: You only have one bill and one loan servicer to manage each month.
: You can apply once you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. consolidation loan school
: The process is free through the official Federal Student Aid website. Comparison: Consolidation vs. Refinancing Federal Consolidation Private Refinancing Lender Federal Government Private Banks/Lenders (e.g., Nelnet Bank, Citizens ) Interest Rate Weighted average of old loans Based on credit score and market Loan Types Federal loans only Both federal and private loans Federal Protections Retains PSLF and IDR eligibility Loses federal protections and plans : You only have one bill and one
: Consolidation does not typically lower your interest rate; it is the weighted average of your existing loans rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of a percent. consolidation loan school