On Feb. 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) distributed the FY 2021 draft cohort default rate (CDR) notification packages to all eligible domestic and foreign schools only.
In this announcement, the Department provides information about the distribution of the draft rates, and the begin dates for appealing the draft rates.
Distribution of FY 2021 Draft Cohort Default Rates
For both eligible domestic and foreign schools enrolled in the Electronic Cohort Default Rate (eCDR) process, we are sending FY 2021 official cohort default rate and accompanying documentation via the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG). This information is being sent to the SAIG mailbox of the destination point administrator designated by the school. Each eCDR package contains the following information:
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Cover Letter (message class SHDRLROP)
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Extract-Type Loan Record Detail Report (message class SHCDREOP)
Notes:
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A Comma Delimited-Type Loan Record Detail Report (formerly sent via message class CDRCSVOP) is available via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS®) Professional Access website as the SHCDR NSLDS School CDR History Report – SAIG. Go to the “Reports” area to download the report in Excel or to have it sent to an SAIG mailbox. When choosing the SAIG or Excel options, selecting ‘No’ will pull the Excel formatted downloadable file, selecting ‘Yes’ will ask for the school information then to enter the SAIG values, to receive via your school’s SAIG mailbox.
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A Reader-Friendly Loan Record Detail Report (message class SHCDRROP) is available in a PDF from the “Reports” area as the SHCDR NSLDS School History Report – PDF Download.
Schools not enrolled in eCDR will not receive an eCDR notification package. Schools may download their cohort default rates and accompanying Loan Record Detail Reports from NSLDS Professional Access.
Schools that are not signed up to receive the eCDR package electronically or schools that want a replacement copy of their CDR cover letter can now download their letter directly from the school’s cohort default rate page on NSLDS. On the cohort default rate history page schools can retrieve their letter by clicking ‘view’ under the notification letter column. By clicking ‘view’ a PDF copy of the notification letter will pop up.
LRDR File review: Schools are reminded of the availability of the NSLDS Loan Record Detail Report (LRDR) Import Tool. The LRDR Import Tool can be used to easily load data generated from the LRDR into the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet application, which is designed to assist schools with reviewing and analyzing their LRDR extract files. To download the LRDR Import Tool, go to the Default Management - Templates and Spreadsheets Topics page on the Knowledge Center.
Note: Any school that did not have a borrower in repayment, during the current or any of the past cohort default rate periods, will not receive a FY 2021 draft cohort default rate notification package. These schools are considered to have no cohort default rate data and no cohort default rate.
We continue to send guaranty agency and lender rates via email. Both guaranty agency and lender rates can also be obtained the NSLDS website.
Begin Dates for Appealing FY 2021 Draft Cohort Default Rates
The time for appealing the FY 2021 draft cohort default rates under 34 C.F.R Part 668, Subpart N begins on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, for all schools.
All Incorrect Data Challenges (IDC) must be made through the eCDR Appeals application. Participation Rate Index Challenges (PRI) will continue to be submitted via hard copy. As a reminder, eCDR Appeals is a web-based application that allows schools to electronically submit certain challenge and adjustment requests during the specified timeframes. The application also allows data managers (guaranty agency or federal loan servicer) and Federal Student Aid personnel to electronically view and respond to these challenge/adjustment requests. The application tracks the entire life cycle of each request from the time the case is submitted until the time a decision is made and the case is closed.
If a technical problem caused by the Department results in an inability to access the data, schools have five business days from the receipt of the eCDR notification package to notify Cohort Default Rate Team at the email address below.
To complete an adjustment or appeal, you may need a data manager’s contact information. The Data Manager Information can be found at the Default Management Topic page.
If the Department revises a school’s cohort default rate based on its adjustment or appeal submission, the revised cohort default rate will be available on the Default Management Topic page.
Contact Information
For specific information regarding eCDR Appeals, visit the eCDR Appeals website, where you will find user guides for each of the challenge and adjustment processes, as well as a user guide for the registration process. Additionally, you will find links to recordings of eCDR Appeals demonstration sessions to assist first-time users.
For additional information regarding the school cohort default rate calculation or the challenge processes, refer to the Cohort Default Rate Guide.
You may also contact us by emailing fsa.schools.default.management@ed.gov or by calling the Cohort Default Rates Group hotline at 202-377-4259.