Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP)

Consolidation Loans

If you have several federal student loans, you may be able to combine — or consolidate — them into one loan. You may consider this option in order to:

• Lower your monthly payment amount by extending the repayment period,
• Lock in a fixed interest rate for the entire repayment period of the loan, and/or
• Combine multiple loan balances under a single loan holder — the Department of Education (ED) — so that you have to make only one monthly payment.

Remember, however, that you are not required to consolidate your federal student loans. Consolidation is a decision that you should not take lightly. Because consolidation is often a one-time decision, you'll want to learn as much as possible before deciding.

Contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center for more information about obtaining a Direct Consolidation loan under the FDLP.

If you have already obtained a FFELP Consolidation loan, see Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.