Missouri Student Loan Program
The Missouri Student Loan Program, a division of the MDHE, administers the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) in the state of Missouri. (Note: On March 30, 2010, federal legislation was signed into law removing the authority of FFELP guarantors like the MDHE to guarantee new loans after June 30, 2010. All federal student loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2010 are now made by the federal government through the Federal Direct Loan Program.)
As the state's designated FFELP guaranty agency since 1979, the MDHE has offered a variety of free products and services to help Missouri's postsecondary institutions as well as students and borrowers.
Services for students, borrowers, and families
- Journey to College Facebook page and Twitter feed providing peer-to-peer advice on preparing for college
- Financial literacy materials and workshops
- FAFSA Frenzy events providing free professional help to thousands of students as they file the FAFSA
- Borrower Services - toll-free call center for assisting MDHE borrowers
- Monthly Student Reminder electronic newsletter providing helpful tips, deadlines, and other useful information about pursuing your college goals
Services for postsecondary institutions:
- On-site customer service and assistance for Missouri schools
- Compliance and Policy Services - technical assistance in understanding federal and state regulations impacting financial aid
- Default Prevention - training and technical assistance as well as grant funds for schools.
- Training Services - free training workshops and customized training for Missouri schools and other groups
As a state agency, the MDHE reinvested any earnings from administering the FFEL Program into the state of Missouri. Examples of how this benefitted you include:
- Part of the MDHE's mission is to increase successful participation in higher education in Missouri, and thus the MDHE conducts extensive outreach with high school students, their families, and their high school counselors. During the 2010-11 academic year, the MDHE presented or exhibited at 202 events, such as college fairs, and reached more than 26,000 students and families.
- Through the 2009-2010 academic year, the MDHE paid all administrative costs associated with the Bright Flight academic scholarship and other state aid programs from any revenues received by acting as a FFELP guarantor. This allowed the maximum amount of appropriated tax payer dollars to be given directly to students.
