Using the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) To Get Your Federal Student Loan Information

Many student loan borrowers have multiple federal student loans. Keeping track of the loan details for each one can be quite difficult. The good news is that you can find information on all of your federal student loans in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

What Is the National Student Loan Data System?

The NSLDS is a central database for all your federal student loan and grant information. It's run by the U.S. Department of Education, which runs studentaid.gov and oversees federal student aid.

From the NSLDS dashboard, you can get your loan details or the contact information for your loan servicers. You can also view information about any grants (such as Title IV Aid) you've received as well. The NSLDS gets this data from universities and colleges, guaranty agencies, and Department of Education federal student loan programs like the Direct Loan program.

If you have private student loans, they will not show in the NSLDS. The system only houses federal student loan information for loans and grants administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This includes: Title IV loans, Plus Loans, and loans from the Direct Loan Program.

How To Access Your Federal Student Loan Information on the NSLDS

To access your information in the NSLDS, navigate to studentaid.gov and log in to your account: 

To log in to your account, you'll need your FSA ID username, e-mail or mobile phone number, and password. This is the same log-in you would use for your FAFSA.

If you don’t have an account, you can create one using your Social Security number and your mobile phone number and/or email address. You cannot create an account for someone. 

To get to your dashboard, you'll need to accept the NSLDS website's terms and conditions. To do so, simply click"Accept" when the terms and conditions pop up after you log in.

Once logged in, you’ll see your dashboard. It will show your total loan status/balance, and a breakdown of your student loan(s). 

From there, you can view your loan details and your servicer details, including their phone number and mailing address. 

How To Download Your NSLDS Report

If you're accessing your student loan data for your own information, you can see what you need right on screen in your account. Sometimes, though, you'll need to download an NSLDS report. If you are filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and want to discharge your student loans as part of the process, you'll need to download your NSLDS. Luckily, it's easy to do.

First, follow the steps above to access your account. On your dashboard, look at the top right where you'll see your name and a down arrowhead to the right of it. Hover over your name and a menu will appear. Click the second menu item: "My Aid."

This will bring up an aid summary. On the top right of the summary, you'll see a link that says "Download My Aid Data." Click that link.

Finally, you'll see a pop up message explaining that this report contains personal and financial information and that you should only download it from a secure internet connection. Press "Continue" to download your NSLDS report. Save the file where you want it on your computer or look in your downloads to find it. The file will be a .txt file.

Why Do I Need To Know How To Access the National Student Loan Data System?

For your federal student loans, NSLDS is an invaluable resource, especially if you have multiple loans with multiple different loan servicers/lenders. With all of the information in one place, it makes a complicated system more manageable. Knowing the ins and outs of your loans can help you stay on top of your student loan repayments, know when disbursement or consolidation is possible, determine eligibility for new loans, and more.  

Student Loans and Bankruptcy

In November 2022, the Department of Justice and Department of Education released updated guidelines for using bankruptcy to discharge student loan debt. One goal of the new guidelines was to "reduce the burden on borrowers" seeking to discharge (get rid of) their student loans as part of their bankruptcy proceeding.

This means that if your student loan debt is a qualifying educational debt under the Bankruptcy Code^[1] and repayment could cause you “undue hardship,” you may be eligible to discharge your student loans through bankruptcy, and it's easier to do now than it was before the new guidelines were released.

Upsolve has helped thousands of people prepare their Chapter 7 paperwork for free. If you're considering filing bankruptcy to get rid of your student loan and other debt, check your eligibility today. If you want to talk about your options with a bankruptcy attorney, we can refer you to one for a free consultation.