Grace Period

Your grace period is the amount of time you have before your first payment is due. Payments are not required during your grace period; however, you can begin repaying your loans before the grace period ends. Making payments early and often will save you money, lower your overall balance, and may even shorten you loan repayment term. Review your promissory note for details about your grace period.

 

State Loan Programs

• Alaska Student Loan *
• Alaska Supplemental Education Loan
• Family Education Loan
• Alaska Teacher Education Loan
• Guaranteed Student Loan

* State education loans from program inception through the 2001-02 school year are identified as Alaska Student Loans (ASL). State education loans awarded after the 2002 school year are identified as Alaska Supplemental Education Loans (ASEL). It is important to note that terms and conditions associated with these loans vary.

 

Standard Repayment

A fixed monthly payment pays off the loan within a 10- or 15-year period, based on the year you received your loan and the type of loan you received. ACPE establishes the standard schedule for you. You pay the least amount in finance charges on this repayment plan.

Extended Repayment

 ACPE will allow borrowers to extend their loans to a 15 year repayment term in certain circumstances.  Finance charges are higher if borrowers opt to extend their loans, and there are no penalties for paying loans off early. 

Temporary Payment Reduction

Your monthly payment is reduced when you experience a short-term financial hardship. After this temporary period, your loan payments increase so you pay your loan off within the scheduled repayment period. This option does not bring your loan payments current.

Auto-Pay Discount

Auto-Pay Discount: You may be eligible to receive a 0.25% interest rate reduction on your loan by authorizing ACPE 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.

To qualify for the Auto-Pay discount, set-up recurring payments that meet the following conditions:

• 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.

How to Repay State Education Loans

Responsible repayment of your student loans is an essential part of building a solid financial future. You can successfully repay your state education loans by following these four simple steps:

1. Manage your account online.
   ACPE borrowers have the option of managing their accounts online. Accessing your online account is a secure and convenient way to review your loan balances and due dates, to schedule payments and view monthly statements, and much more. This is a great way to track and update your account 24 hours a day!
2. Understand your repayment obligation.
   
   You will receive a letter approximately 45 days before repayment is scheduled to begin that will provide your repayment terms. This repayment disclosure will include the following information:
   • The monthly payment amount, due date, and number of payments
   • The balance you owe on your loan
   • Information about rates, fees, and finance charges
   
   Approximately three weeks before your first payment is due, ACPE will provide you with a monthly billing statement.
3. Make your payments on time.
   
   Pay your student loans on time, all the time. If you think you have missed a payment, or you might need to make a late payment, be sure you know how delinquency and default will impact you. Remember that delinquency has serious consequences.
    
4. Contact ACPE if you are not able to pay the amount due.
   
   If you are having trouble making your payments, ACPE offers a variety of repayment options that may meet your needs. As your life circumstances change, these options allow you to change the way you pay back your loans. These can be especially helpful if you are faced with unemployment, or a health or financial crisis.

 

 

Federal Loan Programs

As of 4/1/2020, ACPE has transferred the servicing of all Federal Loan Programs to American Education Services (AES).

Please contact AES for repayment information on your Federal Loans

Phone Number: Customer Service: 800-233-0557
Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST
(3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AKST)

Website: aesSuccess.org  

 

Repayment Assistance

If you are having trouble making payments on your student loans, the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) may be able to help. ACPE offers repayment options tailored to your needs.

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

ACPE services both federal and state loans. Many of our customers have borrowed from each program to finance education expenses. It is important, when considering repayment options, to review your account and review the terms of loans you have borrowed.

 

Deferments

Deferments allow you to temporarily postpone payment of a loan. You must apply and be approved for deferments. It is important to continue making monthly payments until you receive written notice the deferment has been approved.

If you place your loan or loans in deferment, interest accrues and, at the end of your deferment, capitalizes. If you defer payments for a significant amount of time this can substantially increase your loan balances. While this may increase your total repayment obligation, it is generally better then dealing with the potential consequences of delinquency and default.

Payments are not required during periods of deferment. However, ACPE strongly encourages borrowers to pay the monthly interest accrual to avoid increasing the total amount owed.

Deferment for State Loan Programs (click here to view the State Loan Programs)

In-School

This deferment is intended to cover a repayment period when a borrower is enrolled at least half-time as a student. To qualify, the borrower must be attending at least half-time in a course of study, in good standing, at an eligible institution. Medical interns and residents (except dental interns) cannot be certified as enrolled students for the purposes of in-school deferment eligibility, unless they are concurrently enrolled in a Ph.D. program.

 

Unemployment

If you are seeking but unable to obtain full-time employment in the United States, you may qualify for an Unemployment Deferment. This deferment has a 12-month maximum. You may use this deferment only once during the life of the loan. If you request the deferment for less than the 12-month maximum, you will forfeit the remaining months and any unused portion of the deferment period is nontransferable to any future period of unemployment.

 

Active Duty Military

If you are serving full-time active duty in the United States Armed Forces or Public Health Service Commissioned Corps you may be eligible to postpone repayment with a deferment.

