Nelnet Customer Service: Overview and How to Contact

By Mentor Staff | Edited By Mentor Staff

Updated On September 6, 2022

Editorial Note: This content is based solely on the author's opinions and is not provided, approved, endorsed or reviewed by any financial institution or partner.

How do we make money? The products featured on this website are from our partners who compensate us. This may impact which companies we review, the products we evaluate, and where and how a product appears on a page. We receive compensation from a partner when you apply for and receive a product through Mentor. This helps us to support our website, offer free content, tools and calculators, and continue to be one of the leading sources on personal finance.

Nelnet is a leading student loan servicer for millions of student loan service borrowers. Nelnet is one of the four main student loan servicers of federal student loans. The other three are Navient, Great Lakes and American Education Services (AES).

Here’s what you should know about Nelnet to maximize your customer service experience, if Nelnet is your student loan servicer. In this guide, we will discuss:

Top Picks For Student Loan Refinancing

October 2024

Fixed APR ?APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, is the price you pay to borrow money. Fixed APR means that your interest rate will always stay the same. Even if interest rates change, your interest rate or monthly payment will not. Fixed APR includes a 0.25% discount when you enroll in autopay.
Variable APR ?APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, is the price you pay to borrow money. Variable APR means that your interest rate can fluctuate over time, which can increase or decrease your monthly student loan payment. Typically, a variable-rate loan has a lower introductory rate than a fixed-loan rate loan. Variable APR includes a 0.25% discount when you enroll in autopay.
APR
3.99% - 9.99%
5.99% - 9.99%
3.99% - 9.99%

View Details

on SoFi's website

Overview

Variable APR:
5.99% - 9.99%
Fixed APR:
3.99% - 9.99%
Minimum Credit Score:
650
Minimum Income:
None
Fees:
None
Minimum Loan Amount:
$5,000 ($10,000 in CA)

Details

Eligible Loans:
Private & Federal
Eligible Degrees:
Undergraduate & Graduate
Loan Terms:
5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years
Borrower Residency:
All states
Hardship Deferment:
Yes
Co-signer Option:
Yes
4.69% - 9.74%
5.89% - 9.74%
4.69% - 9.74%

View Details

on Earnest's website

Overview

Variable APR:
5.89% - 9.74%
Fixed APR:
4.69% - 9.74%
Minimum Credit Score:
650
Minimum Income:
None
Fees:
None
Minimum Loan Amount:
$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:
Private & Federal
Eligible Degrees:
Undergraduate & Graduate
Loan Terms:
5-20 years
Borrower Residency:
All States except NV
Hardship Deferment:
Yes
Co-signer Option:
No
5.19% - 9.74%
5.99% - 9.74%
5.19% - 9.74%

View Details

on NaviRefi's website

Overview

Variable APR:
5.99% - 9.74%
Fixed APR:
5.19% - 9.74%
Minimum Credit Score:
680
Minimum Income:
None
Fees:
None
Minimum Loan Amount:
$5,001 ($10,001 in CA)

Details

Eligible Loans:
Private & Federal
Eligible Degrees:
Undergraduate & Graduate
Loan Terms:
5-20 years
Borrower Residency:
All States except NV
Hardship Deferment:
Yes
Co-signer Option:
No
4.84% - 8.44%
4.86% - 8.49%
4.84% - 8.49%

View Details

on ELFI's website

Overview

Variable APR:
4.86% - 8.49%
Fixed APR:
4.84% - 8.44%
Minimum Credit Score:
680
Minimum Income:
$35,000
Fees:
None
Minimum Loan Amount:
$10,000

Details

Eligible Loans:
Private & Federal
Eligible Degrees:
Undergraduate & Graduate
Loan Terms:
5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years
Borrower Residency:
All States
Hardship Deferment:
Yes
Co-signer Option:
Yes
4.84% - 9.99%
5.89% - 9.99%
4.84% - 9.99%

