You may have found a new name on your student loan account. That name is often Aidvantage. Many borrowers also got a notice about the SAVE plan ending. That mix can feel stressful.
This guide explains what an Aidvantage student loan really is, who owns it, and what Aidvantage does. It also covers the SAVE plan ending, your new repayment options, and what forbearance means. It is written for federal student loan borrowers in the United States. The facts are current as of October 2026.
Quick Answer: What Is an Aidvantage Student Loan?
Aidvantage is not a lender. It is a company that handles billing and payments for federal student loans. The U.S. Department of Education owns the loan. Aidvantage runs your account, takes your payments, and helps you pick a repayment plan. You owe the debt to the government, not to Aidvantage.
What Is Aidvantage?
Aidvantage is a federal student loan servicer. When Navient transferred a large part of its federal loan portfolio to Aidvantage in 2022, millions of borrowers began hearing from this servicer. Aidvantage is run by Maximus under a contract with the Department of Education.
A servicer is like a middleman. The government is the lender. The servicer sends your bills, posts your payments, and handles forms. If your servicer changes, your loan terms do not change. Your balance, interest rate, and rights stay the same.
How to Check If Aidvantage Is Your Servicer
- Go to StudentAid.gov and log in with your FSA ID.
- Open your dashboard and look at “My Loans.”
- Find the servicer name listed next to each loan.
You can also call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-433-3243. Different loans can have different servicers, so check each one.
What Aidvantage Does and Does Not Do
| Aidvantage does | Aidvantage does not |
|---|---|
| Send bills and take payments | Set your interest rate |
| Process repayment plan applications | Own your loan |
| Handle forbearance and deferment requests | Decide federal law or policy |
| Track forgiveness and PSLF payment counts | Offer private loans on these accounts |
What Happened to the SAVE Plan?
The SAVE plan is over. The Department of Education and the State of Missouri reached a settlement that ends the SAVE plan. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025, also changed the rules for federal repayment plans.
If you were on SAVE, you were likely in a SAVE forbearance. Starting July 1, the roughly 7.5 million people on SAVE were given 90 days to pick a new plan. The 90 days start on the date shown on your notice.
What If You Do Nothing?
If you do not pick a plan, your loans move to a standard plan. Borrowers who do not apply within 90 days see their SAVE forbearance end and payments restart. Missed payments can lead to delinquency and then default. Check the exact deadline in your Aidvantage account or in your notice.
Can You Still Apply for the SAVE Plan?
No. You cannot apply for the SAVE plan anymore. Servicers, including Aidvantage and MOHELA, are denying outstanding SAVE applications at the direction of the Department of Education. If you get a denial letter, it does not mean you did something wrong. It means the plan no longer exists.
Your Repayment Options After SAVE
You have a few choices. The right one depends on your income, family size, loan type, and goals.
| Plan | How payment is set | Forgiveness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAP (Repayment Assistance Plan) | Share of adjusted gross income, with a $10 monthly minimum | After 360 payments (30 years) | Launched July 1, 2026 |
| IBR (Income-Based Repayment) | 10% or 15% of discretionary income | After 20 or 25 years | Still available |
| PAYE (Pay As You Earn) | 10% of discretionary income | After 20 years | Being phased out by 2028 |
| Tiered Standard | Fixed payment over a set term | At payoff | Default if you do nothing |
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)
RAP is the new income-driven plan. Payments range from $10 a month up to 10% of adjusted gross income for people earning more than $100,000. RAP also has rules meant to stop unpaid interest from growing your balance. Forgiveness under RAP comes after 360 on-time payments, which is a longer wait than some older plans.
Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
IBR sets your monthly payment between 10 and 15% of your discretionary income. Discretionary income is the part of your income above a set protection amount. If you borrowed on or after July 1, 2014, your rate is usually 10%. Older borrowers usually pay 15%.
Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
Pay As You Earn caps your payment at 10% of discretionary income. You can only join if you meet certain hardship and loan date rules. The new law phases out ICR and PAYE in 2028, so PAYE will not last forever.
Tiered Standard Plan
The Tiered Standard plan has fixed payments. The term runs from 10 to 25 years, depending on how much you owe. It is not income based. It usually costs the most per month, but it can cost less in total interest.
A Real-World Example
Say a borrower earns a modest income and owes a moderate balance. Under SAVE, the payment may have been very low. Under IBR or RAP, it may be higher. Many borrowers will pay more under IBR and RAP than they did under SAVE. That is why you should compare plans before you choose.
How to Choose a Plan Step by Step
- Find your notice. Look for the 90-day deadline in your Aidvantage account, email, or mail.
- Gather your income details. You will need your tax return or pay stubs and your family size.
- Use the Loan Simulator. The Loan Simulator at StudentAid.gov estimates your payment under each plan. Open it at studentaid.gov/loan-simulator.
- Compare payment and total cost. A lower payment can mean more interest over time.
