For now, though, just consider the possibilities under this tremendously powerful, but apparently underutilized, program that could help tons of college grads pay off their debts.
Let's say you're out of a job and you have been looking for work everywhere—except the federal government. Now is definitely the time to throw your hat into the ring to get a position with a federal agency. For an A to Z listing of all federal departments and agencies in America, go to the U.S. government's official Web portal at: www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml. I don't care what you studied in school: from architecture and art history to engineering, business, nursing, journalism, or even zoology, there's a job you can land at a federal agency where you could put your educational training, skills, and experience to use.
First of all, you have to know that all agencies exist within the three branches of the U.S. government: the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch. Under the executive branch, all agencies are categorized by department, including:
Executive Office of the President
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of the Interior
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department of Transportation
Department of the Treasury
Department of Veterans Affairs
Housed under each of these departments are scores of additional agencies where you can work. And remember: each one is in need of workers just like any other employer. That's why the Student LoanRepayment Program was launched as a recruitment tool, and as a device that federal agencies could use to retain top talent. After all, what better way to recruit or keep the best and brightest than to offer a slew of benefits and perks—including student loan repayments? So here's what you need to know about this powerful program that's just waiting to be used by smart—and deeply indebted—college graduates and others just like you.
By the way, if you never pictured yourself working for the government, or if you have a philosophical opposition to working for a federal agency, why not work for an independent agency or a quasi-federal agency? Independent agencies are those that exist outside of the departments of the executive branch of the U.S. government. These agencies were established through separate statutes passed by the Congress.
Here's a list of the agencies that fall under those areas:
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)
Agency for International Development (USAID)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)
AmeriCorps
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR)
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Export-Import Bank of the United States (Exlm)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Federal Maritime Commission
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC)
Federal Reserve System (The Fed)
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
General Services Administration (GSA)
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Inter-American Foundation (IAF)
Learn and Serve America (LSA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
National Ice Center (NIC)
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) (NRPC)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
National Transportation Research Center (NTRC)
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Peace Corps
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
United States Postal Service (USPS)
Postal Rate Commission (PRC)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Office of Government Ethics (OGE)
Selective Service System (SSS)
Senior Corps
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Article Title : Repayment Assistance Programs, Part 2
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How EdFed Helped others!
When I first contacted EdFed, I knew nothing about consolidation. All I knew is that there was a deadline. The customer service representatives at EdFed were able to explain everything to me in terms that I could understand. I owe a substantial amount of money in student loans, and I didn't even know who my lenders were. EdFed was able to compile this information for me, calculated my low fixed interest rate, and explain their money saving benefits. Other lenders weren't even accepting phone calls prior to the deadline! Thank you for taking the time to go over my consolidation with me. - Maya T. Dallas, TX
EdFed's borrower benefits program enables you to reduce your interest rate by an additional 1% if you consolidate $20,000 or more in eligible student loans and make 36 consecutive on-time payments.
