Student Loans

Federal Student Loans

The vast majority of student loans are federal student loans, with terms and conditions set by the federal government. Unfortunately, the system has failed many of the low-income students and students of color who rely on it to access postsecondary education, with many burdened by unaffordable and often ballooning debt. NCLC works to reform the federal student loan system and help borrowers access relief.

Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project

Over the years there have been a number of changes to the federal student loans offered to borrowers, and only some loans qualify for certain benefits and programs. NCLC’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project can help you figure out what type of federal loan you have.

Learn More

Student Loan Toolkit

May 20, 2024

The Student Loan Toolkit explains the basics of the student loan system, how to assess your own student loan situation, and your options for managing your student loan debt.

Read More about: Student Loan Toolkit
February 15, 2024
January 24, 2024

Recent

View All for Recent
CNBC: Here’s how an 86-year-old grandmother got her nearly $32,000 private student loan debt forgiven

November 2, 2024

New Rules Provide Relief to Student Loan Borrowers Facing Long-Term Financial Hardship

October 25, 2024

The Growing Impact of Student Loan Debt on Older Adults

September 19, 2024

3.5 Million Older Americans Have Over $125 Billion in Student Loans

September 19, 2024

Group Letter to Sec. Cardona Requesting Extension of Borrower Protections in Light of SAVE Litigation

August 29, 2024

Amicus Brief: Missouri v. Biden (8th Cir.) (Brief in Support of Student Loan IDR Rules)

August 26, 2024

NCLC Statement in Response to Department of Education Announcement of Next Steps on Student Debt Relief

July 31, 2024

AFT v. MOHELA

July 22, 2024

CNN: What’s next for student loan borrowers as Biden’s repayment plan faces legal battles

July 1, 2024

Comments & Letters

View All for Comments & Letters
Group Letter to Sec. Cardona Requesting Extension of Borrower Protections in Light of SAVE Litigation

August 29, 2024

Legal Aid Comments on Proposed Student Debt Relief Rule

May 17, 2024

Letter to Department of Education Calling for Clarity on Non-Taxability of Disability Discharges Through 2025

May 7, 2024

Coalition Letter Opposing H.R. 6951, The College Cost Reduction Act (CCRA)

January 30, 2024

Comments in Response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Proposed Income-Driven Repayment Plan (IDR) Request Form

October 10, 2023

Coalition Letter Opposing CRA That Would Overturn the SAVE Plan

September 14, 2023

Comments in Response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Proposed Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application Form

September 8, 2023

NCLC Comments to Education Department Regarding Intent to Establish Rulemaking Committee on Student Debt Relief

July 20, 2023

Legal Aid Comments to Dep’t of Education re: School Participation in Federal Student Aid (Administrative Capability and Ability to Benefit)

June 20, 2023

Reports

View All for Reports
Student Loan Toolkit

May 20, 2024

New Federal Student Loan Servicing Contracts, New Promises: Will it Make a Difference for Borrowers?

February 15, 2024

Examining the States’ Role in Protecting Online College Students from Predatory Practices

January 24, 2024

Collection At All Costs: Examining the Intersection of Mass Incarceration and the Student Debt Crisis

July 12, 2022

Report: Road to Relief – Supporting Federal Student Loan Borrowers During the Covid-19 Crisis and Beyond

November 17, 2020

Gainful Employment: A Civil Rights Perspective

October 1, 2019

Report: Inequitable Judgments – Examining Race and Federal Student Loan Collection Lawsuits

April 16, 2019

Pushed into Poverty: How Student Loan Collections Threaten the Financial Security of Older Americans 

May 9, 2017

Pounding Student Loan Borrowers: The Heavy Cost of the Government’s Partnership with Debt Collection Agencies

September 17, 2014

Issue Briefs

View All for Issue Briefs
The Growing Impact of Student Loan Debt on Older Adults

September 19, 2024

New Process to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy

February 15, 2024

Delivering Distress to Borrowers in Default

October 11, 2023

Chapter Summary on Helping Older Borrowers Navigate the Changing Federal Student Loan System

March 31, 2023

Get Up to $20,000 of Your Student Loans Canceled

October 20, 2022

Joint Memo: Recommendation to Prohibit Offset of Refundable Tax Credits that Support Low-Income Workers and Families

February 10, 2022

Almost Two in Three Navient Borrowers Making Payments During COVID-19 Federal Student Loan Payment Pause Are Underwater

August 1, 2021

Education Department’s Decades-Old Debt Trap: How the Mismanagement of Income-Driven Repayment Locked Millions in Debt

March 1, 2021

2021 Student Loan Federal Priorities

December 1, 2020

Testimony

View All for Testimony
Testimony of NCLC Attorney John Rao at the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on “Oversight of Bankruptcy Law and Legislative Proposals” 

July 25, 2019

Testimony of Joanna Darcus regarding “An Examination of State Efforts to Oversee the $1.5 Trillion Student Loan Servicing Market”

June 11, 2019

Press Releases & News

View All for Press Releases & News
CNBC: Here’s how an 86-year-old grandmother got her nearly $32,000 private student loan debt forgiven

November 2, 2024

New Rules Provide Relief to Student Loan Borrowers Facing Long-Term Financial Hardship

October 25, 2024

3.5 Million Older Americans Have Over $125 Billion in Student Loans

September 19, 2024

NCLC Statement in Response to Department of Education Announcement of Next Steps on Student Debt Relief

July 31, 2024

CNN: What’s next for student loan borrowers as Biden’s repayment plan faces legal battles

July 1, 2024

Court Orders Prevent Biden Administration from Lowering Student Loan Bills and Threaten Chaos for the Student Loan System

June 25, 2024

Student Loan Toolkit Helps Borrowers Manage Repayment 

June 6, 2024

The New York Times: A Pause for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

May 10, 2024

NCLC Statement in Response to Proposed Rules to Provide Student Debt Relief

April 16, 2024

From the NCLC Digital Library

Student Loan Law

NCLC’s Student Loan Law treatise details all the latest rights of student loan debtors, including loan forgiveness for the schools’ deceptive practices, financial hardship and other loan deferments, and more. The treatise covers multiple types of student loans, including private student loans.

Read Chapter One

Support NCLC

Please support NCLC's work to advance consumer rights and economic justice with a tax-deductible contribution today!

Donate