Federal Perkins Loan Repayment

Important:  The Federal Perkins Loan program ended in 2017. No new Perkins Loans are being given out. Also, Perkins Loans were not included in the federal student loan payment pause that ended on December 31, 2022.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your current Perkins Loan, please contact our billing servicer, ECSI, directly by phone at 888-549-3274 or by live chat through their 'Contact Us' page to speak to a representative. For questions regarding other financial aid, including other Federal Direct loans, please refer to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Repayment of Perkins Loan

• You must start repaying your Perkins Loan 9 months after you:
  • Graduate
  • Leave school
  • Drop enrollment below half time status
• GW’s Perkins Loans are managed by Heartland ECSI. You can:
  • View your loan details
  • Make payments
  • Get electronic bills
  • Apply for deferment, forbearance, or cancellation

Visit https://heartland.ecsi.net/ or call 888-549-3274 for help.

Once in repayment, Perkins Loans are eligible for deferment, forbearance and cancelation. Applications for these options are available on the Heartland ECSI website. Perkins Loans that go into default are subject to acceleration (entire balance becomes due at once), fees, collection costs, wage garnishment, and assignment to the Department of Education. Failure to pay will result in a hold on your account. This hold will remain until the balance has been resolved. 

Loan Rehabilitation Program

If your Perkins Loan is in default, you may qualify for a one-time Loan Rehabilitation Program. Upon successful completion of 9 consecutive on-time monthly payments, all negative credit reporting is removed and the loan is no longer considered delinquent. 

To apply, contact the collection agency currently in possession of your loan:

• General Revenue Corporation: 1-888-710-6817 or www.generalrevenue.com
• Reliant Capital Solutions: 1-866-837-5096 or www.reliantcapitalsolutions.com

Exit Loan Counseling

• If you’re graduating, withdrawing, or dropping below half-time, you must complete exit counseling for your Perkins Loan. Exit counseling covers:
  • Your rights and responsibilities
  • How repayment works
  • What happens if you don’t pay

You’ll also need to update your contact and job information.

The exit interview is a Federal requirement and failure to complete it will result in the loss of university services, including access to your diploma. Please note that this requirement is separate from the exit interview that is online for your Direct Loans. For the Perkins loan exit interview process, you must contact ECSI at 1-888-549-3274 or visit their website.

Helpful Links

• If you are already a Perkins loan recipient and have questions regarding your loan, please contact ECSI at 1-888-549-3274.
• Locate your Federal Loans:
• Telephone – Federal Student Information Center: 800-433-3243
• Online – nslds.ed.gov
• Learn more about loan consolidation or begin an application at studentaid.gov.