Great Lakes Student Loans Review 2022: Is It the Best Service for Federal Loans?

Great Lakes Student Loan Overview

Great Lakes provides student loan servicing to millions of students. A loan servicer does not own the loan or set the rates. It is an institution chosen to handle payments and customer queries on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.

Great Lakes has partnered with more than 6,000 schools and 1,000 lenders to provide aid for all of its members. It also has professional financial aid representatives to help students plan loan repayments from start to finish.

Key Features

Great Lakes has several notable features. Here’s a closer look at each one.

Loans

For the most part, Great Lakes deals with federal loan servicing, but it does offer private loan processing solutions with two partnered brands: FastChoice and ScholarNet. 

As a federal loan servicer, Great Lakes does not determine interest rates. The current fixed rate for federal undergraduate Stafford Loans is 3.73%, but this is set to increase to 4.99% for loans disbursed from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.

Payment

Payments by student loan borrowers can be made in several ways, including:

• Mail
• Check
• Phone
• Website
• App

Great Lakes allows borrowers to set up flexible payment options such as autopay and income-driven payment plans. It also will provide advice on postponing payments and changing due dates.

Additional Features

Great Lakes gives borrowers alternative recourse in regard to postponing, deferring or setting up new repayment plans. These options are available in the event of unemployment or when a borrower is serving in the military. 

Teachers in low-income communities, full-time public service workers and people with disabilities can also qualify for Great Lakes student loan forgiveness in certain circumstances.

Customer Service

Great Lakes has a team of financial aid professionals ready to assist borrowers with whatever they need. The primary contact number for Great Lakes is (800) 236-4300, although it offers a number of other methods of contact for customer queries. Borrowers can also get in touch by:

• Mail
• Email
• Fax
• Live chat support through its web platform
• Social media: Facebook and Twitter

Great Lakes has 3.8 stars on the Google Play Store, but complaints have arisen in relation to basic functionality and errors when logging in. 

How Great Lakes Student Loans Stand Out

Great Lakes stands out for its educational material and customer support resources. The platform is relatively easy to navigate and provides customers with freedom of choice when it comes to managing student loans. 

Comparable Great Lakes Options

Here’s a closer look at how Great Lakes student loans stack up against other designated servicers.

Great Lakes vs. Mohela

Great Lakes has a more comprehensive customer service suite than Mohela. Great Lakes has live online chat support, whereas Mohela does not. Great Lakes keeps its phone lines open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, and Mohela only operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the same days. 

Great Lakes vs. HESC

Great Lakes and Higher Education Servicing Corporation (HESC) both offer private and federal student loans. However, HESC only works with a handful of providers, whereas Great Lakes is partnered with ScholarNet and FastChoice, which provide a range of solutions. 

ScholarNet connects borrowers with every major private student loan provider. FastChoice compares all choices, which gives borrowers more customization and flexibility.

How To Apply

To apply for a federal student loan, the borrower must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, also known as a FAFSA. 

Borrowers do not get to choose or change their federal student loan servicer, but if they choose to consolidate loans, they can indicate a servicer preference in the application. 

If a borrower is assigned Great Lakes as their student loan servicer, they can set up their account online. They will be required to fill out basic details such as their Social Security number and date of birth to acquire a login. 

Who Great Lakes Student Loans Are Best For

Great Lakes is great for those who require hands-on customer support, as it allows them to handle all student loans in one place. Borrowers get flexible payment options, professional support and access to the Great Lakes Knowledge Center, which provides relevant ongoing insights for student loans.

Final Take

Overall, Great Lakes is one of the top performers when it comes to federal student loan servicing. For private student loans, borrowers may want to explore other options. But generally, it performs well for those who want to manage their loans all in one place.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Great Lakes. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Great Lakes.

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