{"id":58750,"date":"2022-01-21T07:07:27","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T15:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/?p=58750"},"modified":"2022-01-21T12:53:26","modified_gmt":"2022-01-21T20:53:26","slug":"what-is-a-direct-consolidation-loan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/student-loans\/direct-consolidation-loan\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Direct Consolidation Loan?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Many college students leave school with multiple student loans \u2014 typically eight to 12, depending on the program. Managing this many loans can be overwhelming, but thankfully, there are strategies that could help simplify your repayment.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if you have federal student loans, you could consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan. This process will leave you with just one loan and payment to keep track of.<\/p>\n<p><b>Here\u2019s what you should know about Direct Consolidation Loans:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#direct-consolidation-loan-defined\">What is a Direct Consolidation Loan?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-to-apply\">How to apply for a Direct Consolidation Loan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pros\">Pros of a Direct Consolidation Loan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cons\">Cons of a Direct Consolidation Loan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#refi-vs-consolidation\">Is it better to refinance or consolidate student loans?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Direct Consolidation Loans: Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"direct-consolidation-loan-defined\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>What is a Direct Consolidation Loan?<\/h2>\n<p>You can consolidate multiple federal student loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan, which will leave you with just one monthly payment to keep track of. <\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking about consolidating your federal student loans, here are a few important points to consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Interest rate: <\/b>Your interest rate on a Direct Consolidation Loan will be the weighted average of the rates on the loans you want to consolidate, rounded up by one-eighth of a percent. If some of your loans have high interest rates, you could end up paying much more in interest.<\/li>\n<li><b>Repayment schedule: <\/b>With a Direct Consolidation Loan, you can extend your loan repayment term up to 30 years, which could greatly reduce your monthly payments. Just keep in mind that you\u2019ll pay more interest over time with a longer term.<\/li>\n<li><b>Loan balances:<\/b> Any outstanding interest on your loans will be added to your principal balance when you consolidate. This means you could end up paying interest on a higher balance than you started with.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><b>Keep in mind:<\/b> Federal student loan consolidation isn\u2019t available for private student loans. However, there are other options that might help you more easily repay your private loans, such as student loan refinancing.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><b><i>Learn More: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/student-loan-consolidation\"><b><i>Private Student Loan Consolidation<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"how-to-apply\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How to apply for a Direct Consolidation Loan<\/h2>\n<p>If you decide to consolidate your federal student loans, follow these four steps:<\/p>\n<h3>1. Review your loans<\/h3>\n<p>Before starting the application process, you\u2019ll need to decide which loans you\u2019d like to include in the consolidation. You can review your federal loans through the <a href=\"https:\/\/nsldsfap.ed.gov\/nslds_FAP\/\">National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><b>The following loans are eligible for federal consolidation:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans<\/li>\n<li>Unsubsidized and Nonsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans<\/li>\n<li>PLUS loans from the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program<\/li>\n<li>Supplemental Loans for Students<\/li>\n<li>Federal Perkins Loans<\/li>\n<li>Nursing Student Loans<\/li>\n<li>Nurse Faculty Loans<\/li>\n<li>Health Education Assistance Loans<\/li>\n<li>Health Professions Student Loans<\/li>\n<li>Loans for Disadvantaged Students<\/li>\n<li>Direct Subsidized Loans<\/li>\n<li>Direct Unsubsidized Loans<\/li>\n<li>Direct PLUS Loans<\/li>\n<li>FFEL Consolidation Loans and Direct Consolidation Loans (only under certain conditions)<\/li>\n<li>Federal Insured Student Loans<\/li>\n<li>Guaranteed Student Loans<\/li>\n<li>National Direct Student Loans<\/li>\n<li>National Defense Student Loans<\/li>\n<li>Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students<\/li>\n<li>Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h3>2. Gather your documents<\/h3>\n<p>To fill out the application, you\u2019ll need a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. If you don\u2019t have an FSA ID, you can set one up at <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/fsa-id\/create-account\/launch\">StudentAid.gov<\/a> \u2014 you\u2019ll just need a mobile phone number, email address, and your Social Security number.   <\/p>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><b>Also be prepared to provide the following in your Direct Consoidation Loan application: <\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Personal information<\/b>, such as your address and phone number<\/li>\n<li><b>Financial information<\/b>, such as your employer and income<\/li>\n<li><b>Information regarding each of the loans you\u2019d like to consolidate<\/b>, such as the servicer and estimated payoff amount<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h3>3. Complete the application<\/h3>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve gathered your information, you\u2019ll need to fill out the Direct Consolidation Loan application. Completing the application usually takes about 30 minutes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><b>Tip: <\/b>You can fill out the application online at <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/app\/launchConsolidation.action\">StudentAid.gov<\/a>, or you can submit a paper application to the federal loan servicer of your choice.<\/div><\/div>\n<h3>4. Manage your payments<\/h3>\n<p>It typically takes 30 to 45 days to complete the consolidation. During this time, be sure to keep up with all of your loan payments. <\/p>\n<p>Afterward, begin making payments on your new Direct Consolidation Loan. You might consider signing up for autopay to avoid missing any payments in the future \u2014 many servicers offer a rate discount to borrowers who opt for automatic payments.<\/p>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><b>Keep in mind: <\/b>You can\u2019t consolidate federal loans while you\u2019re enrolled in school at least half time. To be eligible, you must graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment.<\/div><\/div>\n<p><b><i>Check Out: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/refinance-student-loans\/student-loan-default\/\"><b><i>What Happens When You Default on a Student Loan<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"pros\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Pros of a Direct Consolidation Loan<\/h2>\n<p>While consolidating federal loans with a Direct Consolidation Loan could be a good move for some borrowers, it isn\u2019t the right choice for everyone. <\/p>\n<p>Here are a few potential benefits to consider as you weigh your options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Could lower your payments:<\/b> With a Direct Consolidation Loan, you can extend your repayment term up to 30 years. This could reduce your monthly payments and lessen the strain on your budget \u2014 though remember that this also means you\u2019ll pay more in interest over time.<\/li>\n<li><b>Combine multiple loans: <\/b>A Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to combine your federal student loans, which can help simplify repayment.<\/li>\n<li><b>Might make you eligible for loan forgiveness:<\/b> If you have Direct PLUS Loans, consolidating them will make you eligible for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/refinance-student-loans\/income-based-repayment\/\">income-driven repayment (IDR)<\/a>. This could also qualify you for federal student loan forgiveness programs, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><i>Learn More: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/student-loans\/best-parent-plus-student-loans\/\"><b><i>Best Parent Student Loans: Choosing Private or PLUS Loans<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"cons\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Cons of a Direct Consolidation Loan<\/h2>\n<p>And here are some possible drawbacks to keep in mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Higher interest costs:<\/b> If you opt to extend your repayment term with a Direct Consolidation Loan, your overall loan cost will likely increase due to the added interest charges. Additionally, any unpaid interest will be added to your principal balance after you consolidate \u2014 meaning you could end up paying interest on a higher loan amount.<\/li>\n<li><b>Will reset forgiveness timeline: <\/b>Consolidating your loans resets the clock when it comes to getting approved for programs like PSLF. If you\u2019ve already made qualifying payments, they\u2019ll no longer count toward the 10 years of payments required by PSLF. <\/li>\n<li><b>Could lose your grace period:<\/b> Most federal loans come with a six-month grace period. If you consolidate your loans before this grace period is over, you\u2019ll have to start making payments within 60 days of the consolidation being processed. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><i>Check Out: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/refinance-student-loans\/how-to-refinance-student-loans\/\"><b><i>How to Refinance Your Student Loans<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"refi-vs-consolidation\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Is it better to refinance or consolidate student loans?<\/h2>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s better to privately refinance or federally consolidate your student loans will depend on your individual circumstances and financial goals. Depending on your credit, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/refinance-student-loans\">student loan refinancing<\/a> might get you a lower interest rate, which could save you money on interest and potentially help you pay off your loans faster.