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Education Loan

Frequently Asked Questions


EDUCATION LOAN OUTSOURCING

ACPE is partnering with CampusDoor and American Education Services (AES) to provide Alaskans with new education loan application processing and servicing for all your student and family education loan needs.

Transferring loan application processing and servicing of our education loans will result in efficiencies, cost reductions and savings, which will allow ACPE to offer education loans to students and parents with the lowest interest rates possible.

Early 2022, CampusDoor began processing all new education loan applications offered by ACPE. ACPE’s partnership with CampusDoor does not diminish ACPE’s role as Alaska’s trusted resource for education loan financing and support. For more information on CampusDoor how to apply, see the FAQs under LOAN APPLICATION PROCESS.

ACPE has partnered with AES to service all ACPE’s education loans starting April 1, 2023. If you have existing education loans being serviced by ACPE, AES will take over the servicing of those loans in April. The transfer of servicing to AES does not affect the terms and conditions of your education loan. The only change going forward will be that your loan is serviced by AES rather than ACPE.

AES is already ACPE’s trusted loan servicing partner for our Federal Family Education Loan Program and newly originated education loans by CampusDoor. AES is a national student loan servicer, with more than 50 years of experience helping borrowers manage and pay off their education loans. AES is a national leader in providing quality customer service to millions of student loan borrowers. AES will provide ACPE education loan borrowers with the following options:

  • Robust online and mobile customer account services to help you manage your account;
  • One-time and recurring payment options;
  • Paperless billing;
  • Convenient, flexible options to make it easy to pay back your student loan; and
  • Tools and resources so you can stay up-to-date and knowledgeable about the world of student loans.

AES will begin sending communications in the coming weeks. ACPE borrowers can expect to receive a welcome packet by mail and a welcome email from AES in early April. The welcome packet will include your new unique 10-digit account number and important information about your education loan(s) included in the transfer. Please ensure your contact information is up-to-date with ACPE to receive these important communications from AES.

At the time of transfer, April 1, 2023, AES will begin migrating your education loan(s) to their servicing system. This conversion process will take up to two weeks to complete before AES account services, such as online account access and payment options, will be available. If you need to make a payment during this interim period, please contact our Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-441-2962 (907-465-2962 in Juneau) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. AKST, except Wednesdays, when phone lines open at 10:00 a.m. AKST.


Once your education loans have been transferred to AES, you can contact them using the following information:

Phone Number: Customer Service: 800-233-0557
Monday – Friday,
(3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST)
Correspondence: American Education Services
P.O. Box 2461
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2461
Payments: American Education Services
P.O. Box 65093
Baltimore, MD 21264-5093
Website: aesSuccess.org

AES’s customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST. In addition, AES offers 24/7 online and self-service telephone options to manage your loans and schedule electronic payments.


ACPE’s customer service is available to assist you during this transition period; however, no changes can be made to your education loan(s) until the conversion process with AES is complete. If you need to make a payment during this interim period, please contact our Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-441-2962 (907-465-2962 in Juneau) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. AKST, except Wednesdays, when phone lines open at 10:00 a.m. AKST.

For assistance with your education loan(s) following the conversion process, please contact AES toll-free at 1-800-233-0557 Monday through Friday, 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST.


At the time of transfer, April 1, 2023, the ACPE online account portal will no longer be available. If you need to make a payment during the conversion process, please contact our Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-441-2962 (907-465-2962 in Juneau) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. AKST, except Wednesdays, when phone lines open at 10:00 a.m. AKST.


Once your education loans have been transferred to AES and the conversion process is complete, you will be able to manage your loans anytime by accessing your online account at aesSuccess.org.

Through AES’ online account access you can get an at-a-glance view of your account including the ability to view loan details, see your monthly bill, schedule a payment and update your address and telephone information. In addition, you will have access to tools and resources so you can stay up-to-date and knowledgeable about your student loans.



Payment Processing


AES will begin accepting payments by mail effective April 1, 2023; however, the process of migrating your education loans to AES’ servicing system may take up to two weeks to complete; therefore, AES’ online and telephone payment options will not be available until April 17, 2023. If you need to make a telephone payment during that time, please contact our Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-441-2962 (907-465-2962 in Juneau) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. AKST, except Wednesdays, when phone lines open at 10:00 a.m. AKST.


