Borrower's wages have been garnished in the past 5 years preceding the date of the credit report.


Garnishment has been released. Required documentation: Documentation on official letterhead showing the garnishment was released or paid in full.


Borrower has had a repossession or an involuntary repossession within the past 5 years preceding the date of the credit report.


Account has been paid in full. Satisfactory repayment arrangement has been established and six months of voluntary, consecutive, on - time, full monthly payments have been made. Borrower is authorized user on the account. Example of documentation for the above : Documentation on creditor company letterhead documenting one of the above.


Car loan has been reinstated. Required documentation: Documentation on creditor letterhead showing borrower is still responsible for paying the loan. Six months of voluntary , consecutive , on - time , full monthly payments have been made.


Any Title IV debt that is currently in default.


Federal student loan has been consolidated. Required documentation: Letter from current lender showing loan in question was consolidated. Letter from prior lender showing loan was bought through a consolidation. The consolidation loan is not delinquent.


Loan is no longer in default. Required documentation: Documentation on loan holder / servicer letterhead verifying that borrower has either made satisfactory repayment arrangements on the loan or has rehabilitated the loan.


Mortgage account has the loan listed as having the foreclosure process started.


Loan Modification Agreement. Required documentation: Finalized signed and notarized modification paperwork and proof of payment in accordance with the modification agreement.


Mortgage is Paid-in-Full. Required documentation: Release of Deed from the lender.


Short Sale has been approved and completed. Required documentation: Notarized final HUD-1 statement.


Deed in Lieu is being reported in the past 5 years preceding the date of the credit report.


Timing Issue regarding deed in lieu. Required documentation: Proof from Mortgage Company that Deed in Lieu is over 5 years old.


Borrower has had a foreclosure in the past 5 years preceding the date of the credit report.


Mortgage was paid in full before foreclosure. Required documentation: Cancellation of Sherriff Sale. Release of Deed from the lender.


Timing issue regarding foreclosure. Required documentation: Proof from Mortgage Company that foreclosure is over 5 years old.


Borrower has a discharged Chapter 7 , 11 or 12 Bankruptcy in the past 5 years preceding the date of the credit report.


Timing issue regarding bankruptcy. Required documentation: Discharge paperwork that shows bankruptcy was discharged over 5 years ago.


Bankruptcy chapter conversion. Required documentation: Discharge paperwork or paperwork showing that a Chapter 7 , 11 or 12 bankruptcy has been converted into a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.


Borrower has a State, County or Federal Tax Lien in the last 5 years preceding the date of the credit report regardless of file date.


Satisfactory repayment arrangement has been established and six months of voluntary, consecutive, on - time, full monthly payments have been made. Required documentation: Documentation on official letterhead documenting one of the above.


Lien was incorrectly filed. Required documentation: Letter on official letterhead showing that the lien was filed in error. This is sometimes in the form of a release.


Lien has been released. Required documentation: Copy of the actual release. Proof of payment.


If you have reviewed the information above and no longer wish to document extenuating circumstances , you have the following options : Obtain an endorser and complete PLUS Credit Counseling. Notify the school's financial aid office of your decision. Not pursue a Direct PLUS Loan at this time. Contact the school's financial aid office to discuss other options that may be available.


We will send emails to the e - mail address you provided. To prevent our e - mails from going to your spam or junk mailbox , add StudentLoanSupport@ed.gov to your trusted senders list.


Gainful Employment Information


Generally , in order to be eligible for funding under the Higher Education Act Title IV student assistance programs , an educational program must lead to a degree at a non - profit or public institution or it must prepare students for " gainful employment in a recognized occupation. " Therefore , with very few exceptions , any non - degree program offered by non - profit or public institutions and all educational programs offered at for - profit institutions must lead to gainful employment.


Subpart Q of the Student Assistance General Provisions establishes Debt - to - Earnings rates D / E rates to determine whether a gainful employment GE program prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. A D / E rate is based on the typical loan debt and earnings of a cohort of the program s former students who completed the program, usually those who completed during a two - year period concluding two years prior to the D / E rate calculation year. This delay is to account for the ramping up of the students earnings upon completion of the program.


Two D / E rates, the Annual Earnings Rate and the Discretionary Income Rate, are calculated for each program as a measure of the ability of program completers to reasonably repay the educational debt incurred for their attendance in the program. For the Annual Earnings Rate , the numerator is the calculated annual loan payment amount an estimate of the annual loan repayment amount based on the median educational debt of the members of the cohort. The denominator is the higher of the cohort s mean or median earnings obtained from the Social Security Administration SSA. The Discretionary Income Rate uses the same annual loan payment amount in the numerator as the Annual Earnings Rate but the denominator is the higher of the mean or median earnings minus 150% of the poverty guideline.


