The presence of AES student loans has been a fulfilling one for students as it supports the U.S. Department of Education’s ability to service student loans owned by the federal government.
American Education Services (AES) is one of the biggest student loan servicers in the U.S., servicing the federal and private student loans held by millions of students.
This post will explain in detail all you need to know about AES student loans and their functionality.
Before we go further, here’s a brief insight into what will be discussed in the post.
Table of contents
- What Is AES Student Loan?
- What Does American Educational Services Do?
- Are AES Loans Federal or Private?
- How To Create An AES Student Loan Account
- Can I Consolidate AES Student Loans?
- How To Refinance AES Student Loans
- Why would a lender offer lower interest rates?
- How To Repay Your AES Student Loans
- AES Interest Rates and Fees
- How To Negotiate Lower Interest Students Loans On AES Students Loan
- How To Pay Down Principal On AES Student Loans
- AES Student Loans Reviews
- How Can I Contact American Education Services?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions on AES Student Loans
- References
- Author’s Recommendation
American Education Services (AES) is a loan servicing company established by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to guarantee and service a variety of Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and private (alternative) student loan products for our lending partners throughout the nation. PHEAA administers its student loan servicing activities nationally as AES and FedLoan Servicing.
AES is a nationwide leader in providing quality customer service to millions of student loan borrowers through its highly trained and experienced customer service representatives.
What Is AES Student Loan?
American Education Services is a student loan servicing company that manages student loan accounts through repayment.
AES student loan was established by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to guarantee and service a variety of Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and private (alternative) student loan products for our lending partners throughout the nation.
What Does American Educational Services Do?
AES is a national leader in rendering quality customer service to millions of student loan borrowers through its highly trained and experienced customer service representatives.
As a student loan servicer, American Education Services handles the billing and other services required for student loans. AES does not originate student loans but instead acquires loans from other financial institutions like the U.S. Department of Education and other private lenders.
Furthermore, American Educational Services guarantees and services a variety of Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and private (alternative) student loan products for our lending partners throughout the nation.
In addition to the aforementioned functions, AES performs a number of other essential duties including:
- Helping borrowers manage and adjust payment due dates.
- Supporting various federal income-driven repayment plans in addition to the Standard Repayment Plan.
- Qualifying borrowers for student loan discharge and acquittal.
- Aiding borrowers to understand their options for deferment and forbearance in the event that they cannot afford to make payments.
- Making AES Student Loan Payments.
- Operating You Can Deal With It, which offers easy advice on how to deal with common financial situations for college students and recent graduates.
Are AES Loans Federal or Private?
American Education Services, is a loan servicer to millions of borrowers. It Services many Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans and also private loans, too. However, many of the private loans they service are owned by National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts.
How To Create An AES Student Loan Account
To create an American Educational Services loan account, there are certain steps to be followed. However, the first of it all is visiting their official website where you’ll be asked to fill in some personal information and details. The process is highly easy and self-explanatory.
Can I Consolidate AES Student Loans?
Consolidating AES student loans is a fairly easy process with numerous advantages.
Why Consolidate AES Student Loans?
Federal consolidation of AES loans depends on program eligibility. Some federal student loans, such as FFELP loans are not qualified for all of the Income-Driven Repayment Plans and these same loans are not all eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. What consolidation does is to turn the old loans into a federal direct consolidation loan. This new loan can be enlisted in more repayment plans and become eligible for PSLF.
It’s also important to note that;
Not all federal loans can be consolidated to fit all repayment plans and forgiveness programs. For example, including a Parent PLUS loan with other federal loans in a federal direct consolidation means that the new larger loan is not eligible for repayment plans such as Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE).
See also: 8 Types of Financial Support For Your Study Abroad
How To Consolidate AES Student Loans
AES does not actually provide consolidation services. Rather, consolidation is done through the federal government and the Department of Education.
Federal Student Aid provides one website for all federal consolidation applications, regardless of servicer. This means that borrowers who have many federal servicers for their loans will only need to submit a single application.
Also, note that only federal loans can complete federal student loan consolidation. Borrowers who have private loans with AES will only have the choice to refinance.
The federal consolidation application is very easy to fill out, but the actual process can take several weeks or even months. During this time, borrowers will get a letter stating exactly what loans are being consolidated and given a final opportunity to opt out. Once the loans are consolidated, there is no way to change or “un-consolidate” the loans.
