Frequently Asked Questions

In November of 2018 we changed our name to Ascendium Education Group from Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates, but our mission remains the same. You can always reach out to us with questions, but in the meantime, here are answers to some questions we’re frequently asked.

General Ascendium FAQs

  • At the beginning of 2018, our Direct Student Loan servicing unit, Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc., was acquired by another servicer, Nelnet. As part of the transaction, the part of our existing company that was not acquired had to adopt a new company name. As of Nov. 15, 2018, our company is Ascendium Education Group.
  • Our mission is all about giving more people the opportunity to fulfill their potential and achieve their aspirations through the power of postsecondary education. We believe the name Ascendium captures that sense of elevation, uplift and growth.
  • No. Our name change has no significant impact on your loan or the way you interact with us. Just make sure to bookmark this site so you can find us and make note of our mailing address, which is 2501 International Lane (instead of 2401), Madison, WI 53704.
  • No. We are no longer a servicer of Direct Student Loans made by the federal government, but Ascendium is still a guarantor for loans made through the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), and that remains a big part of what we do. And we still develop and provide a variety of services to colleges that have to do with helping their students manage their loans responsibly, including Direct Student Loans.
  • Ascendium is still involved in federal student loans as a guarantor for Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans. But we do a lot of other things as well. We develop and market products and services that help colleges support their students’ success in school and in student loan repayment. We also fund research and other projects aimed at identifying and putting into practice proven strategies for helping more students achieve their postsecondary education goals.
  • Borrowers should continue to send payments as instructed just like before. If you’re a vendor, customer or anybody else who has to send us letters, payments, invoices or other materials, you’ll need to make sure to change our name and address in your records so that your payments or bills are not delayed. Our new address is 2501 International Lane (instead of 2401), Madison, WI 53704.
  • We don’t blame you for being cautious; but we assure you this is real. While we’ve done our best to tell everybody who needs to know about our name change, it takes a while for the whole world to get the message. If you feel the need to double check, contact us any time, check with the Better Business Bureau or call the U.S. Department of Education. If you’re a student, you can also check with the financial aid office at your school.
  • Ascendium Education Group, Inc. is Ascendium’s “parent company.” Ascendium Education Solutions, Inc., includes our education philanthropy division, our work with borrowers in default and our Attigo suite of products. But you can just call us Ascendium.

FAQs for Our Borrowers

  • Effective November 15, 2018, we are Ascendium Education Solutions. You should continue to make payments the same as you always have.
  • One possible reason is that you have multiple loans with different statuses. Ascendium is helping you with your Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loan. The part of Great Lakes that was acquired by Nelnet (Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc., or GLELSI) services a type of loan called Direct Student Loans. If you have a Direct Student Loan, GLELSI is still your servicer even though it is now part of Nelnet.
  • The part of Great Lakes that was acquired by Nelnet services a type of federal student loan called Direct Student Loans. If you have a Direct Student Loan, Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. (GLELSI) may still be your loan servicer even though it is now part of Nelnet.
  • We have notified servicers of our name change, but sometimes it takes a while for that information to reach all of the people at those companies who need to know. Don’t worry; any servicer who says they haven’t heard of Ascendium will know about the name change very soon.
  • Your loan servicer should be able to confirm who we are, or you can contact the U.S. Department of Education.
  • No. Our name change has no impact on your loan whatsoever.
  • If you have/had loans with GLHEGC, USAF or NELA, you will now see Ascendium on communications, on your credit report file, on tax documents 1098-E or 1099-C and on Treasury notices pertaining to an IRS offset.