Defer Prior Educational Loans
You may be eligible to defer payment on prior educational loans while you are enrolled at least half-time as a student at Northwestern. Contact your loan servicer to determine if you qualify for a student deferment.
In many cases the deferment will occur automatically. However, it is the borrower's responsibility to ensure the accurate status is reflected on his/her loan.
The deferment process depends on the loan type:
Federal Direct Loans (Stafford and Grad PLUS) and Alternative Loans
- The University Registrar sends your enrollment information to the National Student Loan Clearinghouse once a month.
- The Clearinghouse notifies your lender/servicer that you are enrolled.
- If your lender/servicer sends you a deferment form, simply submit it to your current school's registrar office.
Federal Perkins Loan
- Contact your former school (from which that Perkins Loan was borrowed) to obtain a Student Deferment form (your former school is your lender for Federal Perkins Loan).
- Complete the "Student Section" of each deferment form as directed.
- Bring or send each deferment form to your current school's registrar's office.
- Your registrar will complete the form and send it to your former school.
- Contact your lender(s) by telephone 6-8 weeks after school begins or after submitting the form to your registrar (whichever is later) to verify that your student deferment has been processed.
Your Responsibilities While in Deferment
- Notify your lender(s) of any change in circumstance (e.g., change in address, phone number, name, enrollment status) that might affect your deferment(s).
- Contact your lender(s) immediately if you continue to receive requests for payment after school has started and/or you have submitted a Student Deferment form. Your Registrar may need to send an enrollment history to your lender(s) to verify your eligibility.