How to Remove Student Loans From Your Credit Report

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A credit report is a record of your past credit activity and current credit standing. It includes information related to your debts, such as payment history and the status of your accounts.

Because your credit report can impact your ability to achieve other financial goals, such as getting approved for another loan or even getting the lowest rate, you may want to remove inaccurate information regarding your student loans from your credit report. Doing so may improve your credit report history and current standing.

You can fix information about your student loans on your credit report by writing a dispute letter and submitting it to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer Advice division.

How to send a dispute letter
Can you remove loans from your credit report?
Common credit report errors
How long does education debt stay on your report?
Consider refinancing your student loans

How to send a dispute letter

Getting inaccuracies removed from or rectified on your credit report should be something you address immediately after discovering them. If you want to dispute a mistake on your credit report regarding your student loans, follow these three steps.

Write a dispute letter: The FTC’s Consumer Advice division has a sample letter that you can reference. Your dispute letter should include your name and address and the mistakes you want fixed, and should either be sent in online, initiated over the phone, or sent by certified mail with a read receipt option so you’ll know when they receive the letter.
Support your dispute: Highlight each piece of information that is inaccurate or incomplete. Send in a copy of your credit report that reflects these inaccuracies, as well as copies of supporting documents. For instance, if your credit report says you’re delinquent on your loans, you should send in proof of on-time payment submission.
Follow up: The credit bureau must investigate your dispute within 30 days of filing. Regardless if they move forward with your dispute or consider it a dispute that they will not pursue correction on, they have to notify you in writing. If you do not receive feedback from them after the first month, follow up with the credit bureau and ask for an update.

Good to know: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are the three major credit bureaus that keep your credit reports on file. So, if you notice an error on your Equifax credit report, for example, investigate whether the same error exists on your Experian and TransUnion reports.

Can you remove student loans from your credit report?

Your student loan amount and payment history will show on your credit report, so removing your student loans may seem like a good idea if you were accidentally late on a payment. However, accurate and correct information regarding your student loan history can’t be removed based on preference or prior to their normal expiration date.

There are specific situations when a student loan can be removed from a credit report and nearly all of them are related to inaccuracies.

Some examples of inaccurate information include:

Missed or late payments (either during regular repayment periods or forbearance and deferment)
Student loan default
Accounts that don’t belong to you

Good to know: If you have a negative mark on your credit report related to student loans that is accurate, such as a delinquent or defaulted loan, there’s no way to remove it. The best way to overcome it, though, would be to rehabilitate the loan status with your lender. From there, making on-time payments would begin to improve your credit report and score.

How does inaccurate information affect my credit report?

Incorrect information can negatively impact your ability to gain approval for new credit, and potentially impact other areas of your life such as increasing your car insurance rates or decreasing your ability to secure employment. (Insurance companies may perform a credit check when you request a new policy, and employers might do the same when you’re applying for a job.)

Getting these mistakes fixed on your credit report should be a top priority. Even if some negative elements on your credit report are correct, removing the disputable information can help you regain control of your financial future.

Why you should keep student loans on your credit report

As long as you maintain a good standing with your student loans, it’s necessary (and helpful to your credit score) to keep them on your credit report.

Student loans are reported to the national credit bureaus each month from the time of your first disbursem*nt until after the loan is fully repaid. If you keep making on-time minimum monthly payments, the positive standing can make your credit report more appealing in the eyes of other lenders and can be a great way to improve your credit score for years to come.

Common student loan credit report errors

It’s a good idea to verify that the student loan information on your credit report is accurate and updated regularly.

Also, remember that these mistakes can be made for a variety of reasons beyond your control, such as payment processing issues or confusion with reporting of loan repayment during the CARES Act administrative forbearance period.

If you see any of these following issues, you may have a valid reason to dispute the report:

Closed accounts that are still reported as open
Inaccurate payment reporting
Incorrect status reported
Loans listed as delinquent that shouldn’t be
Loans listed as in default that shouldn’t be
Individual loans displayed multiple times
Loans listed under your name that you didn’t take out

Good to know: You can request a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once annually, via AnnualCreditReport.com.

Check Out: Hard and Soft Credit Inquiries: How to Get Rates Without Affecting Your Credit Score

How long do student loans stay on your credit report?

