How FSA and Nelnet Work Together
When you take out a federal student loan, you enter new relationships with:
- Federal Student Aid (FSA), an office of the U.S. Department of Education, which provided the funds, and
- Nelnet, your loan servicer, which assists you on your repayment journey.
FSA and Nelnet work hand-in-hand to help you pay for school and repay your loans. Each also provides valuable online resources to help you complete tasks and meet goals.
At a Glance
| FSA | Nelnet |
|---|---|
| Purpose | |
| FSA supplies financial aid (loans, work-study funds, and grants) to students who pursue higher education. | Nelnet is one of multiple servicers that work for FSA. We’re your primary contact for questions and help you manage your loans as you pay them back. |
| Website Highlights | |
| StudentAid.gov
( Log in with your FSA ID.) |
Nelnet.com
( Log in with your Nelnet.com account.) |
|
You create an FSA ID username and password to:
|
You create a Nelnet username and password to:
|
In More Detail
StudentAid.gov
About Your FSA ID
The FSA ID is the username and password combination that you use to access your Federal Student Aid account on StudentAid.gov and sign certain forms and applications electronically. If you have applied for federal student aid, you should have already created an FSA ID.
Go to the FSA log in page and enter your username and password.
If you think you have an FSA ID (and have just forgotten it), go to the FSA log in page to obtain your username and/or reset your password.
If you aren’t sure, check to see if you already have one. Go to the FSA log in page and try to log in. If you don’t have an FSA ID, go to the Create Account page to create one.
Nelnet.com
About Your Nelnet Username
Your Nelnet username is different from your FSA ID. You use it to view information specific to your federal student loans serviced by Nelnet.
Click “Log In” at the top of any page, or go to https://www.nelnet.com/account/login.
If you’ve forgotten your username, go to the Log In page and click on “Forgot Username?” If you’ve forgotten your password, enter your username and then click on “Forgot Password?”
| StudentAid.gov | Nelnet.com |
|---|---|
| What You Can Do Without Logging In | |
You can explore StudentAid.gov to learn more about:
|
You can explore topics on the top green navigation bar, including:
|
| What You Can Do While Logged In | |
In addition to the activities outlined in the "At a Glance" table above, you can perform the following activities pertaining to student loan repayment:
|
Expanding on the activities outlined in the “At a Glance” table above, after you’ve signed in with your Nelnet username, you can:
|
Which site should I use to apply for an IDR plan?
If your current income is consistent with your most recently filed income tax return, you should use StudentAid.gov to apply for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. There, you will be able to add your income information electronically to your IDR plan application.
If your income has changed significantly since last year, it may be best to log in to Nelnet.com, download the IDR form, and upload the completed form and most current income documentation so Nelnet can process your IDR plan request.
I've heard that Nelnet will not service loans for FSA after December 2020 — is that right?
No. FSA has a long-term vision to change how student loans are serviced, and in summer 2020, it announced new contracts as part of that vision. Nelnet will continue to service your loans for the foreseeable future and will contact you directly well in advance of any changes.