Is Navient a Federal or Private Student Loan?
Updated on September 3, 2026
Navient no longer services student loans at all. The Department of Education’s Direct Loans moved to Aidvantage on October 20, 2021, and the loans Navient owns itself — its private student loans and the older FFEL loans it holds — moved to MOHELA on October 21, 2024.
Navient still owns that second group, so its name can still show up as the creditor, and a private Navient loan that defaults comes back to Navient. But the company servicing your account today is MOHELA or Aidvantage, not Navient.
To tell if your Navient student loan is federal or private, check StudentAid.gov.
If your loan is listed there, it’s federal.
If it’s not, it’s private.
Federal loans will show a loan type — like Direct Subsidized, Direct PLUS, or FFEL.
What to Do if Your Loan Is Federal
If your loan shows up on StudentAid.gov, it’s owned by the Department of Education. You’ll manage it through your new servicer — MOHELA or Aidvantage — not Navient.
Here’s what to do next:
Create or log in to your account with your current servicer.
Enroll in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan to keep payments affordable.
If you work in public service, submit a PSLF form to start or continue forgiveness credit.
What to Do if Your Loan Is Private
If your loan isn’t listed on StudentAid.gov, it’s a private Navient loan. Private loans don’t qualify for federal forgiveness, but you still have leverage.
Your main options:
Stay current — or consider refinancing if you have good credit and want a lower rate.
If you’ve fallen behind, you can often negotiate a settlement for less than you owe.
Check school-misconduct eligibility if you attended a for-profit program — some older private loans were forgiven through that route.
Related:
What to Do if Your Loan Is in Default
If Navient or a collection agency is contacting you, your loan is likely in default — federal or private.
You can:
Rehabilitate or consolidate a federal loan to restore eligibility for forgiveness and new payment plans.
Negotiate a settlement if it’s private or too old to enforce.
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