Cohort Default Rate Guide

The Cohort Default Rate Guide (Guide) is a comprehensive publication that the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) designed to present information on cohort default rates. This Guide will help schools participating in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and assist schools in managing their Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) loans. As of April 2024, this Guide has been updated.

The information found in this Guide does not supersede or alter any regulatory or statutory requirements that are in effect. If the information in this Guide conflicts with the regulations or statute, the regulations and/or statute take precedence. The legislation authorizing the FFEL and Direct Loan programs can be found in Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended. The regulations for cohort default rates are primarily in Subpart N of Section 668 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Default Rate Guide Master File

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 General Information

Part 3 Strategy

Part 4 Challenges, Adjustments, and Appeals

Glossary

Appendices

*The Department of Education strives to make all content accessible to everyone. While these documents do not currently meet the standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Federal Student Aid is working to create accessible versions. If you need access to these documents before the accessible versions are available, please contact the Information Technology Accessibility Program Help Desk at ITAPSupport@ed.gov to help facilitate.

Last Modified: 04/18/2024 • Published: 03/28/2021