Federal student loan servicers: complete 2025 directory and comparison guide

Introduction and context

For millions of borrowers, the difference between a smooth repayment journey and a bureaucratic nightmare often comes down to one entity: the loan servicer. Misapplied payments, lost Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) credit, or confusion during account transfers can cost families time and money. Understanding who manages these loans is the first step toward protecting financial stability.

Federal loan servicers are private companies contracted by the U.S. Department of Education to manage federal student loan accounts, handle payments, and assist with repayment plans. They act as the middleman between the government (the lender) and the borrower, serving as the primary point of contact for billing, deferment requests, and customer service inquiries.

For families, knowing how to navigate the servicing system is crucial for long-term household budgeting and ensuring parent loans are handled correctly. For students, active management of the servicer relationship directly impacts credit health and the total cost of borrowing. A proactive approach prevents small administrative errors from ballooning into costly delinquency issues.

In this guide, you will learn how to identify your specific servicer using the complete 2025 directory, how to compare provider track records, and exactly what steps to take if your loan is transferred to a new company.

Understanding the federal loan servicing system

Before diving into specific company profiles, it is essential to understand how the federal servicing ecosystem functions. Many borrowers assume that because they borrowed from the government, they will deal directly with a government agency. In reality, the Department of Education (ED) lacks the infrastructure to manage customer service for tens of millions of borrowers, so they outsource these tasks to private contractors.

There is a critical distinction between a lender and a servicer. For most modern federal loans (Direct Loans), the U.S. Department of Education is the lender. They originate the loan and fund the money. The servicer is merely the account manager hired to handle the day-to-day operations. While the servicer processes payments and paperwork, they do not own the debt, nor do they set the interest rates or loan terms. Those are established by federal law.

Borrowers typically cannot choose their federal loan servicer. Upon disbursement of the first loan, the Department of Education automatically assigns the account to a servicer based on current contract capacity. This assignment is generally random, though certain loan types—specifically those enrolled in Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)—are routed to a specific designated servicer (currently MOHELA).

Because assignment is not based on geography or borrower preference, siblings or spouses may end up with different servicers. It is also common for a student to have one servicer for their undergraduate loans and a different one for graduate school if there was a break in enrollment, though the system attempts to keep a borrower’s loans together.

Regardless of which company holds the contract, all federal servicers are required to provide the same baseline services free of charge. These include:

• Processing monthly payments and prepayments.
• Helping borrowers enroll in Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans.
• Processing requests for deferment and forbearance.
• Providing annual tax forms (1098-E).
• Certifying employment for forgiveness programs.

For a deeper dive into the types of loans these companies manage, review our guide to federal student loans.

Complete directory of federal loan servicers (2025)

As of January 2025, the landscape of federal loan servicing has consolidated. The following directory lists the current organizations authorized by the Department of Education to service federal student loans. If a company contacts you claiming to be your servicer and they are not on this list, proceed with caution, as they may be a private third-party company or a scam.

Source: Federal Student Aid (as of January 2025)

Note on PSLF: As of 2025, MOHELA is the primary servicer for borrowers pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness. If you submit a PSLF form and your loans are currently with another provider (like Nelnet or Aidvantage), your account will likely be transferred to MOHELA to centralize the tracking of your qualifying payments.

How to find your federal loan servicer

Because loans can be transferred between companies, it is possible to lose track of who currently holds your account. This often happens after graduation or during periods of legislative change. Identifying your current servicer is a straightforward process.

The most reliable way to find your servicer is through the Federal Student Aid (FSA) dashboard. This central database tracks every federal loan disbursed.

1. Log in to StudentAid.gov using your FSA ID. (If you do not have one, check our FSA ID creation guide).
2. Navigate to the “My Aid” dashboard.
3. Locate the “My Loan Servicers” section on the right-hand side or scroll down to view individual loan details.
4. Click “View Servicer Details” to see the specific contact information for the company assigned to your loans.

If you cannot access your online account, you can obtain servicer information by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC).

Phone: According to StudentAid.gov, the Federal Student Aid Information Center can be reached at 1-800-433-3243

Hours: Generally 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time (M-F), with limited weekend hours.

Required Information: You will need your Social Security number and date of birth to verify your identity.

Multiple Servicers: It is possible to have more than one servicer. For example, if a parent took out a Parent PLUS loan for one child in 2018 and another in 2024, those loans might be managed by different companies depending on contract allocations at the time. You must make separate payments to each servicer unless you consolidate them.

