Student Loan Repayment

Student Loan Repayment Andrea Morgan, Gary Moore, and Melissa Greenslade Program Coordinators University of ArkansasOffice of Financial Aid

Student Loans • Average student loan debt for graduating seniors from public schools = $20,200 • 25% of students borrow $30,500 or more • 10% of students borrow $39,300 or more • Student loan repayment shouldn’t exceed more than 10-15% of your expected monthly income

Loan Terms - Definitions • Interest Rate: the percentage of a sum of money charged for its use • Federal Loans disbursed after July 1, 2006 have fixed interest rates • Means that the interest rate will stay the same for the life of the loan • Federal Loan interest rates are changed every July 1st. The change is announced the preceding May • Grace Period: the period of time after graduation (or you drop below half-time enrollment) before you have to start making payments on your loans

Loan Terms - Definitions, cont. • Deferment: allows students to temporarily postpone making payments on their loans • Government pays interest during deferment on subsidized loans, the student is responsible for interest on unsubsidized loans • Eligibility for deferment: • Half-time enrolled at postsecondary school • Taking part in an approved graduate fellowship or rehabilitation program • Unable to find full-time employment • Qualified for economic hardship • On active duty during war or other military operation • Member of the National Guard or other reserve component • Forbearance: a temporary postponement or reduction of payments for a period of time because you are experiencing financial difficulty • Interest accrues on both subsidized and unsubsidized loans during forbearance • Both can be granted in intervals of up to 12 months at a time for up to 3 years

Loan Terms- Definitions, cont. • Delinquency: a loan is considered delinquent when one payment is missed • Delinquent loans are reported on a borrower’s (and co-signer’s) credit report when they are 60 days delinquent • Default: technical default occurs when a borrower does not make a payment for 270 days on Stafford, PLUS, or consolidation loans • Direct Loans (loans after July 1, 2010) – the loan is referred to Debt Management Collection System and is considered in default once the borrower is 360 days delinquent • FFELP Loans (loans before July 1, 2010) – the lender files the claim up to 60 days after technical default • Consequences of default: -- Damaged credit rating for at least 7 years -- Federal tax refund revoked -- Collection fees assessed on defaulted loans -- Wages garnished -- Inability to receive additional financial aid • Can resolve a defaulted student loan by making satisfactory arrangement with servicer, consolidating the defaulted loan, rehabilitating the defaulted loan (9 full payments in 10 months), paying the loan in full, or receiving a discharge on the defaulted loan

Loan Terms - Definitions, cont. • Discharge: the release of the borrower from all or a portion of a loan obligation • FFELP and Direct loans may be discharged for: • Total and permanent disability • Death • False certification by the school • False certification due to Identity Theft • Closed school • Parents and Spouses of September 11th victims • You may NOT normally have a student loan discharged due to bankruptcy

Types of Student Loans • Federal Loans • Direct Loans • Subsidized • Unsubsidized • Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) • Subsidized • Unsubsidized • Perkins Loans • PLUS Loans • Parent PLUS • Graduate PLUS • Alternative (Private) Loans

FFELP vs. Direct Loans • FFELP (Federal Family Education Loan Program) • Federal Loans prior to July 1, 2010 • Loans were borrowed from private lenders • Direct Loans • Federal Loans after July 1, 2010 • Loans are borrowed directly from the government • These loans may be subsidized or unsubsidized

Subsidized Loans • Need-based loan where the government pays the interest while you are enrolled at least half-time, during the grace period (not for loans taken after 7/1/12), and during deferments • Interest rates for July1, 2011-June 30, 2012 • Undergraduates: 3.4% • Graduates: 6.8% **no more sub loans for graduates as of 7/1/12 • Grace Period: you have 6 months from the last date of attendance in school or from when you drop below half-time before repayment begins • Repayment Terms: • 10 years in Standard, Graduated, and Income-Sensitive (for FFELP loans only) repayment plans • Up to 25 years for Income-Based, Extended, and Income Contingent (for direct loans only) repayment plans