All defaulted or delinquent student loans will remain on a credit report for a period of seven years, according to Experian. The seven-year timetable begins on the date when the debt is first late or missed. If you rehabilitate your loan, the default will be removed from your credit report. However, student loans in good standing will also remain on your credit report.

Tip: Whenever you’re in a situation where it seems likely that you may miss or be late on a payment, it’s best to contact your student loan servicer to discuss options.

Keep Reading: What Happens When You Default on a Student Loan

Consider refinancing your student loans

Some borrowers have trouble affording their student loan payments and many are unable to qualify for federal repayment plans that reduce or forgive their debts. If you have private student loans, you likely have even fewer relief options.

If you can get or keep your federal and private student loans current, make on-time payments toward them, and improve your credit report, you could access a worthwhile option. Student loan refinancing could offer you a lower monthly payment, a lower interest rate, or a different loan term. Refinancing isn’t right for every borrower, however. For instance, it permanently strips federal loans of their government-exclusive safeguards.

Learn More: When Refinancing Is a Good Idea and When to Reconsider

If you think, refinancing could be a good solution, here are the steps to make it happen:

Gather your loan information: Before shopping for lenders, gather all of your student loan information including servicers, loan terms, outstanding balances, and interest rates so you have a full picture of your current situation.
Understand federal loan benefits: If you refinance your federal student loans into private loans, you’ll lose eligibility for federal benefits. Consider all of your options, and weigh the pros and cons before refinancing. In most cases, it’s better to consolidate your federal loans into one Direct Consolidation Loan.
Compare student loan refinance lenders: Because each lender may offer you a different term length, discounts, or interest rate, it’s important to compare multiple lenders to see which can benefit you most.

Lender	Variable rates from (APR)	Fixed rates from (APR)
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	5.35%+	3.99%+
Fixed APR: 3.99%+ Variable APR: 5.35%+ Min. credit score: 720 Loan amount: $10,000 to $400,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Military deferment, forbearance Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must have a credit score of at least 720, a minimum income of $60,000, and must be a resident of Texas Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: 720 Cosigner release: No Loan servicer: Firstmark Services Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 - $149,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $200,000 - $400,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Does not disclose
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	7.02%+¹	5.89%+¹
Fixed APR: 5.89%+¹ Variable APR: 7.02%+¹ Min. credit score: Does not disclose Loan amount: $10,000 to $750,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Immediate repayment, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay, loyalty Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have at least $10,000 in student loans Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 24 to 36 months Loan servicer: Firstmark Services Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 to $149,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: Less than $150,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	6.99%+²	6.99%+²
Fixed APR: 6.99%+² Variable APR: 6.99%+² Min. credit score: Does not disclose Loan amount: $5,000 to $300,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 Repayment options: Military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: All states except for ME Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 24 to 36 months Loan servicer: College Ave Servicing LLC Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 to $149,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: Less than $300,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	8.07%+⁵	6.0%+⁵
Fixed APR: 6.0%+⁵ Variable APR: 8.07%+⁵ Min. credit score: 700 Loan amount: $7,500 to $200,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Immediate repayment, academic deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and submit two personal references Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 24 months Loan servicer: Firstmark Services Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $150,000 to $249,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $150,000 to $199,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing : Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	5.28%+³	4.84%+³
Fixed APR: 4.84%+³ Variable APR: 5.28%+³ Min. credit score: 680 Loan amount: $10,000 to $250,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Forbearance Fees: None Discounts: None Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have at least $15,000 in student loan debt, and have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an approved school Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: No Loan servicer: Mohela Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $250,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $250,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	8.5%+⁴	6.15%+⁴
Fixed APR: 6.15%+⁴ Variable APR: 8.5%+⁴ Min. credit score: 670 Loan amount: $5,000 to $250,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance Fees: Late fee, returned payment fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: Yes Max undergraduate loan balance: $250,000 Max graduate loan balance: $250,000 Offers Parent PLUS refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	5.54%+	5.24%+
Fixed APR: 5.24%+ Variable APR: 5.54%+ Min. credit score: 700 Loan amount: $5,000 to $300,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15 Max. undergraduate Loan Balance: $125,000 Time to Fund: 10 to 30 days Repayment options: Immediate repayment, forbearance Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have already graduated with at least an associate degree from an eligible institution Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 12 months Loan servicer: LendKey Technologies Inc. Max. graduate Loan Balance: $175,000 Credible Review: LendKey Student Loans review Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: No
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	N/A	6.2%+
Fixed APR: 6.2%+ Variable APR: N/A Min. credit score: 670 Loan amount: $10,000 up to the total amount Loan terms (years): 7, 10, 15 Repayment options: Military deferment, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: None Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have at least $10,000 in student loans Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: No Loan servicer: AES Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: No maximum Max. Gradaute Loan Balance: No maximum Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	7.12%+ - 11.19%+⁸	7.60%+ - 14.50%+⁸
Fixed APR: 7.12%+ - 11.19%+⁸ Variable APR: 7.60%+ - 14.50%+⁸ Min. credit score: Mid-to-high 600's FICO⁸ Loan amount: $5,000 to $500,000 (depending on degree) Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 years⁸ Time to fund: 3 business days Repayment options: Immediate Fees: Late fee, NSF fee Discounts: Autopay⁸ Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status with a valid U.S. Social Security number Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes⁸ Cosigner release: After 24 months⁸ Loan servicer: Firstmark Services Max. undergraduate loan balance: $125,000 Max. graduate loan balance: $500,000 Offers Parent PLUS loans: Yes Min. income: You or your cosigner must meet Nelnet Bank's income criteria
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	N/A	6.34%+
Fixed APR: 6.34%+ Variable APR: N/A Min. credit score: 680 Loan amount: $7,500 to $250,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15 Repayment options: Academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Available in all 50 states; must also have at least $7,500 in student loans and a minimum income of $40,000 Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Does not disclose Cosigner release: No Loan servicer: Rhode Island Student Loan Authority Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $150,000 - $249,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $200,000 - $249,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Compare personalized rates from multiple lenders without affecting your credit score. 100% free!Compare Now Trustpilot
All APRs reflect autopay and loyalty discounts where available \| ¹Citizens Disclosures \| 2College Ave Disclosures \| 5EDvestinU Disclosures \| ³ ELFI Disclosures \| 4INvestEd Disclosures \| 7ISL Education Lending Disclosures \| 8Nelnet Bank Disclosures