Annual Earnings Rates of less than or equal to 8% are considered passing rates. Annual Earnings Rates greater than 8% but less than or equal to 12% are zone rates , and Annual Earnings Rates greater than 12% are failing rates. For the Discretionary Income Rate , rates less than or equal to 20% are passing rates, rates greater than 20% but less than or equal to 30% are zone rates , and rates greater than 30% are failing rates.


Debt-to-Earnings (D/E) Rate Data


D / E rate data is available for the 2015 debt measure year. Information on the Debt to Earnings data spreadsheet includes institution information, program information, D / E Annual Earnings Rates and D / E Discretionary Income Rates including transitional rates for relevant programs with the numbers used to calculate those rates, earnings data, and program appeal status.


On April 25 , 2018, program appeal status information was updated to reflect decisions made to date ; some appeals remain subject to review and, consequently, no decisions have been made. Appeals classified as abandoned represent those instances in which a school submitted a notice of intent to appeal but did not subsequently submit required information by the deadline. Appeals classified as approved are instances in which the schools met the requirements for the U.S. Department of Education to grant the program appeals. As of April 25 , 2018 , no appeals that have been reviewed have been denied. On the spreadsheet , a single asterisk * indicates that the information presented in the field has changed from what was presented prior to the April 25 , 2018, update. A double asterisk * * indicates that the program rates were recalculated after the final rates were issued to correct for errors in the data reported to the NSLDS database. Glossary of Terms used in the D / E data spreadsheet Download the Debt to Earnings data spreadsheet


Earnings Data


As described above , the SSA calculates and returns to the U.S. Department of Education the Department the mean and median annual earnings of a cohort of students who completed the GE program during a specified cohort period. At least 10 completers from a program must be matched for SSA to return mean and median earnings information for disclosure purposes, while there must be at least 30 students in the cohort sent to SSA for the Department to calculate D / E rates. In calculating a GE program's D / E rates , the Department uses the higher of the SSA - reported mean or median earnings. SSA does not provide the Department individual earnings data or the identity of any students.


Earnings data from the 2014 calendar year is available for informational purposes only. Information on the GE program earnings data spreadsheet includes OPEID and institution name, program identifiers Classification of Instructional Program CIP code, credential level, and CIP code program name, the number of completers matched with earnings data by SSA, along with both the mean and median SSA earnings for the GE program. Download the GE program earnings data.


2011 GE Informational Rate Data


2011 GE Informational Rate data is also available. This data was prepared to provide institutions and the Department with preliminary information about the performance of institutions' GE programs based on the 2011 GE regulations, which have since been vacated. 2011 Gainful Employment Informational Rate Downloadable Spreadsheet


Who s My Student Loan Servicer?


Learn about the role that student loan servicers play in the repayment process and which servicer handles your federal student loans.


What Loan Servicers Do


A loan servicer is a company that we assign to handle the billing and other services on your federal student loan on our behalf, at no cost to you. Your loan servicer will work with you on repayment options such as income - driven repayment plans and loan consolidation and will assist you with other tasks related to your federal student loans.


Keep your contact information up to date so your loan servicer can help you stay on track with repaying your loans. If your circumstances change at any time during your repayment period , your loan servicer will be able to help.


Never pay an outside company for help with your federal student loans. Your loan servicer will help you for FREE. Contact your servicer to apply for income - driven repayment plans, student loan forgiveness, and more.


Loan Servicer Assignment


We will assign your loan to a loan servicer after your loan amount is first disbursed paid out. Your loan servicer will contact you after that.


Identifying Your Servicer


The following are loan servicers for loans that the U.S Department of Education ED owns. To find out who your loan servicer is , call the Federal Student Aid Information Center FSAIC at 1 - 800 - 433 - 3243.


Whom to Contact for Loan Information


If your loan is for the current or upcoming school year , contact your school s financial aid office directly for information about loan status, the timeframes for cancelling all or part of your loan or loan disbursement , and loan disbursement amounts and timing.


Only your school's financial aid office can provide this information.


If your loan was disbursed in a past school year and you re still in school , keep your contact information up to date with your school and contact your loan servicer when you withdraw, graduate, drop below half - time enrollment , or stop going to school.