Unsubsidized Loans • Non-need-based loan where the student is responsible for paying interest on the loan. Interest begins to accrue starting at the date of the first disbursement • Interest rate for July1, 2011-June 30, 2012: • Undergraduates and Graduates: 6.8% fixed • Grace Period: you have 6 months from the last date of attendance in school or from when you drop below half-time before repayment begins • Repayment Terms: • 10 years for standard, graduated, and income-sensitive (FFELP loans only) repayment plans • Up to 25 years for income-based, extended, and income-contingent (direct loans only) repayment plans

Perkins Loans • Need-based loan where the government pays the interest while you are enrolled at least half-time, during the grace period, and during deferments • Interest Rate for July1, 2011-June 30, 2012: • 5% Fixed • Grace Period: repayment begins 9 months after your last date of attendance in school or after you drop below half-time enrollment • Repayment Term • Typically up to 10 years

PLUS Loans • PLUS loans are credit-based loans that are given to parents or graduate students through the federal government. Interest begins to accrue from date of disbursement • Interest Rate July1, 2011-June 30, 2012: • 7.9% fixed • There is no grace period on these loans • There may be in-school deferment or 6 month post-graduation deferment available • Repayment Terms: • Parent borrowers • 10 years for standard, graduated, and income-sensitive plans • Up to 25 years for extended plans • Graduate Student borrowers • 10 years for standard, graduated, and income-sensitive plans • Up to 25 years for contingent, extended, and income-based plans

Alternative (Private) Loans • Credit based loans through a private lender • Terms will vary by lender and loan • Interest rate is based on the borrower’s credit rating • There is no interest subsidy, the borrower is responsible for repaying all interest on the loan • Origination fees may be higher than federal loans • There may be limited deferment or forbearance options • Most offer flexible payment plans (15-25 years to repay) • These loans may or may not have a grace period • These loans cannot be consolidated into a Federal Consolidation Loan

Federal Consolidation Loans • Allow borrowers to combine their federal loans into a single loan and to have a single monthly payment • Available to those who are in repayment or grace period • If you consolidate while still in school, you may still have multiple servicers if you continue to borrow and you will lose the 6 month grace period • Advantages: • May give borrowers a lower monthly payment • Single monthly payment to one servicer • Disadvantages: • Interest rate may increase slightly when the weighted average of the consolidated loans in rounded to the nearest eighth percent (capped at 8.25%) • May pay more in accrued interest • May lose some benefits like cancellation or loan forgiveness • A consolidated Perkins Loan loses the interest subsidy and some cancellation options

Need Information About YOUR Loans? • NSLDS (National Student Loan Data System) • www.nslds.ed.gov • US Department of Education central database for student aid • Contains information about all federal student loans, federal grants, and student enrollment • Used to determine student eligibility for federal aid, monitor aggregate totals, and track changes to student’s financial history • Students can use this database to track loans • Can access with your SSN, DOB, first 2 letters of last name, and a PIN • Parents can also look up their PLUS loan info on NSLDS

Federal Loan Repayment Plan Options • Standard • Graduated • Extended • Income-Sensitive • Income-Contingent • Income-Based

Standard Repayment • Equal monthly payments of at least $50 for up to 10 years • Example: • $25,000 loan (at 6.8% for 10 years) • Monthly payment = $287 • Total interest paid = $9,524 • Total paid (principle + interest) = $34,524

Graduated Repayment • Monthly payments start lower and gradually increase over time for up to 10 years; will pay more in interest than Standard • Example: • $25,000 loan (6.8% for 10 years) • Monthly payments: • Years 1-2 = $198 • Years 3-4 = $240 • Years 5-6 = $292 • Years 7-8 = $255 • Years 9-10 = $432 • Total interest paid = $11,389 • Total paid (principle + interest) = $36,389

Extended Repayment • Monthly payments are fixed or gradually increase over 25 years for loan debt that exceeds $30,000 in direct or FFELP loans • Example: • $30,000 (6.8% for 25 years) • Monthly payment = $208 • Total interest paid = $32,466 • Total paid (principle + interest) = $62, 466

