University Students

Exit Counseling
Each type of loan you utilized to finance your education will provide an Exit Counseling session upon completion of your academic program.

Exit Counseling allows you to:
  • Know your Lenders and how to access them.
  • Know the various repayment options available to you.
  • What to do if you can’t make loan payments.
  • Understand the penalties for Non-Payment.
  • Take advantage of your Grace Period.

For more information on Exit Counseling please contact the appropriate resources for the type of loan you borrowed.

You can view the current loan holder(s) and loan servicer(s) while attending The University of Chicago and any prior institutions in the National Student Loan Data System.

Exit Counseling Resources:
Repayment Options
There are special situations which may qualify you to postpone making monthly payments on your loans. You must contact your lender directly to apply for deferment or forbearance on your student loans.

Special Repayment Options

  • Deferment – A specified and limited period of time during which payments on principal and interest are not due.
  • Forbearance – A period in which the holder of the loan permits lower monthly payments due to the borrower’s inability to pay in full.
  • Cancellation/Public Service Loan Forgiveness – Loan is cancelled or forgiven in exchange for service requirements.
  • Consolidation – The process to combine loans into one single monthly payment.

How do I request relief from Institutional or Perkins loan payments to the University of Chicago?

Effective May 1, 2020, the University of Chicago has suspended all interest calculation and payments, without penalty, until May 1, 2022, for current borrowers in repayment.  There is no action required by a student to be included in the payment suspension period and you may continue to remit payments to our loan servicer during this period. Repayment is scheduled to resume May 1, 2022.

How are my Direct Loan repayments impacted by COVID-19?

Effective March 27, 2020, the Department of Education has instructed all Direct Loan Servicers to suspend interest calculation and payments for borrowers in repayment of Direct Student Loans. For more information, visit the Department of Education. 

Consumer Information
Below are your rights as a Student Loan Consumer:
  • Tax Benefits available to student loan borrowers. You should take advantage of the student loan interest deduction on your federal income tax return.
  • Federal Student Assistance Student Loan Ombudsman Group. This office receives and reviews complaints from student loan borrowers. The goal is to accomplish an informal resolution of loan disputes with lenders or schools that have not been resolved through normal channels.
  • National Student Loan Data System. Through this web site you may access all the federal loans you borrowed while in school. The information on this web site also includes contact information for all current federal loan holders. You will be required to provide your FSA ID.
  • Free Credit Report. It is a good idea to check your credit report on an annual basis. You should check to ensure that no credit has been opened without your knowledge. The following web site will provide you annually with a free credit report:  Annual Credit Report
Federal Perkins and Institution Loan Contact Information
Federal Perkins Loans – The University of Chicago is contracted with Heartland ECSI, Inc. as an agent to bill for Federal Perkins, University Institutional and Pritzker Medical School Loans.

Inquiries may be directed to Bursar staff at the University of Chicago

Heartland ECSI, Inc. contact information:

Heartland ECSI P.O. Box 718 Wexford, PA 15090. This address is used only for sending payments.

Web: https://heartland.ecsi.net

Telephone 1 (888) 549 3274

Direct Loan Services
Cornerstone

Website: www.MyCornerStoneLoan.org

Email: CustomerService@mycornerstoneloan.org

Telephone: (800) 663-1662

FedLoan Servicing (PHEAA)

Website: www.myfedloan.org

Telephone: (800) 699-2908

Granite State -GSMR

Website: www.gsmr.org

Email: dlcustomerservice@gsmr.org

Telephone: (888) 556-0022

Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc.

Website: www.mygreatlakes.org

Telephone: (800) 236-4300

Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA)

Website: www.mohela.com

Telephone: (888) 866-4352

National Education Loan Network (Nelnet)

Website: www.nelnet.com

Telephone: (888) 486-4722

Navient

Website: www.navient.com/loan-customers

Telephone: (800) 722-1300

OSLA Servicing

Website: www.osla.org

Email: DLcustserv@osla.org

Telephone: (800) 264-9762