Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Student Loans Nelnet Student Loans 2025: Is Nelnet a Federal Loan Servicer, and Is It Good? Updated May 23, 2025 3-min read Reviewed by Kristen Barrett, MAT Reviewed by Kristen Barrett, MAT Expertise: Writing, content design, proofreading, grammar, vocabulary Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has edited and written personal finance content since 2015. Learn more about Kristen Barrett, MAT Learn More Student Loan Servicer Mobile app available Profits flow back to nonprofit lender Poor customer service reviews E-statements not offered for cosigners No weekend or evening customer support hours Types of loans servicedPrivate & FFEL federal student loansRepayment methodsVaries by lenderState availability Varies by lender Nelnet is one of the largest federal student loan servicers in the U.S. It handles loan repayment, not loan origination, for federal loans like Stafford and PLUS. While it offers federal benefits, it draws criticism for poor customer service. Table of Contents Is Nelnet a federal loan servicer? Is Nelnet good? What types of loans does Nelnet service? Repayment options with Nelnet Does Nelnet offer consolidation? Customer service and contact info Pros and cons FAQ Does Nelnet offer loan forgiveness? Can I apply for a loan through Nelnet? Does Nelnet offer private loans? Is Nelnet legit? Is Nelnet a federal loan servicer? Yes. Nelnet services federal student loans on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. It also services some private loans (including from Nelnet Bank), but its primary role is handling repayment and customer service for federal loans. You don’t choose Nelnet; it’s assigned by the DoE after your loan is disbursed. Is Nelnet good? It depends on what you value. Strengths: Offers all federal repayment plans Income-driven repayment and PSLF eligibility Access to deferment and forbearance Weaknesses: 1.1- to 1.7-star reviews across BBB, Trustpilot, and Google Limited customer support hours (M–F, no evenings or weekends) No e-statements for cosigners Our analysis found that Nelnet is the second-best federal loan servicer, after Aidvantage. Read more: What Is the Best Student Loan Servicer? Our 2025 Analysis Based on Customer Complaints What types of loans does Nelnet service? Federal loans: Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized (Stafford) Direct PLUS (Parent and Grad) Consolidation loans Private loans: Loans from Nelnet Bank and select third-party lenders Repayment options with Nelnet Standard: Fixed payments for 10 years Graduated: Lower payments that increase every 2 years Extended: Up to 25 years for eligible borrowers Income-driven: Payments based on income and family size Repayment typically starts six months after graduation (except Parent PLUS loans, which begin immediately unless deferred). Does Nelnet offer consolidation? Yes. Nelnet services Direct Consolidation Loans, which combine multiple federal loans into one. You don’t need a degree to consolidate. Cosigners aren’t required. Private loans can’t be consolidated through Nelnet. Apply through StudentAid.gov, not directly with Nelnet. Customer service and contact info Website: nelnet.com Phone: 888-486-4722 (M–F, hours vary) Email and secure messaging: Available after login Social: Active on Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn Great Lakes accounts were transferred to Nelnet in 2018. You’ll need to create a Nelnet account to manage those loans. Pros and cons Pros Access to all federal repayment and forgiveness options No credit check required Easy online account setup Cons Poor customer service reviews No borrower choice in servicer assignment No clear repayment assistance policies beyond federal defaults FAQ Does Nelnet offer loan forgiveness? Only through federal programs like PSLF or income-driven repayment forgiveness. Can I apply for a loan through Nelnet? No. Nelnet is a servicer, not a lender. You apply for federal loans through FAFSA. Does Nelnet offer private loans? Nelnet Bank does. See our Nelnet Bank student loan review. Is Nelnet legit? Yes, but it has a poor reputation for customer service. It’s one of a handful of official federal student loan servicers.