You can continue to make your scheduled monthly payments to ACPE until the conversion process with AES is complete, approximately two weeks from the transfer date of April 1, 2023. After that, you must make your loan payments to AES.


If you have a one-time or recurring payment scheduled with ACPE between April 1, 2023 and April 17, 2023, your payment will process as scheduled. However, you will not have the option to modify an existing payment or schedule a new online payment for your loans during this period.

Effective April 17, 2023, ACPE will cancel all payments previously scheduled through ACPE’s online account portal, and you will need to set up a new online payment with AES, at aesSuccess.org.


Your one-time and recurring payments scheduled with ACPE will not transfer to AES. Once the conversion process with AES is complete, you will have the option to schedule one-time and recurring payments with AES, at aesSuccess.org

During the two-week conversion period, ACPE will continue to process one-time and recurring payments previously scheduled through ACPE’s online account portal. These payments will be transferred to AES approximately two-weeks from the transfer date of April 1, 2023. AES will process your payment based on the original payment date.

Customers can make a telephone payment anytime, day or night through AES' Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) system, by calling toll-free 1-800-233-0557. Payments may also be made through a Customer Service Representative, by calling the same number, Monday through Friday, 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST. You will need your 10-digit AES account number and date of birth on-hand for identification purposes. Be sure to have your bank routing number and account number ready to set up an electronic payment. Customers can schedule up to eight (8) payments per month, up to 180 days in the future. Payments are effective the same day the payment is submitted unless a future date is selected. For more information on ways to pay your loan(s) with AES visit aesSuccess.org/manage/repaying_your_loan.

Note, it will take up to two weeks after the transfer before online and telephone payment options are available with AES. If you need to make a telephone payment during that time, please contact our Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-441-2962 (907-465-2962 in Juneau) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. AKST, except Wednesdays, when phone lines open at 10:00 a.m. AKST.


Beginning April 17, 2023, ACPE customers can enroll in AES’ free automatic payment service called Direct Debit. With Direct Debit, AES can electronically withdraw your scheduled monthly payment – along with any additional amount you request from your bank account, on your scheduled due date, the 1st through the 28th of each month. Once your education loans are transferred to AES and the conversion process is complete, you can sign up for AES’ Direct Debit online by visiting aesSuccess.org.

You may be eligible to receive a 0.25% interest rate reduction on your alternative loans by authorizing AES to automatically deduct qualifying loan payments from a checking or savings account during the in-school, grace, and repayment periods. The reduction will remain in effect as long as qualifying automatic payments continue without interruption and the following conditions are met:

  • In-school/Grace/Deferment/Forbearance Period - Payments made during the in-school, deferment and forbearance periods must be a minimum of $50.00 per loan.
  • Repayment Period – Your loan must be current in repayment and payments must be a minimum of $5.00.

Once your education loans are transferred to AES and the conversion process is complete ACPE customers can access AES’ online payment solution and mobile application to make an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payment from a bank account. Customers can schedule up to eight (8) payments up to 180 days in the future. You can make payments effective the same day the payment is submitted or schedule a future date.


AES does not have an online third-party payment service. If a family member or other individual is paying on your loans through ACPE’s online third-party payment system, this service will not transfer to AES. AES will begin accepting payments by mail beginning April 1, 2023. For more information on ways to pay your loan(s) with AES visit aesSuccess.org/manage/repaying_your_loan.

Note, effective April 17, 2023, ACPE will cancel all loan payments previously scheduled through ACPE’s online third-party payment system.

AES does not accept debit or credit cards. Payments can be made from a checking or savings account, or by money order.



Servicing Changes


AES will assign you a unique 10-digit account number to use in place of your ACPE account number. Your AES account number will be provided in the welcome letter that will be sent early April 2023. If you do not receive a welcome packet or email communication from AES in April, please contact ACPE Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-441-2962 (907-465-2962 in Juneau) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. AKST, except Wednesdays, when phone lines open at 10:00 a.m. AKST.


The transfer of servicing to AES will not affect your monthly due date. AES utilizes payment due dates of the 1st through the 28th of each month. However, if you are interested in changing your scheduled due date, please contact AES toll-free at 1-800-233-0557 Monday through Friday, 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST.