View Details

on Splash's website

Overview

Variable APR:
5.89% - 9.99%
Fixed APR:
4.84% - 9.99%
Minimum Credit Score:
640
Minimum Income:
None
Fees:
None
Minimum Loan Amount:
$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:
Private & Federal
Eligible Degrees:
Undergraduate & Graduate
Loan Terms:
5 – 20 years
Borrower Residency:
All states
Hardship Deferment:
Varies
Co-signer Option:
No
5.89% - 10.98%
7.02% - 12.44%
5.89% - 12.44%

View Details

on Citizens' website

Overview

Variable APR:
7.02% - 12.44%
Fixed APR:
5.89% - 10.98%
Minimum Credit Score:
Not disclosed
Minimum Income:
$24,000
Fees:
No prepayment or origination fees
Minimum Loan Amount:
$10,000

Details

Eligible Loans:
Private & Federal
Eligible Degrees:
Undergraduate & Graduate
Loan Terms:
5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years
Borrower Residency:
All states
Hardship Deferment:
Yes
Co-signer Option:
Yes
4.99% - 8.90%
5.29% - 9.20%
4.99% - 9.20%

View Details

on Laurel Road's website

Overview

Variable APR:
5.29% - 9.20%
Fixed APR:
4.99% - 8.90%
Minimum Credit Score:
680
Minimum Income:
None
Fees:
None
Minimum Loan Amount:
$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:
Private & Federal
Eligible Degrees:
Undergraduate & Graduate
Loan Terms:
5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years
Borrower Residency:
All States
Hardship Deferment:
Yes
Co-signer Option:
Yes
5.49% - 9.75%
5.53% - 12.18%
5.49% - 12.18%

View Details

on LendKey's website

Overview

Variable APR:
5.53% - 12.18%
Fixed APR:
5.49% - 9.75%
Minimum Credit Score:
680
Minimum Income:
$24,000
Fees:
None
Minimum Loan Amount:
$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:
Private & Federal
Eligible Degrees:
Undergraduate & Graduate
Loan Terms:
5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years
Borrower Residency:
All states, except ME, ND, NV, RI, WV
Hardship Deferment:
Yes
Co-signer Option:
Yes

Is Nelnet my student loan servicer?

A student loan servicer such as Nelnet collects and manages your student loan payments. For federal student loans, the U.S. Department of Education assigns you a student loan servicer. That means that you cannot choose your student loan servicer, unless you choose to refinance your student loans. If you think Nelnt may be your student loan servicer, or if you’re not sure who’s your student loan servicer, then you can verify your student loans with these simple options.

  • Log into the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS): The NSLDS database includes all information about your student loans, including balances, history and student loan servicers. You can login with your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID.
  • Check your credit report: Your credit report will also tell you whether Nelnet is your student loan servicer. You can order a free credit report for all major credit bureaus from AnnualCreditReport.com.
  • Contact Nelnet: You can contact Nelnet directly to verify if Nelnet if your student loan servicer. The phone number for Nelnet is 1-800-236-4300.

Nelnet student loan repayment options

Nelnet offers several student loan repayment options:

Standard Repayment Plan: A standard repayment plan lasts up to 10 years and the monthly installment payment remains the same throughout the repayment period.

Graduated Repayment Plan: A graduated repayment plan varies throughout the repayment period. A graduated repayment plan starts with smaller monthly payments and increases over time.For a limited time, the monthly payment is typically interest only and smaller than the standard repayment plan.

Income-Sensitive Repayment Plan: An income-sensitive repayment plan is based on monthly gross income and your amount of student loan debt. The monthly loan payment is based on a fixed percentage of gross monthly income, between 4% and 25%.

Income-Based Repayment (IBR): Income-Based Repayment (IBR) is an example in an income-driven repayment plan, which lowers your monthly payment based on your discretionary income. With an income-driven payment, your monthly payment may be as low as $0.

Income-Based Repayment (IBR): Income-Based Repayment (IBR) is an example in an income-driven repayment plan, which lowers your monthly payment based on your discretionary income. With an income-driven payment, your monthly payment may be as low as $0.

25-Year Extended Repayment Plan: The 25-Year Extended Repayment Planlowers your monthly payment and extends the repayment plan from 10 years to 25 years.To qualify, you must have a current loan balance of at least $30,000 and your student loans were disbursed after October 7, 1998.

