Federal Loans

Messiah University processes all federal student and parent loans directly through the United States Department of Education via the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.

For all students or parents who borrow a Title IV, Higher Education Act loan (typically the Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan and PLUS Loan), the institution is required to submit the loan to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).  NSLDS is a database maintained by the federal government and, via this database, information about your loan(s) will be accessible to guaranty agencies (organizations that contract with the federal government to process student data), lenders and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.

Federal loans are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.

Loan Forgiveness & Third-Party Debt Relief Company Information

It has been brought to our attention that “debt relief” companies may utilize sophisticated strategies through social media and other means to target unsuspecting borrowers by inappropriately using not only the Department of Education's logo but also Messiah University’s.  These companies do this to give the impression they are working with or for the government.

Messiah University is currently monitoring organizations that may be using our institution's name, mascots, logos, trademarks or other identifying information in a manner that has not been authorized by Messiah University.

Here are four warning signs of third-party “debt relief” companies that student loan borrowers should avoid:

• Pressure to pay high up-front or monthly fees;
• Promises of immediate loan forgiveness or debt cancellation;
• Demands that you sign a "third party authorization"; or
• A request for a student's Federal Student Aid PIN or FSA ID.

These companies are often asking students to pay for services that are available to students free through the Department of Education.  These services include:

• Consolidating federal student loans;
• Changing repayment plans;
• Resolving defaults;
• Filing requests for borrower defense loan cancellation; and
• Other benefits and services that students are entitled to receive at no charge.

There are also a variety of resources housed on the Department of Educations’ websites that can be used to inform students of Federal student loan repayment options and other important information, including the following:

• Information on StudentAid.gov;
• Information about student loan repayment at StudentAid.gov/repay; and
• An article on Medium.com from former Under Secretary of Education, Ted Mitchell.

Please be sure, as a borrower, to educate yourself to avoid paying unnecessary fees to third party “debt-relief” companies.