ECMC’s Financial Awareness Basics | FAB

Borrowers
Borrowers

My Loans

Student Loan Basics

Preventing Default

Resolving Default

Understand Bankruptcy

Manage and Maintain Your ECMC Account Through Secure, Online Access.

With the Right Planning, You Can Successfully Pay Back Your Loan(s)

We offer tools and information to help you manage student loan payments.

Understand Your Loan(s)

You need to know about different loan types, who your servicer(s) is and what is expected of you. We can help you understand what having a student loan really means.

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When to Start Paying Your Lender

You can start paying anytime, even while you're in school. But once your grace period ends, you must start paying. We have all the details on getting ready to make that first payment.

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Repayment Options with Your Lender/Servicer

There's more than one way to pay back your student loan(s). We can help you navigate your repayment options so you can create a smart plan for repaying your student loan(s).

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Loan Forgiveness and Cancellation

Working in public service—whether teaching at an underserved school or joining the U.S. Military—may forgive some of what you owe. And in some cases, such as fraud, federal student loans can be canceled completely.

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Budgeting Strategies

With a realistic budget and a smart repayment strategy, you can stay in control of your student loan payments from day one.

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Working with Student Loan Servicers

Your servicer(s) is there to help, but it's good to be prepared when you call. We can help you sort through the details so you can ask the right questions.

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Managing Your Federal Student Loan(s) Can Seem Overwhelming—We’re Here to Help

Repayment Plans with Your Lender

There's more than one way to pay back your student loan(s). We can help you navigate your repayment options so you can create a smart plan for repaying your student loan(s).

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Postpone Payments

If financial realities are making it hard to pay your student loan(s), you may be able to find relief through deferment or forbearance.

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Loan Consolidation

Consolidating your loan(s) may reduce your monthly payments by combining all your loan(s) into one new loan.

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Loan Forgiveness and Cancellation

Working in public service—whether teaching at an underserved school or joining the U.S. Military—may forgive some of what you owe. And in some cases, such as fraud, federal student loans can be canceled completely.

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Why Paying Is Important

We give you a realistic view of your options for staying current on your student loan(s).

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If your federal student loan(s) is in default, you probably realize that it is a serious situation. However, there may be options available to you. We can help you understand which alternatives fit your personal situation. Contact us at 855-810-4922.

Understanding Default

Have you received a Notice of Default? Defaulting on your federal student loan(s) is a serious matter. The federal government can seize your tax refunds. Your loan holder(s) can garnish up to 15% of your wages. The default may be reported to the national consumer reporting agencies (aka credit bureaus).

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Default Repayment Plan

Setting up a repayment plan acceptable to your loan holder(s) can protect you from some of the consequences of default, like administrative wage garnishment and withholding of your tax refunds and government payments.

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Pay in Full

Paying your outstanding loan(s) in full has advantages.

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Loan Rehabilitation

Would you like to bring your federal student loan(s) out of default? Find out if you qualify to participate in the loan rehabilitation program.

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Loan Cancellation

Federal student loans have built-in protection against things like fraud, school closings, permanent disability and death.

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Loan Consolidation

The Direct Consolidation Loan program refinances your federal defaulted student loan(s) into a new loan, with a single interest rate and repayment schedule.

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Resolving Issues and Disputes

Having a defaulted loan can create challenges. Find out about some of the most common issues and how to resolve them.

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Student Loans Are Unlike Most Other Debts

They are not automatically discharged unless the bankruptcy court finds an undue hardship in a separate adversary proceeding. Find out how your student loan(s) is impacted by bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy and Student Loans

Filing for bankruptcy is a difficult decision. Before you file, you should understand how bankruptcy will impact your student loan(s).

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During Bankruptcy

While you’re in bankruptcy, you aren’t required to make direct regular monthly payments on your student loan(s) unless your bankruptcy plan provides for direct payment outside of your Chapter 13 plan. Your student loan creditors may be scheduled to receive a distribution from your Chapter 13 trustee. Regardless, interest on the student loan(s) continues to accrue.

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After Bankruptcy

If you have an outstanding student loan(s), once you’re out of bankruptcy, it may be time to start paying it back. But who owns your loan(s)? And how much do you owe? We can help you navigate the post-bankruptcy complexities.

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Students/Educators
Students/Educators

Student Resources

Educator Resources

College Access Centers

ECMC Scholars

College Nights

Pursue Your Dream of Going to College

These resources can help you make informed decisions about planning and paying for college.