Recent Graduates: If you recently graduated, there may be a delay of 30 to 90 days before your servicer contacts you. During this transition from “in-school” status to “grace period,” keep your contact information updated with your school’s financial aid office, as they will forward it to the assigned servicer.

Federal loan servicer reviews and comparisons

While all federal servicers must adhere to the same government regulations and offer the same repayment plans, the user experience can vary significantly. Differences in website usability, customer service wait times, and processing speeds can impact how easily you manage your debt. Below is an analysis of the major players in the market as of 2025.

Overview: MOHELA is currently one of the largest servicers because it manages the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and TEACH Grant programs. If you are working in public service, you will almost certainly deal with MOHELA.

Strengths: They have specialized knowledge regarding forgiveness programs that general customer service representatives at other companies may lack. Their mobile app is generally rated higher than competitors for basic functionality.

Weaknesses: Due to the massive influx of PSLF applicants, MOHELA has faced criticism for long call wait times and delays in processing paperwork. According to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint data, borrowers often cite difficulties in getting accurate counts of qualifying payments during transition periods.

Overview: Aidvantage is a division of Maximus Education. They took over a massive portfolio of loans previously serviced by Navient. They are a major servicer for standard Direct Loans.

Strengths: Aidvantage is known for a relatively clean, straightforward web portal. Their focus is purely on servicing (unlike some competitors who also originate private loans), which can streamline operations.

Weaknesses: They do not currently offer a dedicated mobile app, forcing users to rely on the mobile web browser version of their portal. Borrowers transferring from Navient have occasionally reported missing historical payment data, requiring manual account reviews.

Overview: Nelnet is a long-standing entity in the student loan space with a reputation for stability. They service a significant portion of the federal portfolio.

Strengths: Nelnet offers a robust online dashboard and a functional mobile app. They generally have better-than-average educational resources on their website to help borrowers understand repayment options.

Weaknesses: Like all servicers, they struggle with call volume during peak times (such as when repayment restarts or tax season begins). Some users find their automated phone systems difficult to navigate.

Overview: EdFinancial recently migrated to a new servicing platform to modernize their system.

Strengths: The new platform aims to provide a more intuitive user experience with better self-service options for changing due dates or updating banking information.

Weaknesses: The migration process itself caused friction for many users, with reports of login issues and delayed payment posting during the switch. These technical glitches have largely stabilized but remain a point of borrower frustration in historical reviews.

Despite the administrative headaches associated with these servicers, it is important to remember the protections inherent to the loans they manage. According to Betsy Mayotte, President of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, “Federal loans are more lenient… no late fees, unlike private loans.” This leniency extends to mandatory administrative forbearances that servicers must apply if they take too long to process your paperwork, ensuring you aren’t penalized for their delays.

Loan transfers: what to expect and how to prepare

Loan transfers are a common occurrence in the federal system. Servicers may exit the federal contract (as FedLoan Servicing and Navient did previously), or the Department of Education may redistribute accounts to balance workloads. While you cannot stop a transfer, you can prepare for it to prevent payment gaps.

By law, you must receive notification before your loan is moved.

15 Days Prior: Your current servicer must send a letter or email informing you of the transfer and the identity of the new servicer.

30 Days After: The new servicer must contact you to confirm the account is set up and provide new repayment instructions.

Transfers are the most common point of failure for account accuracy. Follow this checklist to protect your financial history:

• Download Payment History: Before the transfer date, log in to your old servicer and download a complete transaction history. Once the account moves, you may lose online access to these records instantly.
• Save Correspondence: Download copies of any approval letters for IDR plans or PSLF employment certification.
• Verify Contact Info: Ensure your email and physical address are current so you don’t miss the welcome packet.
• Reset Autopay: Autopay enrollment rarely transfers automatically. You will likely need to re-enter your banking information with the new servicer to avoid a missed payment.
• Check Your Status: Once the new account is live, verify that your repayment plan (e.g., SAVE, IBR) and interest rate match your records.

If you encounter issues during a transfer that cannot be resolved by customer service, you can file a complaint with the FSA Ombudsman Group or the CFPB Complaint Portal.

Best practices for communicating with your servicer

Effective communication with your servicer can mean the difference between a quick resolution and months of stress. Because these companies manage millions of accounts, individual attention is rare unless you advocate for yourself effectively.