Income-Sensitive Repayment • Monthly payments are based on income and total loan amount for up to 10 years; for FFELP loans only • Must reapply for this type of repayment plan yearly • Example: • $25,000 loan; gross monthly income of $3000 • Monthly payment = $120 for year 1 • Monthly payment = $313 for years 2-10 • Total interest paid = $10,293 • Total paid (principle + interest) = $35, 293

Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) • Monthly payments are based on income and family size for up to 25 years and any remaining amount is discharged; for Direct loans only • Must reapply for this type of payment plan yearly • Example: • $25,000 loan • Monthly payment • $218 initial payment • $249 remaining payments • Total interest paid = $14,421 • Total paid = $39,421 • Borrower is responsible for paying any taxes on the amount discharged

Income-Based Repayment (IBR) • Payment won’t exceed 15% of disposable income; designed to help borrowers with unmanageable payments relative to their income • Eligibility is based on AGI (Adjusted Gross Income), family size, and loan debt • Must reapply for this type of repayment plan yearly • Loan balance forgiven after 25 years and 300 eligible payments have been made • Example: • $25,000 loan • Monthly payments • First year payment = $247 • Maximum monthly payment = $288 • Total interest paid = $10, 546 • Total paid (principle + interest) = $35,546

Loan Forgiveness • Public Service Loan Forgiveness • Teacher Loan Forgiveness • Federal Employee Loan Forgiveness

Public Service Loan Forgiveness • Borrower’s who work for a public service employer may be eligible to have a portion of their direct loan debt forgiven after 120 qualifying monthly payments are made after October 1, 2007 • Public Service Organization • Federal, state, local or tribal government agency/organization • Public child or family service agency • Non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) • A tribal college or university • A private organization that provides public services • Qualifications: • Cannot be in default • Must be employed full time (30 hours/week) • Must make 120 qualified payments • These payments do not have to be consecutive, but must be separate, on-time, and full monthly payments • Payments must be made under IBR, ICR, or standard repayment plans

Loan Forgiveness for Teachers • Borrowers who teach in an elementary or secondary school that is designated as low-income may be eligible to have a portion of their Stafford loan debt forgiven • Qualifications: • Teach full-time for at least 5 consecutive years at a low-income school • Cannot be in default • Must be a “highly qualified” teacher • Obtained full state certification; bachelor’s degree; and demonstrate subject knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, math, or other basic elementary curriculum (for elementary teachers) or high level of competency in the subject area taught (for secondary teachers) • Up to $5000 in forgiveness for teachers who meet the qualifications on or after October 30, 2004 • Up to $17,500 in forgiveness for “highly qualified” mathematics or science teacher in a secondary school or for “highly qualified” special education teachers in an elementary or secondary school

Federal Employee Loan Forgiveness • Permits federal agencies to repay federal student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for candidates or current employees of the federal agency

What to Expect From Your Loan Servicer • A repayment disclosure notice • Outlines the terms of the loan borrowed • Provides repayment options available • Establishes the first payment due date

Your Responsibilities • Stay on top of your loans • Inform each servicer of changes to your name, address, or telephone number • Discuss options with your servicer before failing to make a payment • Remember that you can change your repayment plan and due date (at least 1x annually) • If you have difficulty making payments, remember deferment and forbearance

Additional Help • Federal Student Aid on the Web • Studentaid.ed.gov or studentloans.gov or nslds.ed.gov • http://blog.simpletuition.com/ • http://www.paybacksmarter.com/ • Student Loan Help for Arkansas • Facebook Page • Phone: 855-275-1200 • Email: studentloanhelp@aasfaa.net • Help navigating through the acronyms, rhetoric, and terms that are part of the federal student loan system • Student loan repayment plans and calculators • Help if you find yourself facing default

Thank You! • Please complete and submit your evaluation forms • PowerPoint presentation and handouts will be posted on our website • Contact Information: • Office of Financial Aid; Andrea, Gary, and Melissa • Campus location: 114 Silas Hunt Hall • Phone: 479-575-3806 • Fax: 479-575-7790 • Website: http://finaid.uark.edu/ • And find us on Facebook at University of Arkansas Financial Aid!

Student Loan Repayment