How to See if Your Federal Student Loans are Direct Loans (2024)

• This page, How to See if Your Federal Student Loans are Direct Loans, is offered by
• Office of the Attorney General

If your federal loans aren’t Direct Loans, you need to consolidate them into the Direct Loan Program to be eligible for the Payment Count Adjustment for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and/or the new SAVE plan.

Steps

Borrowers can have several different types of federal loans, including Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs), and Perkins Loans. To qualify for the Payment Count Adjustment for PSLF, federal loan types that are not Direct Loans (e.g., FFELs or Perkins Loans) must be consolidated into the Direct Loan Program by Dec. 31, 2023. Additionally, only Direct Loans are eligible for SAVE, the new, more affordable income-driven repayment plan.

Here’s how to see what type(s) of federal loans you have:

• Log in to your Federal Student Aid (FSA) Account at studentaid.gov. If you haven’t already  set up an FSA ID, please create one.  
• Once logged in to studentaid.gov, you will see your account dashboard as pictured below, which shows your total federal loan balance.
• Click "View Details".

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• Scroll down to the section entitled "Loan Types." In the “Loan Types” section, you will see different categories of loans as shown below.

• Click on each loan category to see all your loans within the category. In the below example, there are two loans with outstanding balances. The loan circled in blue is a Direct Loan, which does not need to be consolidated.The loan circled in red is a FFEL Program Loan, which will need to be consolidated into the Direct Loan Program.  Carefully review each loan category to see if it contains loan types other than Direct Loans.

See Also

How to See if Your Federal Student Loans are Owned by the U.S. Department of Education

Please note that private loans are not eligible for PSLF, the Payment Count Adjustment for PSLF, or the SAVE plan. Private loans will not appear in your studentaid.gov account.

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As someone deeply immersed in the realm of federal student loans, I bring a wealth of expertise and firsthand knowledge to guide you through the intricacies of determining your loan types and ensuring eligibility for programs like the Payment Count Adjustment for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and the SAVE plan.

Let's delve into the concepts presented in the provided article:

1. Direct Loans:

   • These are federal student loans made directly by the U.S. Department of Education.
   • Direct Loans include Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Direct Consolidation Loans.

2. Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs):

   • These loans were made by private lenders but were federally guaranteed.
   • FFELs include Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, and Consolidation Loans.

3. Perkins Loans:

   • Perkins Loans were low-interest federal student loans for students with exceptional financial need.
   • These loans were made through a school's financial aid office.

4. Consolidation:

   • Consolidation involves combining multiple federal student loans into a single loan, often with a fixed interest rate.
   • Consolidation is crucial for those with federal loan types other than Direct Loans to become eligible for PSLF.

5. Payment Count Adjustment for PSLF:

   • This program offers loan forgiveness for borrowers working in qualifying public service positions.
   • Loans that are not Direct Loans need to be consolidated into the Direct Loan Program for eligibility.

6. SAVE Plan:

   • SAVE is a new income-driven repayment plan designed to be more affordable.
   • Only Direct Loans are eligible for the SAVE plan.

7. Federal Student Aid (FSA) Account:

   • This is an online platform at studentaid.gov where borrowers can manage their federal student loans.
   • To determine your loan types, log in to your FSA account and follow the provided steps.

8. FSA ID:

   • The FSA ID is a username and password used to access federal student aid websites, including studentaid.gov.

9. Loan Types Dashboard:

   • After logging in to studentaid.gov, you'll see a dashboard displaying your total federal loan balance.

10. View Details and Loan Types:

    • Click "View Details" to access information about your federal loans.
    • Scroll down to the "Loan Types" section to identify the categories of your loans.

11. Private Loans:

    • Private loans are not eligible for PSLF, Payment Count Adjustment for PSLF, or the SAVE plan.
    • They won't appear in your studentaid.gov account.

In conclusion, navigating the complexities of federal student loans requires a keen understanding of the various loan types, consolidation processes, and program eligibility criteria. By following the outlined steps on studentaid.gov, borrowers can gain clarity on their loan portfolio and take the necessary actions for program participation.