How To Refinance AES Student Loans
Refinancing is usually done with a private lender, such as SoFi or LendKey. In refinancing, a borrower’s old student loans are paid off by the refi lender, and a new loan is created. Afterward, the borrower starts repayment with the refinancing company.
The advantage of refinancing is lower interest rates, but it can cause borrowers to lose the perks that went with the old loans.
Refinancing AES student loans is the best way to obtain a lower interest rate on AES loans.
Why Refinance AES Student Loans?
The aim of refinancing is to get better loan terms, which ideally means a lower interest rate. Borrowers may also opt for a longer repayment length, which can mean shortened monthly payments.
All AES student loans are qualified for private refinancing, including both federal and private student loans. However, borrowers with federal student loans should thoroughly consider their options before refinancing. Once the old loan is paid off in full, the loan terms go with it.
That is to say, borrowers who refinance lose access to the federal repayment plans and student loan forgiveness programs.
How Do I Refinance AES Student Loans?
Borrowers wishing to refinance their AES loans need to apply with a student loan refinancing company. Currently, there are about 20 different lenders providing refinancing services.
Once approved, borrowers will send the AES loan information to the refinance company, normally in the form of a recent bill or a payoff statement.
The refinance company then sends a check to AES, and the AES loan is officially off the books. Borrowers should be sure to get a paid in full letter from AES indicating that their debt has been paid off. The borrower then repays the refinance lender according to the new loan terms.
Why would a lender offer lower interest rates?
Student loan refinancing has become a highly competitive, profitable industry for many lenders. They profit by classifying borrowers who are most likely to repay their loans.
As college students without a degree or a job, most student loan borrowers are a risky bet and frequently end up with higher interest rates. As graduates with a degree and a job, and usually a better credit history, these borrowers are far more likely to repay their debt. If a lender concludes that a borrower is unlikely to miss payments, they will offer a more favorable interest rate. At present, refinance rates start around 2%.
How To Repay Your AES Student Loans
There are convenient options available to albeit easy payback of your student loans.
You can repay AES students loans via various means ranging from- Direct Debit, Online Payment, Payment via Mobile App, Payment by Phone, Via US mail, and Pay by Third-Party Bill-Pay.
How to repay Via Direct Debit
Direct Debit sets up an electronic subtraction from your checking or savings account on your due date each month. Since your loan payment happens automatically, it’s applied effectively on your due date, even if your due date falls on a weekend or holiday.
Benefits of Direct Debit
- Direct Debit is a handy way to make your student loan payments—on time, every month.
- Direct Debit is free. Also, you may even qualify for an interest rate reduction while actively making payments on Direct Debit.
- Set up an electronic subtraction from your checking or savings account on the same date each month.
- Since your loan payment happens automatically, nothing goes wrong as long as funds are available.
Please Note: Continue making payments until you receive confirmation that Direct Debit will extract your next payment.
Payment Timeline
A Direct Debit payment credits to your account on the day the payment is due, even if your due date is a weekend or holiday. It usually posts to your account within 2 business days of the due date. Afterward, AES credit your payment to your account a few days before you can see it online in Account Access.
Paying extra:
- You can easily target extra payment amounts to special loans online.
- Or you can request in writing that AES reapply extra payments to specific loans through providing specific instructions.
Please note: Paying extra may place your loans into paid ahead status.
Through Account Access, your online account management tool, AES makes it easy for you to modify your Direct Debit service. In Account Access you can:
- Change your bank account information.
- Update and target extra funds for specific loans.
- Add a loan not covered by your existing Direct Debit Agreement.
- Cease your Direct Debit service.
- Cancel your Direct Debit service.
How To Make Online Payments
Paying online offers a one-time payment option.
Benefits of Paying Online
- Make payments anytime, day or night.
- Schedule payments in advance to suit your schedule.
- Save your bank accounts for future payments.
- Pay using any of your saved bank accounts
- Target extra payments to specific loans.
Get Started
| Step 1 | Sign in to Account . Access. |
|---|---|
| Step 2 | Click “Make a Payment.” |
| Step 3 | Enter payment information—you can save your bank account for future use. |
| Step 4 | Hit the “Make a Payment” button and relax for another month. |
Note: This is a one-time payment. To fix automatic monthly payments, sign up for Direct Debit.
