Before you request help
- Separate federal and private loans using the loan records you already have.
- Record each servicer, balance and status shown on the latest statement.
- Prepare a budget and a list of questions for the current official federal resource or the private lender, as appropriate.
Bring the right records
You do not need to upload these to make an initial inquiry. Keep them for a conversation with the right creditor, professional or service.
- Loan notes or ownership records
- Recent servicer statements and status notices
- Income-and-expense records for a repayment discussion
What to keep in view
This is not a promise of principal reduction or enrollment in an unsecured debt-settlement program. Government authority, collateral, liens, court orders or the loan subtype may require a separate administrative or legal process.
Official calculator results are estimates; final repayment terms follow the servicer’s processing of an application.
Do not assume a federal plan, rehabilitation route or forgiveness result applies to a private loan or is available to you.
Compare more than one route
Federal Student Aid’s Repayment Calculator compares federal repayment options using loan information. Defaulted federal loans also have a separate resolution process. Neither route establishes what a private lender will offer.
The research behind this topic
Read the complete saved research with its tables, direct sources, review notes and open questions. A source record is not a guarantee about your case.
Sources for this page
- Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education: Compare Repayment Plans With Our Repayment Calculator – Federal Student Aid
- Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education: Student Loan Default and Collections: FAQs – Federal Student Aid
Selected public guidance checked October 29, 2026. Source guidance is general; laws, contracts, program terms and individual circumstances can change the result. How we use sources.