How can I get out of a delinquent student loan?
Ava Robinson
Published Mar 01, 2026
One way to get out of default is to repay the defaulted loan in full, but that’s not a practical option for most borrowers. The two main ways to get out of default are loan rehabilitation and loan consolidation. While loan rehabilitation takes several months to complete, you can quickly apply for loan consolidation.
What happens if your student loan is delinquent?
If you are delinquent on your student loan payment for 90 days or more, your loan servicer will report the delinquency to the three major national credit bureaus. If you continue to be delinquent, your loan can risk going into default.
What causes student loan delinquency?
This usually starts off as a late or missed payment. When you miss one payment, your student loan is considered to be delinquent. Your federal loan goes into default if the loan amount remains unpaid for 270 consecutive days. Private loans can go into default at any time after the missed payment.
When does a federal student loan become delinquent?
Borrowers should be sure to understand the difference between student loan delinquency and default. The first day after a missed payment, a federal student loan is considered delinquent, and within weeks of missing a payment, your loan servicer can start assessing you late fees.
What happens if you are 15 days late on a student loan?
If you are in delinquency and over 15 days late, the student loan provider will send you a reminder to make the payment immediately. Remember, while being a loan delinquent will not affect your financial situation adversely, it will surely affect your credit score.
What happens when you miss a payment on a student loan?
If you miss a payment on your student loans, you’re considered delinquent. The day after you miss your payment, you technically are in delinquency. Default occurs when you remain in delinquency on student loans for a set period of time. This usually is when you’re delinquent for more than 270 days.
What happens when a student loan goes into default?
A delinquent student loan is typically reported to the credit bureaus after 90 days of missed payments. If a loan continues to be delinquent and goes into default, the default will be reported to the bureaus. As a result, a borrower’s credit score will be lowered, though the amount can vary.