Payment Timeline
You can select any day for online payment. Payments are typically posted to your account within 2 business days of the effective date you select. AES may credit your payment to your account a few days before you can see it online in Account Access.
Paying extra: You have the option to target extra payments to specific loans. Paying extra may place your loans into paid ahead status.
Payment Via Mobile App
Benefits of Paying by Mobile App
- You can make payments anytime.
- Target extra funds to specific loans.
- Have your bank routing number and account number ready in order to set up an electronic payment.
- Cache your bank accounts for future payments, or pay using any of your saved bank accounts.
How to Get Started
| Step 1 | Download our mobile app via App Store or Google Play |
|---|---|
| Step 2 | Sign in using your username and password. |
| Step 3 | Tap the “Payment” button. |
| Step 4 | Enter or choose your payment information. |
Your mobile app payment is fitted to all loans on your account. Review our payment application section for more details.
Payment Timeline
Any payment you make using AES mobile app is valid the day you submit the payment. These payments are typically posted to your account within 2 business days of that date. After that, AES credits your payment to your account a few days before you can see it online in Account Access.
Paying extra: You have the option to target extra payments to specific loans. Paying extra may place your loans into paid ahead status.
How To Pay by Phone
To pay by phone, you have to;
- Call 1-800-233-0557 to make payments anytime.
- Select the date the payment will be made—up to 60 days in the future—when you know the funds will be accessible.
- Have your 10-digit AES account number and date of birth on-hand for identification purposes.
- Have your bank routing number and account number ready in order to set up an electronic payment.
- Save your bank account information for future payments or pay using any of your saved bank accounts.
Your phone payment is spread automatically among all loans on your account. For more details on how these payments are applied, please review our payment application examples.
If you want to target specific payment amounts to each loan, make an online payment instead.
Payment Timeline
You can select any day for a phone payment. Payments are typically posted to your account within 2 business days of the effective date you select.
Paying extra: You have the option to target extra payments to specific loans. Paying extra may place your loans into paid ahead status.
How To Pay By Us Mail
Make your check or money order payable to American Education Services through
American Education Services
P.O. Box 65093
Baltimore, MD 21264-5093
Make sure you include your AES account number on your check. If you are a cosigner or endorser, please include your AES account number. Only send payments to this address. Send any other correspondence to our correspondence address.
Please note
- Paper checks are done electronically. This means your bank account and routing numbers will be captured from your check and electronically subtract a one-time payment from your account.
- Do not secure your check or money order to other documents with staples, paperclips, or similar. You should attach your account number on any extra correspondence associated with your check or money order.
Payment Timeline
You can mail your payment at least 5 to 7 business days before your due date to ensure it’s received on time. These payments are valid on the date it was received, or on the next business day in the case of a weekend or holiday. Mailed payments are posted to your account within 2 business days of the date received. Your payment may credit to your account 1 or more days before you can see it online in Account Access.
Paying extra: You have the option to target extra payments online or request in writing for extra payments to specific loans. Paying extra may place your loans into paid ahead status.
How To Pay by Third Party Bill-Pay Services
If you wish to use a bill-pay service or pay through your bank, be sure that the right AES address is fixed so that your payment is sent to the right place.
Also, keep the following information in mind:
- AES doesn’t have the capacity to offer any interest rate reductions or incentives for automatic payments set up through a third party.
- If your bill-pay service mails a payment, it will be active the date it is received, or on the next business day in the case of a weekend or holiday.
- Your bill-payer may not include any additional instructions or text when they tender your payment, such as in the “memo” text.
Payment Timeline
The payment will be effective on the date of reception from your bill-payer service. These payments are typically posted to your account within 2 business days of that date. Your payment may credit to your account a few days before you can see it online in Account Access.
Paying extra: You can target extra payments to specific loans. Paying extra may place your loans into paid ahead status.
For further inquiries, you can visit the official website below
AES Interest Rates and Fees
If you have student loans serviced by American Education Services, it’s vital that you understand that AES does not fix the interest rates on your loans.
The U.S. Congress sets the interest rates for federal student loans, and the interest loans on private student loans are placed by the individual private lender who originated the loan.