If you re no longer in school , contact your loan servicer when you change your name, address, or phone number ; need help making your loan payment ; have a question about your bill ; or have other questions about your student loan.


Contact Information for Loans Not Owned by ED


If you have FFEL Program loans that are not owned by ED , contact your servicer for details about repayment options and tools. Not sure who your servicer is? Look for the most recent communication from the entity sending you bills for your loan payments.


If you have Federal Perkins Loans that are not owned by ED , contact the school where you received your Federal Perkins Loan for details about repaying your loan. Your school may be the servicer for your loan.


If you have HEAL Program loans and you re not in default , contact your loan servicer for help with account - related questions. Use the contact information your loan servicer provided to you. Not sure who your servicer is? Look for the most recent communication from the entity sending you bills for your loan payments.


If you have HEAL Program loans and you re in default , contact the Debt Collection Center for help with account - related questions :


For mail sent via U.S. Postal Service:


Accounting Services , Debt Collection Center Mailstop 10230B 7700 Wisconsin Avenue , Suite 8 - 8110D Bethesda, MD 20857


For mail sent via UPS or FedEx :


HHS Program Support Center Accounting Services , Debt Collection Center Mailstop Seventh Floor 7700 Wisconsin Avenue , Suite 8 - 8110D Bethesda, MD 20814Phone : 301 - 492 - 4664


Understanding Loan Transfers


In some cases , we need to transfer loans from one servicer to another servicer. If we transfer your federal student loans from one servicer to another servicer , your loans will still be owned by ED. The transfer to another servicer simply means that a new servicer will provide the support you need to fully repay your loans.


Here s what you should expect if your loan is transferred to a new servicer : You will receive an email or a letter from your assigned servicer to inform you about the transfer. You will receive a welcome letter from the new servicer after the new servicer receives your loans. This notice will provide you with the contact information for the new servicer and inform you of actions that you may need to take. All of your loan information will be transferred from your assigned servicer to your new servicer , but you may only be able to see online information that covers the period since your new servicer took your loans over. There will be no change in the terms of your loans. Your previous loan servicer and new loan servicer will work together to make sure that all payments you make during the transfer process are credited to your loan account with the new servicer.


After you receive the welcome letter from your new servicer , you should do the following : Begin sending your loan payments to your new servicer. If you use a bank or bill paying service to make your loan payments , update the new servicer s contact information with the bank or bill paying service. Follow the new servicer s instructions for creating an online account so that you can more easily communicate with the new servicer and keep track of your loan account.


Avoid Paying for Federal Student Loan Assistance


You don t have to pay to receive help with loan services such as consolidating your federal student loans or applying for an income - driven repayment plan.


If you are contacted by a company asking you to pay enrollment, subscription, or maintenance fees to enroll you in a federal repayment plan or forgiveness program , you should walk away.


These services and more can be completed by your servicer for free!


Want to learn more? Read our blog post called Don t Be Fooled: You Never Have to Pay for Student Loan Help.


If you withdrew from school and the school didn t make a required return of loan funds to the loan servicer, you might be eligible for a discharge of your federal student loans.


Learn more about the unpaid refund discharge to see whether you might qualify.


If you withdrew from school after receiving a loan made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Direct Loan Program or Federal Family Education Loan FFEL Program , the school may have been required under federal regulations to return some or all of the loan money to your loan servicer. If the school didn t make a required return of the loan funds after you withdrew , you might be eligible for a discharge of the portion of your loan that the school failed to return.


How do I apply for unpaid refund discharge?


If the school that you attended is still open , you should contact that school and attempt to resolve the issue with the school before applying for an unpaid refund discharge. If the school that you attended has closed , you should first determine if you may be eligible for a closed school discharge instead. Contact your loan servicer for more information. Find out who your loan servicer is by logging in to My Federal Student Aid.


If you re ready to apply for the unpaid refund discharge , you must complete the Loan Discharge Application: Unpaid Refund and send the completed form to your loan servicer.


How much of my loan will be discharged if I m approved for a loan discharge?


Only the portion of your loan that your school should have returned will be discharged. Contact your loan servicer for more information.


I m a parent who received a Direct PLUS Loan to help pay for my child s education. Can my loan be discharged due to unpaid refund?


Yes , if your child withdrew from school but the school didn t make a required return of your parent PLUS loan funds , the amount of the loan that the school should have returned will be discharged. Contact your loan servicer for more information.