Student loan borrowers with federal student loans also have access to income-driven repayment plansstudent loan forgivenessforbearance and deferment.

Nelnet also helps you manage your private student loans, which Nelnet calls "alternative loans.” While federal student loans have more repayment options, Nelnet asks borrowers to contact them to discuss any difficulty with student loan repayment. You can also refinance your private student loans to get a lower interest rate. When you refinance student loans, you can save thousands of dollars and pay off your student loans faster. You’ll need a good to strong credit score, recurring income and low debt-to-income ratio. You can compare the latest student loan refinancing rates and find the best lender for you.

How to make student loan payments to Nelnet

Nelnet offers several ways to pay off student loans. You can sign up for auto pay and have your monthly student loan payments directly debited from your bank account. When you sign up for auto pay, you may receive a reduction in your student loan interest rate. You can also pay online on the Nelnet website.You can use your Nelnet student loans login. When you register on the Nelnet website, you will create user ID and password. To make a payment, you can sign in, click "Payments" and enter your payment information.

Other options to pay student loans include through the Nelnet mobile app and by phone, mail and bill pay.

How to contact Nelnet customer service

There are various ways to contact Nelnet customer service:

Nelnet Phone Number: 1-888-486-4722

Nelnet Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern

Nelnet Website: Nelnet.com

Nelnet Email: Help@Nelnet.net or send an email with this Nelnet online email form

Nelnet Social Media: Nelnet Facebook and Nelnet Twitter

Nelnet Fax Number: 1-877-402-5816

Nelnet Customer Login: https://www.nelnet.com/account/login

Nelnet Upload Documents: You can upload documents to your Nelnet online account.

Where to Send Payments To Nelnet: You should send your payment to Nelnet based on your account number.You can find your account number on your account statement. Account numbers are preceded by “E,”“D,” or “J”:

Payments for accounts beginning with “E” to:

U.S. Department of Education
P.O. Box 2837
Portland, OR 97208-2837

Payments for accounts beginning with “D” to:

Nelnet
P.O. Box 2970
Omaha, NE 68103-2970

Payments for accounts beginning with “J” to:

Nelnet
P.O. Box 2877
Omaha, NE 68103-2877

Documents related to deferment, forbearance, repayment plans, or enrollment status changes:

Nelnet
Attn: Enrollment Processing
P.O. Box 82565
Lincoln, NE 68501-2565

Documents related to loan discharge or forgiveness claims:

Nelnet
Attn: Claims
P.O. Box: 82505
Lincoln, NE 68501-2505

Documents related to bankruptcy claims:

Nelnet
Attn: Claims
P.O. Box: 82505
Lincoln, NE 68501-2505

Nelnet Mailing Address For General Correspondence:

Nelnet
P.O. Box 82561
Lincoln, NE 68501-2561
Fax: 877.402.5816

California Residents:
P.O. Box 82578
Lincoln, NE 68501-2578
WrittenRequest@nelnet.net

How to file acomplaint against Nelnet

If you want to complain about Nelnet customer service or file a complaint against Nelnet as your student loan servicer, you have several options. First, you can file a complaint with Nelnet’sstudent loan ombudsman. You can contact the Nelnet student loan ombudsman by calling 1-888-486-4722 or email nelnetcustomersolutions@nelnet.net.

You can mail a complaint to:

Nelnet Guarantor Solutions
P.O. Box 82561
Lincoln, NE 68501-2561

You can also file a complaint against Nelnet with:

You should maintain written communication between you and Nelnet. This may include your monthly statements, records of communication with a Nelnet customer service representative, emails and other correspondence.

You may also contact the U.S. Department of Education Ombudsman:

Phone: 1- 877-557-2575

Mailing Address:

U.S. Department of Education,
Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group
P.O. Box 1843
Monticello, KY 42633

The Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman Information Checklist is helpful to complete before contacting the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman.

Let's mentor your money

Get the latest personal finance advice delivered directly to your inbox.
Newsletter Subscription