Finding what the interest rate is for your student loans being serviced by AES can be done through;
- Logging into your account and navigating to your loan details
- Contacting an AES student loan representative to ask
- Looking at your monthly student loan statement
- Logging into the National Student Loan Database (NSLDS) to view your student loan details
How To Negotiate Lower Interest Students Loans On AES Students Loan
Since AES does not set the interest rates on your student loans, your options for reducing your rates with AES are limited. By signing up for AES’s direct debit payment option, you may qualify for a .25% interest reduction.
Otherwise, if you want to change the interest rates on your student loans, you will need to consider refinancing your student loans.
How To Pay Down Principal On AES Student Loans
The principal is the amount you borrowed. Paying down the principal can be said to be a way of offsetting the actual amount of money borrowed. It doesn’t involve interest rates.
Clearing off principal can on AES student loans is done via the following ways; Targeting and processing payment.
Targeting Payments
If you want to pay more than the least amount owed on your bill, targeting the extra funds to precise loans may be your best option. Paying extra and targeting your payments avails you the following;
- It lets you choose where you want the extra money to go.
- It may reduce the interest you will pay over time.
- It can save you money in the long run.
You may wish to target the extra funds to unsubsidized loans, loans with high balances, or loans with higher interest rates.
If you pay more than the total amount due and don’t target your payment, the extra cost will be directed toward a future bill (if you have one) unless you qualify for a $0.00 payment with Income-Based Repayment. The extra amount is scattered across your loans based on the amount due for each loan.
NOTE: Paying more than the minimum amount due could place your account in a paid-ahead status.
Target Payments Online
Simply sign in to Account Access to target payment amounts to specific loans. You must pay AT LEAST the minimum amount due on each loan sequence, or your account will go past due.
The easiest way to target your payments is to pay online. However, if you want to have all of your future extra payments applied similarly, you can write to us and provide standing instructions.
Payment Processing
Payment Transactions
AES doesn’t accept payment transactions on weekends or holidays. However, payments made on a weekend or holiday will be effective on the reception date, but it may take a few days to process or to post to your account.
Therefore, you should submit payments for due dates falling on a weekend or holiday on the business day before your due date. Payments made will be credited to your account a few days before you can see it online in Account Access.
Payment Application
When you make a payment, the number of days since your last payment will be processed to determine how much interest has accrued since that time.
Your payment is applied in one of two ways, depending on your lender and loan type.
- Accrued interest > Late fee (if applicable) > Current principal balance
- Late fee (if applicable) > Accrued interest > Current principal balance
AES Student Loans Reviews
Student borrowers typically do not have any say over who their federal student loan servicer will be. Therefore, it is important that you have all of the information you need and understand what your servicer is and isn’t allowed to do.
As with any financial organization, AES has gained many reviews from student borrowers nationwide.
While many customers are satisfied with the services and customer care provided, a number of reviewers of American Education Services have expressed dissatisfaction with the AES billing process, indicating poor communication or ill-informed loan representatives as concerns.
You can read further customer reviews of AES at the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
How Can I Contact American Education Services?
For borrowers who fall under AES, you can visit their official website for more information on available options.
You can also get to them via the following channels;
In order to ensure borrower privacy and security, AES requires you to sign into your account in order to send a secure email to AES representatives.
Phone
You can reach AES by phone at 800-233-0557.
You can send general correspondence to:
American Education Services
P.O. Box 2461
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2461
Social Media
In addition to using their social channels to publish and distribute valuable, informative content with a goal of educating and empowering borrowers, you can reach out to AES representatives via its social channels:
Facebook
Twitter
Live Chat
Available within each student’s account, live chat offers students an instant communication mode with AES loan counsellors.
Conclusion
As a student loan servicer, American Education Services handles the billing and other services required for student loans. It does not originate student loans but instead acquires loans from other financial institutions like the U.S. Department of Education and other private lenders.
Frequently Asked Questions on AES Student Loans
AES is a national leader in rendering quality customer service to millions of student loan borrowers through its highly trained and experienced customer service representatives.
American Education Services, is a loan servicer to millions of borrowers. It Services many Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans and also private loans, too. However, many of the private loans they service are owned by National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts.
Yes, AES is a legit loan servicing company.
You can repay an AES student’s loans via various means ranging from- Direct Debit, Online Payment, Payment via Mobile App, Payment by Phone, Via US mail, and Pay by Third-Party Bill-Pay.
Yes, you can refinance your AES student loan through a private lender. Doing so can facilitate a lower monthly payment or massive savings over the life of your loan.
References