Prequalified rates disclosure: Prequalified rates are based on the information you provide and a soft credit inquiry. Receiving prequalified rates does not guarantee that the Lender will extend you an offer of credit. You are not yet approved for a loan or a specific rate. All credit decisions, including loan approval, if any, are determined by Lenders, in their sole discretion. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Rates from Lenders may differ from prequalified rates due to factors which may include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in your personal credit circ*mstances; (ii) additional information in your hard credit pull and/or additional information you provide (or are unable to provide) to the Lender during the underwriting process; and/or (iii) changes in APRs (e.g., an increase in the rate index between the time of prequalification and the time of application or loan closing. (Or, if the loan option is a variable rate loan, then the interest rate index used to set the APR is subject to increases or decreases at any time). Lenders reserve the right to change or withdraw the prequalified rates at any time.

About the author

Nick Dauk

Nick Dauk is a Credible authority on personal finance. His work has been featured in Business Insider, The Edge, Bisnow, The Telegraph, BBC, and Culture Trip.

Home » All » Student Loan Refinancing » How to Remove Student Loans From Your Credit Report

FAQs

How to Remove Student Loans From Your Credit Report - Credible? ›

Credible takeaways

Read On ›

How do I delete student loans off my credit report? ›

If you have accurate positive or negative information on your credit reports, you typically can't get it removed. If you have inaccurate information about your student loans, you have the right to dispute it with the credit bureaus and potentially get it removed.

Discover More Details ›

How can I get my student loans erased? ›

Your loan can be discharged only under specific circ*mstances, such as school closure, a school's false certification of your eligibility to receive a loan, a school's failure to pay a required loan refund, or because of total and permanent disability, bankruptcy, identity theft, or death.

Why are my student loans still showing on my credit report? ›

Private and federal loans will remain on your credit report no matter which student loan repayment plan you're in or whether you're in deferment or forbearance. The accounts will remain there until you pay them off, they go away, or they fall off after you've been in default for 7.5 years.

