NSLDS (National Student Loan Data System)

The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for federal student aid. Every Direct Loan, FFEL Loan, Perkins Loan, and Pell Grant you've ever received is recorded there. If a loan isn't in NSLDS, it isn't a federal loan.

What's in your NSLDS file

For each loan, NSLDS records the original amount, current outstanding balance, interest rate, disbursement date, loan type, your current servicer, your loan status (in school, in grace, in repayment, in default, etc.), and the cumulative disbursements you've received.

How to pull your file

Log in to studentaid.gov with your FSA ID. Your full NSLDS picture is under "My Aid." You can also download a CSV-style file of every loan you've ever taken.

Why this matters

Before recommending any repayment strategy, a student loan strategist will pull your NSLDS record. It's the only way to know what kinds of loans you have (which determines plan eligibility), who currently services each one, and whether you have any FFEL or Perkins loans that need to be consolidated for PSLF.

What's not in NSLDS

Private student loans aren't in NSLDS. Sallie Mae's private loans, bank refinance loans, and private credit-union loans only show up on your credit report — not in the federal system. If a loan doesn't appear in your NSLDS file, it's not eligible for federal IDR plans, PSLF, or discharge programs.