Most Federal student loans are eligible for consolidation, including subsidized and unsubsidized Direct and Federal Family Education (FFEL) Stafford Loans, Direct and FFEL PLUS Loans (parent loans), Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Nursing Loans, and Health Education Assistance Loans. Private educational loans are not eligible.

Maximum Loan Length: up to 30 years, depending on the amount borrowed and the repayment plan chosen. There are a number of repayment plans offered through the Direct and FFEL programs.

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a student pursuing a postsecondary educational degree or certificate.

A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need, as determined by the information you submit on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are eligible for a subsidized Stafford loan you will not be charged interest while you are in school on an at least half-time basis, during a grace period of up to six months after you are no longer enrolled on at least a "half-time" basis, or during certain defined deferment periods. The Federal government pays (subsidizes) the interest during these periods.

A student loan debt consolidation loan allows you to combine your federal student loans into a single loan with one monthly payment. The repayments of a student loan debt consolidation loan can be significantly lower than the payment required under the standard 10-year repayment option. Under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, banks, secondary markets, credit unions, and other lenders provide the student loan debt consolidation loan. Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program, the federal government provides the student loan debt consolidation loan.