Although we fully expect the monthly payment amount you have been paying will remain the same, the process of converting loans to AES’ servicing system may result in a slight change in that amount. Should you experience such a change and have questions about your payment amount after transfer or need repayment assistance, please contact AES toll-free at 1-800-233-0557 Monday through Friday, 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST.


Beginning April 1, 2023, monthly billing statements for your loan(s) will come from AES. AES sends billing statements approximately 21 days prior to your payment due date, giving you plenty of time to make your payment. However, the conversion process will take up to two weeks to complete before AES account information and services will be available. Depending on your monthly due date, you may not receive an April billing statement from AES. If you do not receive a monthly billing statement or you have questions about your billing statement, please contact AES toll-free at 1-800-233-0557 Monday through Friday, 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST.

If you need to make a payment during the conversion process, please contact our Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-441-2962 (907-465-2962 in Juneau) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. AKST, except Wednesdays, when phone lines open at 10:00 a.m. AKST.


Your paperless billing with ACPE will not transfer to AES at conversion. Once the conversion process is complete, you will have the option to enroll in AES’ paperless billing and get monthly email reminders when your payment is due. AES’ paperless billing allows you to sign in and pay or view your bill from the secure Account Access link included in the monthly email reminders.


ACPE borrower benefits you qualify for will transfer with your loans to AES. However, to continue to qualify for the 0.25% interest rate reduction for making automatic payments, you will need to sign-up for AES’ Direct Payment program within 60-days of the transfer.


At the time of transfer, ACPE will report the status of your loans for the applicable month. Each loan listing (tradeline) on your credit report will display as transferred and reflect a zero balance with ACPE. This rating is a final status; no further activity will be reported by ACPE to the credit bureaus for these loans.

AES will begin reporting the status of your loans under a new listing (tradeline) with the credit bureaus. Please note, it may take up to 60 days before your loans will display on your credit report under AES; however, you will see no lapse in your monthly payment history.






Loan Application Process

CampusDoor is ACPE’s trusted loan originations partner, from processing loan applications to seeing loans through to disbursement. Starting in early 2022, CampusDoor began processing all new education loan applications offered by ACPE.

The partnership provides Alaskans with new education loan application processing for your supplemental loan needs. Together, ACPE and CampusDoor support Alaskans in funding their education. The Alaska Student Loan Corporation (ASLC) will continue to finance the loans offered through ACPE.

This means that although your loans are funded by ASLC, CampusDoor will process your loan application and be your contact for any questions regarding the application process.


For questions or assistance with your loan application, please contact CampusDoor’s customer service center using the following information:

Correspondence:  CampusDoor
210 York Street, Suite 200
York, PA 17403
Phone Number:  Customer Service: 855-210-8183
or 717-254-2379
Monday – Friday,
(8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST)
Email:  answers@campusdoor.com

CampusDoor customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST.


If you have questions regarding the loan application process, you can contact CampusDoor’s dedicated team of experts who can assist you through the application process. CampusDoor customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST.


Once your application is processed and disbursed by CampusDoor, your loan will be transferred to American Education Services (AES) for servicing.

AES will send you a welcome letter that will include your account number and other important information about your account.


A good rule of thumb is to apply as soon as you receive your school's financial aid award letter, showing you'll need a source of funds to pay costs not covered by grants, scholarships, or federal aid.

To keep borrowing costs as low as possible, always exhaust all federal and free aid before taking out an education loan. ACPE strongly recommends you complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your financial aid package.

You can take out a no-fee ACPE education loan to cover the remaining cost of attendance expenses not met by grants, scholarships, or federal aid. Start by submitting your ACPE loan application and receive an instant credit decision!

A promissory note is the contract between you and the lender. By signing it you agree to the terms and conditions under which you are borrowing.

Disbursements are scheduled based on your school’s designated disbursement dates for each term of enrollment. Disbursements will be sent directly to your school’s financial aid office prior to the start date of the enrollment period.

If you are applying for an Alaska Education Refinance Loan, funds are sent directly to your lenders to pay off the underlying loans you included in your refinancing loan application.

There are many factors that contribute to your application’s processing time. In general, it can take 1-2 weeks to complete. Your school must certify your enrollment and costs of attendance as part of the application process. Most schools complete this within 3-5 business days; however, there may be delays depending on the time of year and when you submit your application.