Adopt a “receipts-based” approach to your student loans. If it isn’t written down, it didn’t happen.

Phone Calls: Keep a log of every call. Note the date, time, the name (or ID number) of the representative, and a summary of what was promised.

Upload, Don’t Mail: Whenever possible, upload documents directly through the servicer’s secure portal rather than mailing or faxing them. This creates an immediate digital timestamp of your submission.

Servicer call centers are notoriously busy. To minimize hold times:

Avoid Mondays: Call volume is highest at the start of the week.

Avoid Lunch Hours: Try calling as soon as lines open (usually 8 a.m. ET) or later in the evening later in the week (Wednesday–Friday).

Avoid End-of-Month: Many borrowers rush to resolve billing issues before the month ends, clogging the lines.

Monitor your account monthly, even if you are on autopay. Contact your servicer immediately if you notice:

Unexplained Capitalization: If interest is added to your principal balance unexpectedly.

Plan Expiration: If your IDR plan suddenly reverts to the Standard plan (usually a sign that recertification paperwork was missed or unprocessed).

Payment Rejection: If a payment is returned despite sufficient funds in your bank account.

FAQ: common federal loan servicer questions

Generally, no. The Department of Education assigns servicers, and borrowers cannot request a switch based on preference. The only way to trigger a change is to consolidate your loans (which allows you to select a servicer from a dropdown list) or to apply for PSLF, which automatically moves your loans to the designated PSLF servicer (currently MOHELA).

If your servicer decides to stop managing federal loans (as Navient and FedLoan did), your account will be automatically transferred to a new provider. The terms of your loan, interest rate, and repayment history will transfer with it. You will receive multiple notifications by mail and email before the switch occurs.

Yes, as of January 2025, MOHELA remains the primary servicer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. However, the Department of Education has begun managing the actual approval of PSLF forms directly through StudentAid.gov, while MOHELA handles the payment tracking and account management.

If you cannot resolve an issue directly with the servicer, your first step is the Federal Student Aid Feedback Center. If the issue remains unresolved, you can escalate it to the FSA Ombudsman Group. For serious regulatory violations, you should also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Federal servicers are contractors for the government and must follow federal regulations regarding repayment plans (like IDR) and forgiveness. Private loan servicers work for private banks or lenders. They are not required to offer income-driven plans or forgiveness, and their policies regarding forbearance and modification are set by the private lender, not the government.

This usually happens if you took out loans at different times (e.g., undergraduate vs. graduate school) or if you have different types of loans (e.g., Perkins loans vs. Direct loans). While the Department of Education tries to keep a borrower’s loans with one entity, it is not guaranteed. You must ensure payments are made to all assigned servicers to avoid delinquency.

Navigating the federal loan servicing system can be frustrating, but knowledge is your best defense against administrative errors. Remember that while you cannot choose your servicer, you can control how you manage the relationship. Always verify your servicer through StudentAid.gov, keep your own records of every payment and interaction, and stay proactive during account transfers.

Most importantly, recognize that servicers are simply vendors. They execute the rules set by the government. If you find yourself hitting a wall, utilize the complaint mechanisms available through the FSA Ombudsman and CFPB to ensure your rights are respected.

For some borrowers, particularly those with high incomes and excellent credit who do not plan to utilize federal forgiveness programs, the frustrations of federal servicing lead them to consider refinancing. Refinancing with a private lender allows you to choose your lender and servicer, often resulting in better customer service and potentially lower interest rates.

If you have weighed the pros and cons and are considering refinancing for better servicing or lower rates, you can compare options from top-rated providers. Compare rates from 8+ lenders to find your best loan option.

References and resources

For accurate, up-to-date information regarding your loans, rely on these official government sources:

• Federal Student Aid Servicer List: StudentAid.gov/servicers – The official directory of all contracted servicers.
• FSA Dashboard: StudentAid.gov – The central hub to view your loan history and current servicer assignment.
• CFPB Complaint Portal: ConsumerFinance.gov/complaint – The federal agency responsible for consumer protection in the financial sector.
• FSA Ombudsman Group: StudentAid.gov/feedback-ombudsman – A neutral, confidential resource for resolving disputes with servicers.
• PSLF Help Tool: StudentAid.gov/pslf – The official tool to assess eligibility and generate forgiveness forms.