Navient Student Loans — Who Owns Them Now and What You Can Do Next
Updated on November 4, 2025
Navient doesn’t service federal student loans anymore. Between 2021 and 2022, it transferred most accounts to new servicers under the Department of Education.
Whether you qualify for forgiveness, settlement, or refinancing depends entirely on what type of loan you have — and who owns it now.
Navient’s federal loan accounts were transferred between late 2021 and mid-2022 as part of its exit from the federal servicing business.
Who Took Over Navient’s Federal Loans
Aidvantage took over Direct Loans owned by the Department of Education.
MOHELA took over FFEL Loans and some private loans Navient once managed for investors.
Navient still exists, but it now focuses on private student loans and defaulted federal loans that were pulled back for collection. If you still see Navient listed, your loan is either private or in default — not an active federal loan.
The quickest way to find out is to log in to StudentAid.gov.
Where to Look for Federal Loans
If your loan appears in your StudentAid.gov account, it’s federal — now serviced by MOHELA or Aidvantage.
If it doesn’t, it’s private, and Navient likely still owns or services it.
What It Means if Your Loan Isn’t Listed
Private loans don’t qualify for federal forgiveness, but you can explore settlement or refinancing instead.
Federal loans, on the other hand, still qualify for income-driven repayment and forgiveness programs — they’re just managed by your new servicer.
If your loans moved to MOHELA or Aidvantage, you’re still eligible for forgiveness — just not through Navient itself.
If Your Loans Moved to Aidvantage (Direct Loans)
These loans qualify for all federal forgiveness programs, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), SAVE, and IDR Forgiveness. You’ll manage everything directly through StudentAid.gov.
Related: Aidvantage Student Loan Repayment & Forgivenss Programs
If Your Loans Moved to MOHELA (FFEL Loans)
These older FFEL loans only qualify for Income-Based Repayment (IBR) forgiveness unless you consolidate into the Direct Loan program. Once consolidated, MOHELA becomes your PSLF servicer and tracks your forgiveness progress.
Related: Navient Loan Forgiveness: Who Qualifies Now
If your loans didn’t transfer — or if they’ve since defaulted — settlement may be your best relief option.
When Navient Considers Settlement
Navient typically considers settlements after about six months of missed payments.
Private loan settlements often range between 30% and 60% of the total balance, depending on loan age, risk, and your finances.
What to Expect From a Settlement Offer
Federal settlements rarely go that low — they usually just remove recent interest or collection fees.
Before paying anything, confirm who owns the loan and get the agreement in writing to protect yourself.
Related: How to Settle Navient Student Loans
Navient’s lawsuits explain why so many accounts were transferred — and why some borrowers got automatic loan relief.
The Major Navient Settlements
2022 Multistate Settlement: Canceled $1.7 billion in subprime private loans and sent $260 checks to federal borrowers.
2023 Bankruptcy Settlement: Wiped out $182 million in loans that should’ve been discharged.
2024 CFPB Order: Permanently banned Navient from federal loan servicing.
What’s Still Pending in 2025
A new Illinois class action accuses Navient of running a deceptive forgiveness program.
That case is ongoing and could reopen some claims, but nothing new is available to apply for right now.
Related:
Next Steps
Once you know what type of loan you have:
Federal loans: Manage payments and forgiveness through MOHELA or Aidvantage.
Private loans: Look into settlement, refinancing, or legal review if you’re in default.
Uncertain accounts: Call Navient’s Portfolio Management Unit at (866) 291-4403 to confirm ownership before paying anyone.
Who did Navient sell my loans to, and what company owns them now?
Navient didn’t sell its loans—it transferred them. Federal loans moved to MOHELA and Aidvantage in 2022 after Navient left the federal servicing business. Navient still exists but now manages defaulted private and federal loans instead of active federal accounts.
Is Navient the same as Nelnet, Ascendium, or Sallie Mae?
No. Navient, Nelnet, and Ascendium are separate loan servicers. Sallie Mae used to own Navient before it spun off in 2014. They’re independent companies with different loan portfolios and programs.
What happened to Navient’s federal loans, and can I still use income-based repayment or Parent PLUS forgiveness?
Federal Navient loans were moved to MOHELA or Aidvantage, where you can still use IDR, SAVE, or PSLF. The Parent PLUS program is unaffected—manage forgiveness and repayment directly through your new servicer, not Navient.
Can I still get a cosigner release on my Navient private loan?
Yes, if your loan is current and meets Navient’s credit and payment history requirements. You’ll need to submit a cosigner release application through Navient and show consistent, on-time payments for several years.
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