Frequently Asked Questions

• Stafford Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized) — You get a 6-month grace period that begins the day after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time. You must start making payments as soon as your grace period ends.
• PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students — No. You do not receive a grace period. However, you can postpone payments while you are enrolled at least half time. If your PLUS Loan was first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008, you can also postpone payments for the 6 months after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time.
• PLUS Loan for Parents — No. You do not receive a grace period. If your loan was disbursed before July 1, 2008, you must start making payments within 60 days of the final disbursement date. However, if your loan was disbursed on or after July 1, 2008, you can request to postpone payments while the student for whom you obtained the PLUS Loan is enrolled at least half time. You may also request to postpone payments for the 6 months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half time.
• Consolidation Loan — No. You do not receive a grace period. However, you can postpone payments while you are enrolled at least half time.
• Private Education (Alternative) Loan — The grace period on Private Education (Alternative) Loans is determined by the repayment option selected at origination and varies depending on the loan program. Please review the terms of your promissory note to determine any applicable grace period for your loan(s).

Prior to your loan entering repayment, we will send you a Repayment Obligation to notify you of your payment amount and monthly due date.

We accept the following methods of payment:

• Direct Debit — Simply designate a checking or savings account, and we automatically deduct your loan payment on the same day each month.
  
• Online Payment — Make a one-time payment through Account Access.
  
• Smart Phone Payment — Make a one-time payment from your smart phone.
  
• Phone Payment — Call our automated phone system and provide your account number and your bank's ABA (routing and transit) number.
  
  1-800-233-0557
  
• Check or Money Order — Send your check or money order (include your account number).

To explore options that fit your situation sign in to Account Access. Some options include:

• Changing your payment plan
• Postponing payments with a deferment or forbearance
• Changing your payment due date