Student Loans
Student Loan Default: Consequences and the Two Routes Out
What default triggers, how rehabilitation and consolidation differ, and how each affects your credit record.
By Sarah Mitchell · Reviewed by Legamoney Mortgage & Lending Desk
Default is a status with legal consequences, not just a late payment. Rehabilitation and consolidation are the two exits, and they differ on credit reporting.
Key takeaways
- Default is a status with legal consequences, not just a late payment. Rehabilitation and consolidation are the two exits, and they differ on credit reporting.
- Default typically follows 270 days of non-payment on federal loans.
- Rehabilitation removes the default record from the credit file; consolidation does not.
- Wage garnishment and tax-refund offset are administrative and do not require a court order.
In this guide
- What matters here
- Point by point
- Default typically follows 270 days of non-payment on federal loans
- Rehabilitation removes the default record from the credit file; con…
- Wage garnishment and tax-refund offset are administrative and do no…
- Rehabilitation is available once per loan
- A short review checklist
- Questions worth asking
- Worked repayment context
- Practical next steps
What matters here
- Default typically follows 270 days of non-payment on federal loans.
- Rehabilitation removes the default record from the credit file; consolidation does not.
- Wage garnishment and tax-refund offset are administrative and do not require a court order.
- Rehabilitation is available once per loan.
Point by point
Default typically follows 270 days of non-payment on federal loans
Default typically follows 270 days of non-payment on federal loans. This is the part most people skip, and it is where student loan repayment costs money quietly rather than obviously.
Rehabilitation removes the default record from the credit file; con…
Rehabilitation removes the default record from the credit file; consolidation does not. Write the answer down before you act on it — an undocumented assumption here is impossible to audit later.
Wage garnishment and tax-refund offset are administrative and do no…
Wage garnishment and tax-refund offset are administrative and do not require a court order. Check this against your own paperwork rather than a general guide, because the terms differ between providers.
Rehabilitation is available once per loan
Rehabilitation is available once per loan. If this changes, everything downstream of it changes too, so review it whenever your circumstances move.
A short review checklist
- Confirm which of the points above actually applies to your situation — several will not.
- Gather the documents that prove each figure you are relying on.
- Model the outcome with your own numbers before accepting anyone else's summary.
- Note the date you checked, because rules and rates on student loan repayment change.
- Keep a copy of any written confirmation you receive.
Questions worth asking
- How does this apply to you: default typically follows 270 days of non-payment on federal loans?
- How does this apply to you: rehabilitation removes the default record from the credit file; consolidation does not?
- How does this apply to you: wage garnishment and tax-refund offset are administrative and do not require a court order?
- How does this apply to you: rehabilitation is available once per loan?
Treat the list above as the agenda for a single sitting. Working through 4 specific questions with your own paperwork in front of you settles more about student loan repayment than reading another general explanation, and it produces a written record you can revisit when something changes.
Worked repayment context
Standard 10-year payments at common balances
| Balance | 5.5% rate | 6.5% rate | 7.5% rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $217.05 | $227.10 | $237.40 |
| $40,000 | $434.11 | $454.19 | $474.81 |
| $60,000 | $651.16 | $681.29 | $712.21 |
| $100,000 | $1,085.26 | $1,135.48 | $1,187.02 |
Practical next steps
- Pull your full loan list from the federal aid system so nothing is missed.
- Note the loan type and servicer for each — eligibility follows the loan type.
- Model the payment under the standard plan and one income-driven plan.
- Document every certification you file, with dates.
Sources
- 01Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov)
Primary source for federal loan limits, repayment plans and forgiveness rules.
- 02Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Student loans
Regulator guidance on servicing, repayment and borrower protections.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find every loan I hold?
Your federal aid account lists all federal loans and servicers. Private loans appear only on your credit report.
Can I change repayment plans later?
Federal borrowers can change plans at any time without a fee. Private lenders rarely allow it.
Does refinancing federal loans lose these options?
Yes. Refinancing with a private lender permanently removes access to federal repayment plans and forgiveness.
Editorial transparency
- Written by
- Sarah Mitchell — Consumer credit writer — personal loans, debt and credit scores
- Reviewed by
- Legamoney Mortgage & Lending Desk — Editorial desk — mortgages, home equity, and consumer credit
- How this was researched
- Worked with the standard published formula for this calculation and checked against the primary sources listed below.
- Corrections
- Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct and re-date the page. See our editorial policy.
- Advertising disclosure
- Ad placements are clearly labelled and never influence editorial judgement or the ordering of comparisons.
About the author
Sarah Mitchell covers borrowing outside the mortgage: personal loans, credit cards, student debt, debt payoff strategy and how credit scoring actually works. She uses CFPB guidance, the Federal Reserve's G.19 consumer credit release and the federal student aid rules as her reference points, and shows payoff arithmetic in full. She works with the Legamoney Mortgage & Lending Desk.
How this article was checked
- Every factual claim is traced to a named regulator, government agency, or the provider's own published terms before publication.
- Figures that change — rates, limits, thresholds — link to the primary source that publishes them rather than being quoted as a fixed number.
- Worked examples are shown as full arithmetic so a reader can reproduce the result independently.
- Each guide is checked by the owning editorial desk before it is published, and again whenever the underlying rules change.
Covers: Personal loans and loan comparison maths · Credit cards, interest accrual and payoff plans · Debt management and consolidation · Credit scores, reports and disputes
Reviewed by
Disclaimer
Figures on this page are worked examples produced with standard formulas and the assumptions stated. They are not an offer, a quote, or personalised financial advice. Consult a qualified professional before acting on any information here. Read our full disclaimer.