- Apply on StudentAid.gov or through Aidvantage. Submit before the deadline. Save your confirmation.
- Check your account. Confirm your new plan and payment date show up correctly.
Common mistake: Waiting until the last week. Processing can take time, and a delay can leave you with a standard plan payment you did not choose.
What Is a Forbearance Loan? Forbearance Loan Meaning
Forbearance is not a type of loan. It is a temporary status that lets you pause or lower payments. People often search “forbearance loan,” but the correct term is “loan in forbearance.”
During forbearance, you do not make your regular payment. On most federal loans, interest keeps adding up. When forbearance ends, your balance can be higher than when it began.
Types of Forbearance
- General forbearance: You ask for it, often for money trouble or illness. Your servicer may approve it.
- Mandatory forbearance: Your servicer must grant it if you meet certain rules, such as some medical or military situations.
- Administrative forbearance: Your servicer or the Department applies it, often during system changes or court actions. The SAVE forbearance falls here.
Forbearance and the SAVE Plan
SAVE borrowers did not have to pay during the court fight. Interest on borrowers in the SAVE forbearance resumed in August 2025. Time in forbearance also does not usually count toward long-term forgiveness. The SAVE forbearance does not directly count for PSLF.
Forbearance vs. Deferment
| Forbearance | Deferment | |
|---|---|---|
| Payments paused | Yes | Yes |
| Interest builds | Usually yes | Not on some subsidized loans |
| Counts for forgiveness | Usually no | Usually no |
When to use it: a short, true emergency. When not to use it: as a long-term fix. An income-driven plan is often a better tool, because it can lower your payment to a low amount and still keep you in good standing.
My Great Lakes Student Loans: Where Did They Go?
If you search “my great lakes student loans,” you may be looking for a servicer that no longer works that way. Great Lakes was a large federal servicer. Nelnet bought the business in 2018. Nelnet took over all Great Lakes accounts between March 2022 and June 2023. The old Great Lakes borrower site has been retired.
This means a former Great Lakes loan is usually not with Aidvantage. It is usually with Nelnet. Log in to StudentAid.gov to see your current servicer. If your account says “closed due to transfer,” it does not mean the debt is gone. It means a new servicer holds it.
How to Manage Your Aidvantage Account
You can use your Aidvantage account to:
- Make one-time payments or set up AutoPay
- Update bank details and contact information
- Pick how extra payments are applied
- Apply for a repayment plan, forbearance, or deferment
- Go paperless and get notices by email
AutoPay on federal loans can lower your interest rate by 0.25 percentage points. Keep your email and mailing address current, so you do not miss a notice.
Common Mistakes Borrowers Make
- Ignoring the 90-day notice. The result is a standard plan payment and possible delinquency.
- Thinking forbearance is free. Interest usually keeps growing.
- Assuming Aidvantage owns the loan. The Department of Education does.
- Consolidating without checking the rules. Under the settlement, consolidating restarts the clock on forgiveness for income-driven plans.
- Skipping the income update. Old income data can give you the wrong payment.
Expert Tips
- Compare total cost, not only the monthly payment.
- Keep copies of every application and confirmation.
- If you work in public service, track your PSLF count and ask your servicer how forbearance months were treated. Aidvantage lists a PSLF buyback option for some months that did not count.
- Always confirm plan rules on StudentAid.gov, since policy has changed fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aidvantage a legitimate student loan servicer?
Yes. Aidvantage is a real federal servicer under contract with the Department of Education. You can confirm it on your StudentAid.gov dashboard.
Is Aidvantage the same as Navient?
No. Navient is a different company. In 2022, Navient moved many federal loans to Aidvantage.
Can I still apply for the SAVE plan?
No. The plan has ended, and pending applications are being denied. You can apply for RAP, IBR, or another plan you qualify for.
What happens if I miss the 90-day deadline?
Your loans move to a standard plan, and payments become due. Missing those payments can lead to delinquency and default.
What does forbearance mean on a student loan?
It means your servicer lets you pause or reduce payments for a set time. Interest usually keeps growing on most federal loans.
Is Pay As You Earn still available?
Yes, for now. PAYE is being phased out by 2028, and new borrowers may not qualify.
Are my Great Lakes loans with Aidvantage?
Usually not. Nelnet took over Great Lakes accounts. Check StudentAid.gov to confirm.
Does forbearance count toward forgiveness?
Usually no. Most forbearance months do not count toward PSLF or income-driven forgiveness.
Final Thoughts
An Aidvantage student loan is a federal loan that Aidvantage services for the Department of Education. The SAVE plan is gone, and the 90-day clock in your notice is the key date. Your realistic paths are RAP, IBR, PAYE if you qualify, or the Tiered Standard plan. Forbearance can pause payments, but interest usually keeps growing. Use the official Loan Simulator and your Aidvantage account to confirm your numbers before you decide.