Options
Student Information
Student Options
Several options exist if you are having difficulty making your student loan payments. If you have been contacted by Pantheon, please call us so a Student Loan Counselor can assist you in the best course of action.
REMEMBER: after defaulting, a borrower is no longer eligible for deferment or forbearance and must make on time payments for nine (9) consecutive months to be considered out of default. By taking action and making arrangements to make student loan payments, defer or forebear, you can avoid default.
If you can’t afford the standard payment plan, there are alternative plans to lower your monthly payments. Our Student Loan Counselors can provide you information to determine which option is right for you.
- Graduated Repayment
- Income Contingent Repayment
- Income Sensitive Repayment
- Income Based Repayment
- Extended Repayment
This option bundles multiple federal loans into one easy-to-manage loan and can reduce monthly payment amounts.
To qualify for consolidation, you must be in a grace period or current on repayment.
Deferment options allow you to temporarily suspend loan payments based on specific circumstances. Deferments are entitlements but require documented proof of eligibility. Loan interest does not accrue for subsidized loans during deferment.
If you are currently in school, you may qualify for in-school deferment. Criteria includes:
- Borrower must be a student attending an accredited university at least 50% of the time.
- Borrower must be unemployed.
If you are not working and are interested in deferring your student loans, there are available options to defer payments. Criteria includes:
- Borrower must reapply every six (6) months for a maximum of three (3) years.
- Borrower must provide verification and proof s/he has either made six (6) diligent attempts to seek employment in a period of six (6) months, or provide documentation of eligibility of unemployment benefits.
If you are experiencing economic hardship, you may qualify for an economic hardship deferment. See deferment form for more information on eligibility. Requirements include:
- Borrower must reapply every twelve (12) months for a maximum of three (3) years.
- Required documentation must be attached to application form.
If you are an active-duty member of the armed forces, you may qualify for military deferment. Requirements include:
- Borrower must be an active-duty member of the military.
- The deferment is available for a maximum of three (3) years.
Forbearance allows the borrower to temporarily suspend student loan payments based on specific circumstances. There are eligibility requirements for all the types of forbearance, and you will have to submit documentation to apply. Interest continues to accrue for all loan types when a loan is in forbearance.
Borrowers may be able to get a student loan forbearance if they are:
- Experiencing financial difficulties, such as medical expenses or changes in income;
- Serving in AmeriCorps;
- Performing service that would qualify you for partial loan forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Defense;
- Working in a medical or dental internship or residency;
- Serving in the National Guard;
- Have student loan payments that are high in relation to your income; or
- Working as a teacher to qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness.