In your search for the most appropriate student loans to meet your requirements, you might have heard ACS student loans mentioned. But you may still be wondering what ACS is.

So, what is an ACS student loan?

It is a loan that is serviced by Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., a company that is well known for business process outsourcing. The company's strong reputation for servicing loans efficiently through the use of technology, has won them contracts with many colleges and universities. In fact, they are the Department of Education's primary outsourcing contractor. With an ACS student loan, students are able to manage their account online. They can make payments, see their account status, update personal details, and receive email notification of payments that have been processed.

Other helpful tools that ACS provides on their website include a repayment calculator, IRS guidelines about student loans, and a glossary of important terms.

With ACS student loans, students also get the convenience of being able to manage all of their loans in one place. ACS also acts as an outsourcer for colleges and universities that have campus based programs which lend money to their students. This frees up the college from keeping track of all the financial details, allowing them to better focus on education. ACS also coordinates with other financial institutions in an effort to match up each student with whichever lender that is best suited to their needs.

Understanding ACS Student Loans

ACS student loans cover a fairly broad range of different financial aid programs. One of the major ACS student loan groups is known as the Campus Based Student Loan Program (CBSL). CBSL includes Federal Perkins Loans, Nursing Student Loans (NSL), and Institutional Loan Programs. Another major group of student loans that ACS handles is the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL), which includes the Stafford Loans, PLUS loans to parents of students, and loan consolidation services . In addition, ACS handles a number of educational loans funded by several private companies.

If this is your first time applying for a student loan, don't be intimidated by the process. All the guidelines and applications for different financial aid programs are available online. The ACS website provides a clear example of how to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and helps you to interpret the results in terms of your eligibility for financial aid. In addition, the ACS website has applications for both Stafford loans and PLUS loans for parents, which can be completed and submitted online.

ACS Student Loan Consolidation

If you previously took out federal student loans, you might want to learn about the benefits of ACS student loan consolidation. The ACS website provides information and application forms, and an ACS loan consolidation could mean you only have to write one check each month. It also might help you lock in a lower interest rate to reduce your total monthly payment amount.

So, Why ACS Student Loans?

Maybe the convenience of managing all of your student loans online appeals to you, plus you only have to deal with one entity for your loan servicing, from application to repayment to consolidation. ACS works with a number of universities across the United States. Even if your college or university is not offering ACS student loans, their website is a valuable resource of helpful tools and information, and well worth visiting.