Opportunities Guide and Workbook

This free college planning publication provides students and families with important information and tools to guide their pursuit of postsecondary education. Opportunities books are available in English and Spanish.

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Financial Awareness Basics | FAB

Find information, tips and tools for managing your money.

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Resource Guides

The college resource guides cover a range of topics related to preparing for and going to college.

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Estimate Your College Costs

Before you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are ways to get an estimate of how much college may cost you.

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Students Whose Schools Engaged with Solutions

This link will take you to the Solutions website where we can help you understand the complexities of student loan repayment.

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Opening Minds to the Promise of Higher Education

We provide educators free curricula and training, because we believe every student who wants to go to college should have the opportunity.

Believing the College Dream (Middle School)

Believing the College Dream helps you motivate students to dream big and gives them practical skills to make their dreams happen.

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Realizing the College Dream (High School)

Realizing the College Dream makes the economic necessity of a college education clear and debunks the myth that college is unaffordable.

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Persist in Higher Education (Postsecondary)

Persist in Higher Education helps you support low-income, first-generation students of all ages so they stay in school and graduate.

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Professional Development Workshops

We provide free workshops across the country for educators and community members who want to make our curricula a part of their college access programs.

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Download an Educator Guide

Our three curricula are available for immediate download at no cost.

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Who We Are

The College Place works to help people of all ages pursue opportunities for undergraduate education beyond high school. We provide information, assistance, and encouragement to help individuals achieve their education goals.

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TCP-Colorado

TCP-Colorado, launched in 2018, is located in Denver, Colorado.

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TCP-Connecticut

TCP-Connecticut, launched in 2010, is located in Hartford, Connecticut.

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TCP-Northern Minnesota

TCP-Northern Minnesota, launched in 2024, is located in Bemidji, Minnesota.

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TCP-Southern Minnesota

TCP-Southern Minnesota, launched in 2017, is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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TCP-Northern California

TCP-Northern California, launched in 2011, is located in Berkeley, California.

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TCP-Oregon

TCP-Oregon, launched in 2007, is located in Portland, Oregon.

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TCP-Richmond

TCP-Richmond, launched in 2007, is located in Richmond, Virginia.

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TCP-Alexandria

TCP-Alexandria, launched in 2003, is located in Alexandria, Virginia.

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Request an Appointment

Fill out a short form to request an appointment with an advisor.

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Request a Speaker

Fill out a short form to request a speaker for your event.

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Schools
Schools

Solutions Services

Training

Outreach and Financial Literacy

FFELP Services

Solutions To Help Schools Support Student for Lifelong Success

Our Solutions suite of services includes financial literacy, student loan repayment counseling and default prevention.

Solutions Services

Our Solutions suite of services includes financial literacy, student loan repayment counseling and default prevention.

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About Solutions

ECMC Solutions mission-based portfolio supports real people with meaningful impact. As part of our mission and values, our policy is to devote the resources necessary to ensure a smooth and timely implementation and ongoing quality services.

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Solutions Clients and Testimonials

Explore the schools we work with and read what our school and student customers have to say about us.

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Lenders
Lenders

Programs and Services

Filing Claims

Updates to Services and Processes

Forms

Your Reliable Partner in Supporting Higher Education Finance

We support your business with flexible online tools that help you manage your loan operations with ECMC.

Default Prevention

When it comes to preventing default, we take a direct approach. We build individual relationships with borrowers and help them keep their student loans in good standing.

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Portfolio Management

Our flexible portfolio management tools help you streamline your operations.

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Financial Literacy

We help students make informed decisions about financing their education so they can successfully repay their student loans.

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Employers
Agencies
Guarantors
Guarantors

Third-Party Guarantor Servicing

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Bankruptcy Servicing

Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) Hearing Services

Manage and Maintain Your ECMC Account Through Secure, Online Access.

With the Right Planning, You Can Successfully Pay Back Your Loan(s)

Managing Your Federal Student Loan(s) Can Seem Overwhelming—We’re Here to Help

If your federal student loan(s) is in default, you probably realize that it is a serious situation. However, there may be options available to you. We can help you understand which alternatives fit your personal situation. Contact us at 855-810-4922.

Student Loans Are Unlike Most Other Debts

Pursue Your Dream of Going to College

Opening Minds to the Promise of Higher Education

Solutions To Help Schools Support Student for Lifelong Success

Your Reliable Partner in Supporting Higher Education Finance

ECMC’s Financial Awareness Basics | FAB

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