Deferring 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 lender to determine if you qualify for a student deferment. Typically, the deferment process depends on the loan type.
Federal Stafford, Federal Graduate 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(s) and/or servicer(s) that you are in school.
- If your lender(s) or servicer(s) send you a deferment form, simply bring or send it to your school's registrar office. The form will be forwarded to the Clearinghouse for completion.
Federal Perkins Loan
- Contact your former school 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 to your 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.