Use this calculator to estimate your monthly payments if you consolidate your loans.  You will need the following information for each student loan you want to include in the consolidation estimate:

• Loan type
• Loan balance
• Interest rate

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Use this calculator to estimate your monthly payments for standard, extended, and graduated payment plans. This calculator can be used on both Direct Stafford and Direct Plus loans. To use the calculator, you will need to know your loan amount and interest rate.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months.

Source: Federal Trade Commission

With loan consolidation, you combine several student loans into one loan, sometimes at a lower interest rate. Thus, you can write one check each month.

You need to apply for loan consolidation, and different lenders have different rules about which loans qualify for consolidation. However, with most loan consolidations, you can choose an extended repayment and/or a graduated repayment plan in addition to a standard repayment plan.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Answers to frequently asked questions about your credit score.

Source: Central Source LLC

Under certain circumstances, you can receive periods of deferment or forbearance that allow you to postpone loan repayment. These periods don’t count toward the length of time you have to repay your loan; but they do allow you to defer payments.

You can’t get a deferment or forbearance for a loan that is already in default—so be sure to be proactive if you run into problems making your payments.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. NSLDS receives data from schools, guaranty agencies, the Direct Loan program, and other Department of ED programs.

The NSLDS Student Access website provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data.

Use this no-cost online resource to get your current loan values.

Source: National Student Loan Data System