Stafford Loan Exit Interview

Class of 2007

College Board Education Loan Program

Agenda

• Stafford Loan Terms

• Repayment Options

• Important Contacts

• Perkins Loan Terms

• Consolidation

• Quiz & prizes

Why Am I Here ?

• Federal regulations require attendance

• Reduce defaults

• Develop good credit vs. bad credit

Benefits for you

• Learn how to manage repayment

• Identify ways to save money

• Understand repayment options

• Understand the impact of consolidation

• Learn who to contact

Major Players

• Lehigh University

• Lender

• Servicer

• Secondary Markets

• Guaranty Agencies (PHEAA)

Important Documents

• MASTER PROMISORRY NOTE (MPN)

• Binding legal document indicating your commitment to repay the loan

• Sign once during enrollment but may be used for multiple years

• You will receive maximum Stafford funds each year, unless you cancel or decline a portion of the loan

• DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

• Received at first disbursement of each loan under the MPN

Stafford Loans• Interest Rate

1st Disbursed July1, 2006 = 6.8%

Disbursed Prior to July 1, 2006:

6.54% in-school

7.14% in repayment

variable rate, maximum 8.25%, reset July 1st

• Grace Period(generally 6 months) ****

• Minimum Payment(generally $50)

• 10 Year Repayment Term (other options)

Stafford Loans

• Subsidized Federal Government pays interest on loan during enrollment

• UnsubsidizedBorrower is responsible for interest payments during enrollment

Deferment:

• Period of time where, borrower upon meeting certain criteria may not have to make payments on principal.

•Gov’t. pay i% on subsidized portion

Forbearance:

• Temporary halt , suspension or reduction of payments upon meeting certain criteria.

• i% accrues during forbearance

• At the lender’s discretion

Repayment Options

• No prepayment penalty

• Forbearance-temporary suspension or reduction for financial hardship

• Deferments-period of time where loan payments are suspended

• In-school (at least half-time) - unlimited

• Graduate fellowship program - unlimited

• Rehabilitation training program - unlimited

• Economic hardship - 3 year limit

• Unemployment - 3 year limit

Repayment Programs

• Standard Repayment Plan

• Graduated Repayment Plan(10 years to 15yrs -lower payments in the beginning)

• Income Sensitive Repayment Plan(4%-25% MGI up to 15 years for Stafford Loans)

• Extended Repayment Plan (exceed $30k take up to 25yrs std or graduated payments)

DEFAULT: Failure to Repay Loan

• Delinquency( 90 days past due)

• Preclaim - “Pre-Default”(120 days past due)

• DEFAULT(180 days past due)

DEFAULT: Failure to Repay Loan

• Stafford DEFAULT ( 270 days past due)

• Perkins DEFAULT(240 days past due)

Consequences Of Default

• Bad Credit

• Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility

• Loss of Tax Refund (State & Federal)

• Wage Garnishment

• Litigation

• Late Fees

• Collection costs

• Loss of Forbearance and Deferment options

Lehigh University Exclusive Borrower Benefits from Sallie Mae • Pennsylvania Rewards Program:

• 0% Loan Origination fees

• 2% loan credit or cash back at repayment based on original principal amount

• 3.5% loan credit or cash back based on original principal amount after:Make first 24 consecutive on-time payments

Enroll in Manage Your Loans

Sign Up –receive acct info at valid e-mail address

UPromise

• UPromise, the nation’s leading saving-for-college company and administrator of 529 college savings plans. 7 million members ,one of the largest marketing services coalitions in the U.S.

• Members can earn cash rewards on their everyday spending at over 70,000 stores and service locations, involve their family and friends to help save, and invest their rewards and personal savings in 529 college savings plans.

• Administers tax-advantaged 529 college savings accounts for 1 million investors and manages $11 billion in 529-plan assets in partnership with seven states.

• UPromise will become a subsidiary of SLM Corporation and will retain its brand and business focus.

Loan Information:

• www.nslds.ed.gov, www.loanlocator.com, www.nslc.org/student

• www.pin.ed.gov

• Call your lender/servicer

• Sallie Mae (888) 272-5543

• Visit your servicer’s web site

• www.salliemae.com

Loan Information:

• Services on the web:

• On-line access to account On-line access to account informationinformation

• Calculators (repayment Calculators (repayment options)options)

• www.smartloan.com

Loan Information

• Dept. of Ed Ombudsmen: Debra Wiley

• Resolves disputes from a neutral, independent viewpoint. Informally conducts impartial fact finding about borrower complaints.

• Not customer service

• (877) 557-2575

• www.sfahelp.ed.gov

Major Players Perkins Loans:

• School (Lehigh University)

• Lender (Lehigh University)

• Servicer (University Accounting Service)

• UAS’ Web site (www.uaservice.com)

• UAS’ telephone # 1.800.999.6227

Perkins Loans

• Interest Rate

• repayment rate of 5%

• Grace Period

• generally 9 months

• Minimum Payment

• generally $40

• 10 Year Repayment Term

Student Loan Consolidation

• Bundle your student loans into 1 new consolidation loan,

• Reducing # monthly bills

• Possibly lower your monthly payment

• For Federal student loans = opportunity to lock in a low fixed i% rate.

Federal Student Loan Consolidation

• Eligible if you have:

Stafford, PLUS, Perkins, HEAL, or other federal student loans

• Minimum =$5,000 in federal education loans

• Any federal education loans in grace, repayment, deferment, or forbearance (and not in default)

Private Student Loan Consolidation

• Eligible if you have:

Private student loans from banks, credit unions, or schools

•Minimum= $5,000 in private student loans

•Good credit or a cosigner with good credit

•Graduated from or will be graduating from a postsecondary program of study

Caution!

•Keep your benefits

• Some private consolidation lenders will allow you to consolidate federal and private student loans together. Sallie Mae strongly discourages you from doing this, as it may result in the loss of subsidies, grace periods, deferments and other benefits.

Benefits of Consolidating with Sallie Mae

• Convenience, 1 monthly payment

• Possibility of lowering your monthly payment

• Consolidating with a name you know and trust—Sallie Mae

• Valuable borrower benefits that can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars over the life of your loan

• Once you consolidate your loans, you can choose the repayment plan that suits your budget: standard, graduated, extended, or income-sensitive.

Sample Timeline

Newer Stafford loans

EOG FPDD

FPDD

1. Make payments (Full or Interest-only)2. Deferment (Economic Hardship?)3. Forbearance (Internship/Residency?)

Need to manage debt from this time period forward

OSD

Grad PLUS and Existing Consolidation loans

Perkins loans

EOG FPDD

OSD – Out of School DateEOG – End of Grace PeriodFPDD – First Payment Due Date

OSD

OSD

(6 month grace period)

(9 month grace period)

Remember

• Stay organized - open your mail!

• Log your contacts

• Call your Servicer or Financial Aid Office, 610-758-3181

email address: infao@lehigh.edu

if you:

• Have trouble with repayment

• Change your address or name

Questions and Quiz

• Prizes

Thank You!

Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Future!