See Details ›

How to remove loans from a credit report? ›

Here's what you can do:

Review your credit report: Obtain a copy of your CIBIL credit report. Go through the report carefully to identify the loan inquiries listed. ...
Dispute inaccurate inquiries: If you find any loan inquiries that are incorrect or unauthorized, you can raise a dispute with CIBIL. ...
Timeframe for removal:

Jan 22, 2024

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How will removing student loans affect credit score? ›

Your credit score may dip temporarily after paying off a student loan, but it will typically rebound and can continue to increase as you practice good credit habits.

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How do I get a defaulted student loan off my credit report? ›

If the loan is paid in full, the default will remain on your credit report for seven years following the final payment date, but your report will reflect a zero balance. If you rehabilitate your loan, the default will be removed from your credit report.

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How can I get rid of student loan debt fast? ›

9 tips for paying off student loans fast

Make additional payments.
Set up automatic payments.
Get a part-time job in college.
Stick to a budget.
Consider refinancing.
Apply for loan forgiveness.
Lower your interest rate.
Take advantage of tax deductions.

More items...

Feb 28, 2024

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Is the national debt relief program legit? ›

Is National Debt Relief legit? National Debt Relief is an accredited member of the American Association for Debt Resolution (AADR). It has been around since 2009 and has helped over 600,000 individuals reduce their debt. It also has an A+ rating from the BBB (Better Business Bureau).

How long does it take for student loans to be removed? ›

Federal student loans go away:

After 10 years — Public Service Loan Forgiveness. After at least 20 years of student loan payments under an income-driven repayment plan — IDR forgiveness and 20-year student loan forgiveness. After 25 years if you borrowed loans for graduate school — 25-year federal loan forgiveness.

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Why did my student loan debt disappear? ›

If your student loan balance is suddenly showing zero, some of the many reasons could be: Your federal student aid or private student loans were forgiven. You've completed one of the student loan forgiveness programs. You qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), or.

Read The Full Story ›

How long can student loans be reported on your credit report? ›

For federal student loans, repayment options start at 10 years and can be as long as 30 years. For private student loans, repayment terms vary depending on the lender's policies and offerings.

See Details ›

How do I know if my student loan has been erased? ›

You'll be notified or see a $0 balance

When you log in to your accounts, your balance should be $0. From this point on, your days of making monthly student loan payments are over. That is, unless, only a portion of your debt is canceled.

Get More Info Here ›

How do I legally remove something from my credit report? ›

If you have an old debt on your credit report that should be removed, it's time to contact the credit bureau(s) and dispute the error. When you dispute an old debt, the bureau will open an investigation and ask the creditor reporting it to verify the debt. If it can't, the debt has to come off your report.

What Cannot be removed from your credit report? ›

There are other items that cannot be disputed or removed due to their systemic importance. For example, your correct legal name, current and former mailing addresses, and date of birth are usually not up for dispute and won't be removed from your credit reports.

Is it true that after 7 years your credit is clear? ›

In general, most debt will fall off of your credit report after seven years, but some types of debt can stay for up to 10 years or even indefinitely. Certain types of debt or derogatory marks, such as tax liens and paid medical debt collections, will not typically show up on your credit report.

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Can you clear student loans? ›

Making additional repayments to clear your Student Loan

These will be made as well as any repayments collected through the tax system. The repayments which you make on the basis of your income will not be reduced, but you will pay off your loan more quickly by making these extra repayments.

How long do late student loan payments stay on your credit report? ›

In fact, the average repayment term lasts longer than seven years. However, with defaulted student loans, the big credit bureaus remove the default status and late payments from your report seven years after the first missed payment.

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Can you remove your name from a student loan? ›

Borrowers will need to have a good credit history, stable employment, and enough income to cover the monthly payments on their own in order to refinance or consolidate their loans. Basically, this allows borrowers to pay off their previous debt and releases cosigners from any further obligation.

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How to Remove Student Loans From Your Credit Report - Credible (2024)

How to send a dispute letter

Can you remove student loans from your credit report?

How does inaccurate information affect my credit report?

Why you should keep student loans on your credit report

Common student loan credit report errors

How long do student loans stay on your credit report?

Consider refinancing your student loans

FAQs

How to Remove Student Loans From Your Credit Report - Credible? ›

Why did my student loan debt disappear? ›