Try Loan Simulator


Loan Simulator is a new tool to help you make decisions about your student loans. Use it to find a repayment plan that meets your needs and goals or to decide whether to consolidate.


Hi


Let's get started.


We will guide you through a series of questions based on your selection below.


I Want to Find the Best Repayment Strategy


We will recommend a repayment plan based on your needs and goals and help you explore options like making extra payments or consolidating your loans.


Log In and Start


Or Start From Scratch


See how you can lower your payment. See how you can pay off your loans faster. Decide whether to consolidate.


I'm Struggling With My Payments


Decide whether you want to temporarily stop payments or lower your monthly payment instead.


Consider a new repayment plan instead of suspending payments. Find out about the impacts of suspending payments. Learn how to avoid loan default.


I Want to Simulate Borrowing More Money


Find out what happens when you borrow more money to pay for educational expenses, returning to school, or finishing your studies later than expected.


Coming Soon


Explore impacts when you borrow more. Find out about federal loan limits. See how choice of school affects how much you may need to borrow.


How Accurate Is Loan Simulator?


To get the most realistic results , provide complete and accurate information when using Loan Simulator. Keep in mind , this tool can t predict your future payments with 100% accuracy. In order to make these predictions , Loan Simulator makes several assumptions as it calculates monthly repayment amounts.


Important:


Results of Loan Simulator are for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. You are encouraged to review all available options and make decisions about borrowing and repayment that align with your individual goals.


Learn more about Loan Simulator calculations.


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Contact us to share your feedback, ask questions, and request new features.


Share Loan Simulator


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Wondering how the amount of your federal student aid is determined?


The colleges or career schools you list on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA form will use several pieces of information to calculate your aid.


So, you ve filed your FAFSAform, and you ve checked your Student Aid Report to be sure all your information is correct , and now you re wondering how that data is used to come up with the list of financial aid for which you re eligible.


If I meet the basic eligibility criteria for federal student aid, who decides how much money I ll get?


Here s the short answer :


Your eligibility depends on your Expected Family Contribution, your year in school, your enrollment status, and the cost of attendance at the school you will be attending. The financial aid office at your college or career school will determine how much financial aid you are eligible to receive. The financial aid staff starts by deciding upon your cost of attendance COA at that school. They then consider your Expected Family Contribution EFC. They subtract your EFC from your COA to determine the amount of your financial need and therefore how much need - based aid you can get. To determine how much non - need - based aid you can get , the school takes your cost of attendance and subtracts any financial aid you ve already been awarded.


If you d like the long answer , keep reading!


What does cost of attendance (COA) mean?


Your COA is the amount it will cost you to go to school. Most two - year and four - year colleges will calculate your COA to show your total cost for the school year for instance, for the fall semester plus the spring semester. Schools with programs that last a different period of time for instance, an 18-month certificate program might give you a COA that covers a time period other than a year.


If you're attending at least half - time , your COA is the estimate of tuition and fees; the cost of room and board or living expenses for students who do not contract with the school for room and board ; the cost of books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses including a reasonable amount for the documented cost of a personal computer ; an allowance for child care or other dependent care ; costs related to a disability ; and/or reasonable costs for eligible study - abroad programs.


What s the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?


Your EFC is an index number that college financial aid staff use to determine how much financial aid you would receive if you were to attend their school. The information you report on your FAFSA form is used to calculate your EFC.


The EFC is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits such as unemployment or Social Security all could be considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year. The EFC Formula guide shows exactly how an EFC is calculated.


What is need-based aid and how does my school figure out how much I ll get?


Your college or career school first determines whether you have financial need by using this simple formula :


Calculating Your Financial Need


Cost of Attendance COA Expected Family Contribution EFC = Financial Need


Need - based aid is financial aid that you can receive if you have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria. You can t receive more need - based aid than the amount of your financial need. For instance , if your COA is $16,000 and your EFC is 12000 , your financial need is $4,000 ; so you aren t eligible for more than $4,000 in need - based aid.


The following are the need - based federal student aid programs : Federal Pell Grant Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant FSEOG Direct Subsidized Loan Federal Perkins Loan Federal Work-Study


What is non-need-based aid and how does my school figure out how much I ll get?


Your school determines how much non - need - based aid you can get by using this formula :


Calculating Your Non - need - based Aid


Cost of Attendance COA Financial Aid Awarded So Far * = Eligibility for Non - need - based Aid


* includes aid from all sources, such as the school, private scholarship providers, etc.