 

Hardship

Deferment of payment available to borrowers who are having financial hardship and request temporary relief while experiencing one of the following situations: Natural Disaster, AmeriCorps, Personal Tragedy, Maternity, Seeking Employment outside of the United States. A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard (e.g. flood, tornado, volcano eruption, earthquake, or landslide) that affects the environment, and leads to financial, environmental and/or human losses.

 

Volunteer Service

If you serving as a full-time volunteer for the Peace Corps or a Corporation for National & Community Service Program such as Action, Domestic Service, or VISTA you may be eligible to postpone repayment with a deferment. Volunteer service in the AmeriCorps program is a separate deferment category.

 

Internship/Residency/Graduate Fellowship

If you are serving in an internship/residency program required to begin professional service or practice, or servicing in a graduate fellowship program, you may be eligible to postpone repayment with a deferment.

 

Medical

You may be eligible for a medical deferment if you are 50% or more disabled, and unable to work or attend school, and borrowed loans before the 1996-97 school year; or if you are 100% disabled and unable to work or attend school and you borrowed loans for the 1996-97 school year or after.

 

Forbearance

Forbearance is an option available to students who may not be eligible for a deferment. If you are financially unable to make your student loan payments, you may be eligible for temporary payment suspension. Forbearance will not eliminate any prior derogatory credit history.

If you choose to place your loan or loans in forbearance, interest will accrue, and at the end of your forbearance, it will capitalize.

Forbearing payments for a significant amount of time could substantially increase your loan balances. While this may increase your total repayment obligation, it is generally better then dealing with the potential consequences of delinquency and default.

Payments are not required during periods of forbearance. However, ACPE strongly encourages borrowers to pay the monthly interest accrual to avoid increasing the total amount owed.

 

Qualifying for Forbearance

The following circumstances may qualify a loan for forbearance:
 

• participation in an Internship/Residency program
• participation in a national service position
• eligibility for loan forgiveness/student loan repayment programs
• less than half-time school enrollment
• poor health
• unemployment
• reduction in work hours
• life-changing circumstances

For more information on forbearance or to see if you qualify, contact ACPE.

 

Forgiveness

Some loans have forgiveness available if you meet specific criteria. Forgiveness requirements are often based on your field of employment. The following links are to help you determine if there may be forgiveness benefits available outside ACPE.

• SHARP - http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/HealthPlanning/Pages/sharp/default.aspx
• DHSS/DPH other repayment options - http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/HealthPlanning/Pages/sharp/SFSOptions.aspx

 

Delinquency & Default

Your student loan is considered delinquent when your monthly payment is not received by the due date. If your loan continues in a delinquent status, you may default on your loan. Delinquency and default are very serious, and the consequences can harm your credit and hinder your ability to borrow money for future purchases.

 

State Loan Programs

If your state education loan becomes 180 days past due, you are legally in default. Upon default, collection activities will commence.

 

Consequences of Delinquency and Default

Delinquency and default are serious – that is why we will do our best to help you keep your account current. Failure to repay your loan may result in, but is not limited to:

• Adverse reports to consumer reporting agencies
• Loss of loan deferment rights
• Garnishment of your Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)
• Transfer to an external collection agency
• Additional costs to you for collection and accrued interest
• Administrative wage garnishment
• Lien on property

 

How to Avoid Delinquency and Default

We're here to help educate you on how to make sound financial decisions. Even if you are delinquent on your loan, you can still avoid default. Don't wait until it's too late; contact us early so we can help you choose an option that best fits your situation.

• Always read and respond to correspondence you receive from ACPE
• Carefully read the terms of your promissory note to know your obligations and options
• Keep good records – file important documents where you can locate them quickly
• Monitor your account balance, due date, and payment activity online
• Notify ACPE if you change your address, email, or telephone number
• Contact ACPE if you can't make your scheduled monthly payment; there may be options available to help reduce or even postpone your payment

 

 

Automatic Online Payments

Set up Auto-Pay through your online account. Loan payments will be automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account every month on the date you specify.

• Receive a 0.25% interest rate discount (Click here for more information on our rate discounts)
• Pay on time
•  No more hassle of writing a monthly check

Don't have an online account? Enroll now!

 

One-time Online Payments

Schedule a single payment through your online account, to be deducted from your checking or savings account on the date you specify.

 

Telephone Payments

Make a payment through our Interactive Voice Response System 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, using your checking or savings account information or contact Customer Service during normal business hours.

 

Payments By Mail

Mail check or money order payments to ACPE's Juneau office. Be sure to include the loan account number with the payment.

ACPE
P.O. Box 110510
Juneau, AK 99811-0510

Payments on Behalf of someone else

Employers submitting administrative wage garnishment payments or individuals without an education loan with ACPE can make payments on behalf of a borrower or cosigner by using our secure online payment option powered by US Bank. Pay for another now!
 

Still have questions? We will be happy to chat with you:

Email Customer Service
ACPE@alaska.gov

Contact Customer Service
Toll Free: 800-441-2962
In Juneau: 907-465-2962
TYY: 907-465-3143