Student Loan Angel solution

Federal Loan Consolidation

Consolidation combines several federal loans into one Direct Consolidation Loan. It can open the door to PSLF or certain IDR plans, but it can also reset payment counts, so the impact is reviewed before applying.

Reviewed by Student Loan Angel · Last reviewed 8/27/2026

Eligibility requirements

  • Federal loans, including FFEL and Perkins, that are not yet consolidated
  • An impact memo on PSLF and IDR payment counts before signing
  • NSLDS report from StudentAid.gov with the detail of each loan

Timing and considerations

Consolidating close to finishing PSLF can cost months of progress. Review the count impact before applying.

Official source

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