1. www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov

2.  One Lender, One Monthly Payment  Free consolidation, no hidden fees  Flexible Repayment Options: 4 different plans  Deferment & Forbearance Options  Lock a fixed interest rate, specifically if you borrowed federal loans prior to June 30, 2006, which have a variable rate, capped at 8.25%.  No penalties if your payment in full occurs earlier

3.  Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans  Stafford Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans  Perkins Loans  Graduate PLUS loans have a fixed rate of 7.9% consolidating this loan with other federal loans, will have to calculate a weighted average of the interest for your new fixed interest.

4.  University Long Term Loans: ACS collects payment: 877-562-6842  Private or alternative loans: Work directly with the lender to set up your repayment.

5.  6 month grace period before repayment is required, consolidating during grace period forfeits any remaining months. The new grace period would be 30-45 days after consolidation.  If you include a Federal Perkins loan, the 9 month grace period now forfeits to the 30-45 days after consolidation.  Consolidation allows the borrowers to repay their loans over a longer period of time.  If you select the Extended Repayment, you may end up paying more in interest costs and may not qualify for loan forgiveness options.

6.  6 month grace period before repayment is required, consolidating during grace period forfeits any remaining months. The new grace period would be 30-45 days after consolidation.  If you include a Federal Perkins loan, the 9 month grace period now forfeits to the 30-45 days after consolidation.  Consolidation allows the borrowers to repay their loans over a longer period of time.  If you select the Extended Repayment, you may end up paying more in interest costs and may not qualify for loan forgiveness options.

7.  College Cost Reduction & Access Act of 2007 established a public service loan forgiveness program.  It discharges any remaining debt after 10 years of full-time employment in public service.  The borrower must have made 120 monthly payments through Direct Loans. Payments made on/after Oct.1,2007 count toward the120 payments.  Must be in “Eligible Employment” to be considered for all 10 years.

8.  Public service, emergency service management, state or federal government (excluding time as a member of Congress), military, public safety & law enforcement-police & fire, public health, public education, early childhood, social work, child & family service agencies, public service for disabled or eldery, public librarians, school librarians, employees of tax exempt 501(c)(3) org.  Public interest legal services (prosecutors, public defenders, and legal advocacy on behalf of low-income communities at a nonprofit organization).  Full-time faculty at tribal colleges and universities, faculty teaching in high-need subject areas and shortage areas (including nurse faculty, foreign language faculty, and part-time faculty at community colleges), also qualify.

9.  Must enroll in the income-based repayment (available option as of Oct.’09, income contingent repayment, standard repayment or a combination of these repayment plans.income-based repaymentincome contingent repayment  Payments made under other repayment plans (e.g., extended repayment and graduated repayment) do not count.  To maximize the amount of forgiveness, borrowers should use income-based repayment.

10. Federal Loan History www.nslds.ed.gov PIN Number www.pin.ed.gov Direct Loans www.dl.ed.gov

11. Income Based Repayment (IBR) Calculator www.ibrinfo.org/calculator.php Public Loan Forgiveness www.finaid.org/loans/publicservice.phtml