If you're graduating or leaving school, you probably have a lot on your mind. After all, you have the rest of your life to plan! It's also time to begin thinking about repaying the student loans you borrowed to help finance your education.
Exit Loan Counseling Session
If you borrowed a Federal Direct Loan, you are required to complete a loan exit counseling session before you graduate. This loan session will discuss loan repayment schedules, loan consolidation options, deferment processes, and grace periods.
When do I begin repaying my loan?
You will begin repayment six months after you graduate, withdraw, or drop to less than half-time status. Your first payment will be due approximately 30 to 45 days after this six month "grace period".
Helpful repayment links:
- studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans
- Repayment video (2:20): Grace period, loan servicer, repayment plans
- How to manage student loans video (2:27): Repayment plans, deferment/forbearance options, consolidation
- Student Loan Repayment Options video (4:05): consolidation, repayment plans, repayment estimator, how to make a payment
- Webinar: Finding the Right Repayment Plan
- Peace Corps and repayment of your federal student loans (pdf)
- Loan Simulator - see loan repayment options for after graduation
When will I hear from my loan servicer about repayment?
Your loan servicer will send you a repayment and disclosure statement listing your monthly payment, payment due dates, length of repayment, and current interest rate. Servicers will usually send your repayment information one or two months prior to the conclusion of your grace period.
If you received a loan prior to Summer 2009 through the Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP), your loan would be serviced by the lender you chose when you signed your Master Promissory Note (MPN).
Federal loans received after Summer 2009 are Federal Direct Loans where the federal government serves as the lender. The Department of Education determines your servicer at the time your promissory note is completed and the loan is disbursed. For specific questions about loan repayment or deferment, you can contact your federal loan servicing center directly.
Who's my student loan servicer?
Visit studentaid.gov/servicer to learn about the role that student loan servicers play in the repayment process and which servicer handles your federal student loans.
*You never have to pay for help with your federal student aid. Your student loan servicer provides free help with your questions or concerns about your loan payments.
Loan Servicer Contact Information
Direct Loan Servicing Center
800.848.0979
www.myedaccount.com
Department of Education Student Loan Servicing Center (ACS)
800.508.1378
www.acs-education.com
FedLoan Servicing (PHEAA)
800.699.2908
www.myfedloan.org
Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc.
800.236.4300
www.mygreatlakes.org
MOHELA
888.866.4352
www.mohela.com
Nelnet
888.486.4722
www.nelnet.com
Sallie Mae
800.722.1300
www.salliemae.com