Loan Repayment

Alaska Supplemental Education Loan Program – During the loan application process, you will be asked to choose either full deferment or immediate repayment (flat payment). Your selection will determine when you enter repayment and are required to begin making payments.

  • Full Deferment – You make no payments while enrolled in school and during the grace period. Regular principal and interest payments begin when you drop below a half-time status; withdraw from school or graduate, whichever is sooner. You can choose to make payments anytime without penalty to reduce your overall costs but it is not required.
  • Immediate Repayment (Flat Payment) – You pay low fixed monthly payments of $50 per loan while enrolled in school and during the grace period. In-school payments begin upon first disbursement. Regular principal and interest payments will be due after you leave school or drop below a half-time status. You can always make higher monthly payments or extra payments anytime without penalty.

Alaska Family Education Loan Program – The Alaska Family Education Loan is a low-cost option for families to help cover education costs and includes an immediate repayment plan. Family members begin making full principal and interest payments while the student is enrolled full-time in school. Payments begin upon final disbursement of the loan and continue until the loan is paid in full. Monthly installments of at least $50 is required; however, payments can be as much as $500 depending on the total amount borrowed.

The repayment type associated with your loan cannot be changed. If you select Immediate Repayment under the Alaska Supplemental Education Loan program, you are required to make the flat payments of $50 monthly.


The Immediate Repayment plan offers the lowest interest rate, which saves you money on interest and keeps your borrowing costs as low as possible. Low monthly payments of $50 are required under this plan. Failure to make the required payments can result in negative consequences including negative credit reporting, default and possible transfer to a collection agency. If you default on your loan, you may jeopardize your ability to get future loans.

Under the Immediate Repayment plan, no deferment or forbearance options are available during the in-school period. Once you transition into standard repayment, options may be available under certain conditions. Contact your servicer for more information.

The minimum monthly payment is at least $50.00 and is based on the amount of your debt, interest rate and the allowable repayment period (how long you have to repay the debt). When a loan is awarded, you will be presented with a Loan Approval Disclosure that provides an estimated payment. There are no prepayment penalties if you choose to pay more than the required amount.

The Alaska Refinance Loan has a minimum monthly payment of at least $100.00 but is based on the amount to repay the loan within the repayment period. Payments can be as much as $500.00 or greater depending on the total amount borrowed.

FinAid.org offers a variety of financial tools to help you manage your college expenses and education loans. Specifically, there is a loan payment calculator that calculates estimated monthly payment.

If you are having trouble making payments on your education loans, your servicer may be able to help. Whether you have federal or alternative education loans, there are a variety of repayment options available to assist you during financial difficulty. Read more about deferment and forbearance on our Loan Repayment page.

Don't wait until your account becomes delinquent or in defaults. If you are unable to make a payment, contact AES, ACPE's trusted loan servicer, as soon as possible to discuss options that could adjust your repayment schedule and lower, or even postpone, your monthly payments.

Student deferments are available on Alaska Education Loans based on qualifying enrollment. Less than full-time enrollment may not defer full-time loans awarded after July 1, 2015. Be sure to notify AES, ACPE's trusted loan servicer, any time your enrollment status changes. If you default, you are no longer eligible for deferments.

Student deferments are not available for the Alaska Refinance Loan and the Family Education Loan.

If you choose Immediate Repayment (Flat Payment) during the application process, student deferments will not be available while you are in school.


Visit the loan repayment page for more information.
 

Loan Eligibility

In order to receive funding from ACPE, schools must be either:

  • An institution that is eligible to receive Title IV aid, such as Pell Grants or Direct Loans (as determined by the U.S. Dept. of Education)
  • An institution that has been approved by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education to participate in ACPE loan programs.

It is important to know that some schools, such as community colleges, may be Title IV eligible, but may not elect to receive loans from non-federal lenders. Please check with your school's financial aid office verify that they accept non-federal loans before submitting your application to ACPE. For a list of Alaska schools that have been approved to participate in ACPE loan programs, visit https://acpe.alaska.gov/Alaska-Postsecondary-Institutions.


No. As long as you're an Alaska resident, you can qualify for an Alaska Education Loan for attendance at a qualifying institution outside the state.

You should know that if you do attend an Alaska school, you'll receive an interest rate discount.

If you are applying for an Alaska Supplemental Education Loan and are attending a participating school physically located in Alaska, you do not need to be an Alaska resident.

