Student Loan Repayment FAQs

I recently received exit interview information. Why am I receiving it?
According to your school's records, you are scheduled to either graduate, change schools, or you have withdrawn from school.
Who do I contact if I have a question about the information provided on the exit interview form?
If you have a question about your loan balance, you should contact your loan servicer for verification. If you have a question about your enrollment status or the dates you left school, you should contact the registrar’s office at your school.
Once I've completed the exit interview form, where do I return it?
The exit interview form should be completed and returned to the school.
Who should I contact during my six-month grace period, and before my first payment is due, if have questions about the repayment process or my options?
Contact your loan servicer any time during your grace period to be better informed on the terms of your student loans and the available repayment options you may be entitled to. If you are unsure of how to contact your loan servicer, please visit studentloans.gov for access to your federal student loan information.
I am currently a junior in college and enrolled this semester full time. I am receiving notices from my loan servicer to start repayment. What should I do?
Contact your loan servicer immediately to inform them of your in-school status and ask what information they need to verify this. Your loan servicer will either send you a form or ask for documentation from your school.
I am having trouble making my monthly loan payments. Is there any way I can lower the payment?
Yes, there are ways to lower your monthly payment. Your loan servicer will provide information on options available to you such as a graduated, extended or income-driven repayment plans. For example, under a graduated repayment plan, your payments will be lower at first and then increase over time. Each payment must be at least equal to the interest which accrues on the loan. A new option called Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) allows you to make payments based on your income. Learn more about repayment options that reduce your monthly payments

If you temporarily need to stop paying your loan, forbearance may be an option. Forbearance is a temporary break in either making loan payments or reducing the amount of the payment you were previously scheduled to make.
If I need to leave school for a year, what happens to my student loans? Will I need to start making payments?
Your loans become due six months from the date of your withdrawal. However, you can talk to your school about a leave of absence or speak with your loan servicer about possible deferments or forbearance.
If I choose one repayment option, start making payments and then decide to change to another available option, can my loan servicer deny my request?
You may request to change your repayment option once every year. You may request to change your repayment option once every year. A loan servicer must comply with an eligible borrower's request to revise his or her choice of repayment schedule.
I previously borrowed Stafford loans from multiple guarantors as well as the Direct Loan program.  Can I consolidate all my loans to secure a single loan servicer?
Yes. Borrowers who have federal student loans, including subsidized and unsubsidized Direct and Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) may be eligible for a Direct Consolidation Loan to secure a single servicer for your loans. Private student loans are not eligible to be consolidated into a federal consolidation loan. 
I have loans with several different loan servicers. How do I determine which loan servicer should consolidate my loans?
You can apply for Federal Direct Consolidation Loans on studentloans.gov. However, you will not be able to choose your loan servicer. The servicer will be assigned to you by the US Department of Education (ED).

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