How Do I Know if My Student Loans Are Federal Student Loans?

If you want to know if your student loans are federal student loans or private student loans, the good news is that most student loans are federal student loans. There are several ways, however, that you can double check that you have federal student loans.

1. Check the National Student Loan Data System database
2. Visit Federal Student Aid website
3. Contact your student loan servicer
4. Check your credit report
5. Check your promissory note
6. Check your student loan statement

1. Check the National Student Loan Data System database

You can use your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to login to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) website. When you access the NSLDS website, you can determine if you have federal student loans. You can find information on the balance of your federal student loans, disbursements and loan status.

2. Visit Federal Student Aid website

The fastest way to determine if you have federal student loans is to visit the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website located at studentaid.gov. If your student loan appears on this website, then you have a federal student loan. If you don’t any student loans listed, then you don’t have a federal student loan. This website also helps you enroll in an income-driven repayment plan, and can provide information about your outstanding student loan balance.

3. Contact your student loan servicer

You can contact your student loan servicer to determine if you have a federal student loan. Your student loan servicer is the company where you send your student loan payments. You can call 1-800-FED-AID to find your federal student loan servicer. You can ask your student loan servicer whether they service your federal student loans.

4. Check your credit report

You can get a copy of your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Your credit report will list your outstanding debt obligations so that you can learn whether you owe federal student loans to the federal government.

5. Check your promissory note

You can check your promissory note to determine if you have federal student loans. Your promissory note is the student loan agreement that you signed before your student loans were disbursed. On your promissory note, you will notice name of your federal student loan program, if you have federal student loans. Examples may include the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program or the Federal Perkins Loan Program.

6. Check your student loan statement

Finally, you can check your student loan statement to determine if you have federal student loans. Your monthly student loan statement will clearly identify the name of your federal student loan servicer and the name of your federal student loan program. Your credit report will also show you your outstanding student loan balance and whether you make on-time payments.