If you plan to attend a school outside of Alaska, and use the Alaska Supplemental Education Loan, you must be a resident of Alaska.

If you are applying for an Alaska Refinance Loan or Family Education Loan, you must be a resident of Alaska. Cosigners for an Alaska Refinance Loan are not required to be a resident of Alaska.

A credit score is a number derived from information in your national credit bureau file, it represents the likelihood that you will be able to repay a loan as required. A credit score does not consider employment or income. Your credit score is based on your previous repayment history, the relationship between available credit and your repayment obligations.

ACPE uses a FICO score, Factual Data. A FICO score is a proprietary credit score, developed by Fair Isaac Company (FICO). FICO scores range from 300-850, the higher the score the better. Read more about credit scores by visiting the Understanding Credit page.

If you don't have a credit history, you can apply with a cosigner who meets the credit history requirement.

A cosigner on a loan assumes responsibility for the loan if the borrower should fail to repay the loan. A cosigner has an independent responsibility to repay the loan and to notify ACPE in the event of changes affecting the cosigner or the student borrower.

ACPE may notify the cosigner of delinquency in repayment, deferments granted, or any repayment agreement that increases the amount due on the loan. You may elect to provide an endorser/cosigner to ensure your application is found to be creditworthy. If you elect to provide an endorser/cosigner in support of your loan request, that person will continue to be a responsible party for the loan even in the event you meet the credit conditions independently.

Amounts vary by enrollment status and degree/certificate program.

For Undergraduate programs:

  • 15+ credits/semester (on-time enrollment) or the equivalent – up to $14,000/year.
  • 12-14 credits/semester (full-time enrollment) or the equivalent – up to $12,500/year.
  • 6-11 credits/semester (half-time enrollment) or the equivalent – up to $7,500/year

For Graduate programs:

  • 9+ credits/semester (full-time enrollment) or the equivalent – up to $15,000/year
  • 6-8 credits/semester (half-time enrollment) – up to $7,500/year.

For Career/Technical Education programs:

  • Non-flight programs – up to $10,000 (Programs must be at least 180 hours over a period of not less than six weeks and result in a certificate.)
  • Flight school programs - up to $10,000 (Not for private pilot programs. Programs must log a minimum of 17 hours/month or 51 hours over a three-month period and result in a certificate.)

For Alaska Refinance Loan

  • There is not a maximum amount you can borrower under the Alaska Refinance Loan.

Note: Students can only borrow the amount needed to cover outstanding costs of attendance, as certified by your school. In addition, there are lifetime borrowing maximums, in the Loan Limits section of our website.

Avoiding Default

Default occurs when you fail to make a series of scheduled minimum monthly payments on your education loan account. Defaulting on your education loan has serious consequences and may begin when a loan becomes 180 days past due. Default and delinquency cause long-term damage to your credit record.

If you default on your loan, any or all of the following may happen:

  • The entire loan balance (principal and interest) becomes immediately due and payable
  • You will lose your deferment options
  • Your loan(s) status will be reported to national credit bureaus, including delinquency and default
  • Your Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) may be garnished and applied to your loan(s)
  • Your wages may be garnished to repay your loan(s)
  • You may lose eligibility to obtain educational aid in the future
  • Your school may withhold copies of your transcripts
  • Your account may be referred to the loan guarantor for additional collection action, which may include income tax garnishment, being sued for the balance of your loan and other collection type activities.
  • Your account may be referred to a collection agency and you may be charged collection fees

Don't wait until your account becomes delinquent or in default. If you are unable to make a payment, contact AES, ACPE's trust loan servicer, as soon as possible to discuss options to adjust your repayment schedule and lower, or even postpone your monthly payments.

  • Read the terms of your promissory note carefully to know your obligations and options
  • Track the status of your loans online at aesSuccess.org
  • Read and respond to any correspondence you receive from ACPE
  • Notify ACPE if you change your address or phone number
  • Notify ACPE if you leave or return to school
  • Contact us immediately if you are unable to make your scheduled monthly payment
  • Learn about and use the deferment, forbearance or repayment plans available to you
  • Ask questions.  The more you learn about your student loans, the more successful you will be in repayment.

call toll free 800-441-2962
or in Juneau 907-465-2962
ACPE@alaska.gov