<\/p>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><b>Keep in mind: <\/b>Refinancing federal loans will cost you access to federal benefits and protections \u2014 such as IDR plans and student loan forgiveness programs. <\/p>\n<p>Because of this, consolidation could be a better choice in some cases, especially if you expect to repay your loans over a long period of time.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>If you decide to refinance your student loans, be sure to consider as many lenders as possible to find the right loan for you. Credible makes this easy \u2014 you can compare your prequalified rates from multiple lenders in two minutes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong>Find out if refinancing is right for you<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"list--iconArrow accent--isGreen\">\n<li><strong>Compare actual rates, not ballpark estimates<\/strong> &#8211; Unlock rates from multiple lenders in about 2 minutes<\/li>\n<li><strong>Won&#8217;t impact credit score<\/strong> &#8211; Checking rates on Credible won&#8217;t impact your credit score<\/li>\n<li><strong>Data privacy<\/strong> &#8211; We don&#8217;t sell your information, so you won&#8217;t get calls or emails from multiple lenders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-warning\" href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/refinance-student-loans\">See Your Refinancing Options<\/a><br \/>\n<small>Credible is 100% free!<\/small><\/p>\n<p><!-- TrustBox widget - Micro Combo --><\/p>\n<div class=\"trustpilot-widget\" data-locale=\"en-US\" data-template-id=\"5419b6ffb0d04a076446a9af\" data-businessunit-id=\"5536ec090000ff00057eebe7\" data-style-height=\"20px\" data-style-width=\"100%\" data-theme=\"light\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trustpilot.com\/review\/www.credible.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trustpilot<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- End TrustBox widget --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><a name=\"faq\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Direct Consolidation Loans: Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<p>Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions regarding Direct Consolidation Loans:<\/p>\n<h3>How long does it take for a Direct Consolidation Loan to pay off old loans?<\/h3>\n<p>Once you submit an application for a Direct Consolidation Loan, it will usually take 30 to 45 days for it to be processed and your old loans to be paid off. You can generally expect to begin making payments on the new Direct Consolidation Loan within two months of this. <\/p>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><b>Tip: <\/b>To avoid delays, make sure all of the information that you provide in the application is as accurate as possible.<\/div><\/div>\n<h3>What is the interest rate on a Direct Consolidation Loan?<\/h3>\n<p>Your interest rate on a Direct Consolidation Loan will be the weighted average of the rates on the loans you choose to consolidate, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of 1%. <\/p>\n<div class=\"basic-box\" style=\"border: 1px solid #E2E4E6;\"><div class=\"basic-box__inside\"><b>For example:<\/b> Say you\u2019re consolidating a $2,000 loan with a 4.45% interest rate and a $3,000 loan with a 6% interest rate. The weighted interest rate between these two loans is 5.38% \u2014 then rounding up to nearest one-eighth of 1%, the rate will be 5.5%.<\/div><\/div>\n<h3>Can you cancel a Direct Consolidation Loan?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, if your application to consolidate your loans hasn\u2019t been processed, you can cancel it. To do so, you\u2019ll need to contact the servicer that received the application.<\/p>\n<p>However, if your application has already been processed and the funds have been disbursed, you won\u2019t be able to cancel the new loan. <\/p>\n<p><b><i>Keep Reading: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/refinance-student-loans\/private-vs-federal-student-loan-consolidation\/\"><b><i>Student Loan Consolidation vs. Student Loan Refinancing<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many college students leave school with multiple student loans \u2014 typically eight to 12, depending on the program. Managing this many loans can be overwhelming, but thankfully, there are strategies that could help simplify your&hellip; <a class=\"more \" href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/student-loans\/direct-consolidation-loan\/\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":58752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1507],"class_list":{"0":"post-58750","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-refinance-student-loans","8":"tag-student-consolidation-basics","9":"what-is-a-direct-consolidation-loan","11":"post_tag-student-consolidation-basics"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Direct Consolidation Loan? | Credible<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you have multiple federal student loans, you can consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan. 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