The Federal Perkins Loan Program includes Federal Perkins Loans, National Direct Student Loans (NDSLs), and National Defense Student Loans (Defense Loans-- these have not been issued since July 1st, 1972, but there are a few still in repayment). Perkins Loans and NDSLs are low-interest (currently 5%), long-term loans made through school financial aid offices to help needy undergraduate and graduate students pay for postsecondary education.
Federal Perkins Loan Addendum
The United States Department of Education has created an Addendum to the Perkins Loan Promissory Note to notify you of additional benefits available. Florida State University is making this information available to all students who have borrowed a Perkins Loan and are: Enrolled, in Grace Period, or in Repayment. To read the official notification sent to all Perkins students, and to read the Addendum for yourself, please download our Perkins Loan Addendum below:
Award Amounts
The maximum annual awards for Federal Perkins Loans are as follows:
$5,500.00 for undergraduates;
$8,000.00 for graduates
If you are interested in obtaining a Perkins Loan, please contact the FSU Office of Financial Aid for requirements and availability.
Master Promissory Note (MPN)
Once the Office of Financial Aid has awarded you a Perkins Loan, the Master Promissory Note (MPN) must be signed. You will be sent an email message when your MPN is available. Typically, MPNs are made available the week before each semester starts. If a Perkins Loan is awarded after the semester has started, the MPN will be available within 3-5 business days.
To sign the MPN, please follow the link provided in the email notification that you received from Financial Aid. You will be directed to our MPN processor Heartland/ECSI to complete the process. You will need your FAFSA PIN to complete the electronic signature portion of the MPN. Please also check your Financial Aid Student ToolKit to verify that all other requirements, such as Loan Entrance Counseling, have been completed.
National Student Loan Data System
The United States Department of Education's National Student Loan Data System lists all loans for all students. This site will list all of your loans from all schools that you have attended, including the lender, status of the loan, and amount owed. It is available through your Financial Aid ToolKit, at nslds.ed.gov or by calling (800)4-FED-AID. Your FAFSA PIN will be required to access personal information.
Grace Period
When enrollment drops below half-time status due to graduation or withdrawal, the grace period begins. The first grace period on a Perkins Loan is nine (9) months and any additional grace period after deferment is six (6) months in length. You will receive three (3) notices from ECSI during your grace period with information that details when your repayment will start and the amount that will be billed each month.
In-School Deferment
The Deferment Form for Perkins Loans is available at https://heartland.ecsi.net/.
In order to be eligible for an In-School deferment, enrollment must be at least half-time and certification of enrollment on school's letterhead or with school's seal on deferment form needs to be provided. The certification of enrollment obtained from your Registrar's office will need to include starting and ending dates and status level (full-time, half-time, etc.) for semester/quarter enrolled.
Please send the Deferment Request Form and supporting documentation to the address listed below under "FSU Contact Information".
Deferment/Forbearance Request
During Deferment, principal and interest are not billed or due. During Forbearance, principle is not due, but interest continues to accrue. Forbearance Interest may be paid monthly or at the end of the Forbearance period. Up to 12 months of deferment or forbearance may be requested at a time. Borrowers are eligible for up to 36 months of forbearance and each type of deferment.
The Forbearance/Deferment Request Form for Perkins Loans is available at:
https://heartland.ecsi.net/ continue to ‘Download forms’ then scroll to ‘Economic Hardship Deferment or Forbearance’ and click on the drop down to select ‘School Not in List-Use Standard Form.’
For example, for the Unemployment Deferment, provide documentation that you are receiving unemployment benefits or are working with an employment agency.
Please send the Deferment/Forbearance Request Form and supporting documentation to FSU using the address under "FSU Contact Information" below.
Cancellation Request
The Cancellation Request Form is available at https://heartland.ecsi.net/. Go to ‘Download Forms’ then scroll to and click ‘Click Here for All Deferment/Cancellation Forms’ and click on the appropriate career service area. Only full-time employment qualifies for cancellation.
Percentage of the loan cancelled for each year of service varies depending on the type of cancellation. Please refer to the appropriate Loan Cancellation form for these percentages.
The process is as follows: When employment begins, submit the Cancellation Request Form completing the "Deferment in Anticipation of Cancellation" section and having your employer certify the form with official seal or attach certification on letterhead. The certification must include starting (and ending, if applicable) date, job title/description, and employment status.
Once documentation is received and approved, the loan is placed in deferment for a full calendar year (for example 9/1/14 to 9/1/15). After the calendar year has been completed, the cancellation form and certification of employment need to be submitted again to cancel the year worked and defer the coming year. Documentation is submitted each year until the loan is cancelled in full or eligible employment ends.
Cancellation Request and supporting documentation may be submitted either to FSU using the information under "FSU Contact Information" below.
Loan Rehabilitation
Loan rehabilitation is a special type of payment arrangement developed by the federal government to assist student loan borrowers. Rehabilitation consists of nine on-time monthly payments. Once rehabilitation is completed on your loan, your account will be returned to current status and all prior negative credit history will be removed. Rehabilitation may only be completed one time on a Perkins Loan. Please contact FSU for more information on rehabilitation.
Loan Consolidation
If interested in consolidating a Perkins Loan with Stafford Loans, visit studentloans.gov to complete a Direct Consolidation Loan application. This program is run by the US Department of Education. Their contact information is (800) 557-7392 and studentloans.gov. Keep in mind that when your Perkins Loan is consolidated you forfeit all cancellation and other benefits of your Perkins Loan.
Credit Bureau Updates
Credit Bureau updating of Perkins Loans occurs on the last business day of each month.
FSU Contact Information
Perkins Phone: (850)-644-9452
Fax: (850)-644-5142
Mail:
FSU - Office of Student Finance
Attn: Perkins Loans
PO Box 3062394
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2394
Payments/ECSI Contact Information
Educational Computer Systems, Inc. (ECSI) is FSU's billing service for Perkins Loans.
Phone: (888)-549-3274
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am to 8:00pm Eastern
Website: https://heartland.ecsi.net/
- Account # is the same as SSN, our school code is P6, and you will need your Heartland Key which can be found on your billing statement or by contacting Heartland ECSI.
Mail:
Payments made payable to Florida State University (P6)
c/o ECSI
PO Box 718
Wexford, PA 15090
All forms and documents should be mailed to:
PO Box 1278
Wexford, PA 15090.
