CornerStone Student Loans: Your Complete Guide After the 2020 Transfer

Picture this: You wake up one morning, grab your coffee, and try to log into your CornerStone student loan account to make your monthly payment. But wait—the website won’t let you in. Panic sets in. Did you forget your password? Is the site down?

Take a deep breath, Rebecca. You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not going crazy.

If you’re one of the thousands of borrowers who had their federal student loans serviced by CornerStone, you’ve likely experienced this exact scenario. The truth is, CornerStone ended its federal loan servicing contract in October 2020, leaving many borrowers confused and frustrated about where their loans went.

What Happened to CornerStone Student Loans?

Let’s cut straight to the chase: CornerStone no longer services federal student loans. Period. The company, which was operated by the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA), officially stopped handling federal Direct Loans in October 2020.

This wasn’t a gradual phase-out or a choice borrowers could make. Every single CornerStone account was transferred to other federal loan servicers, including MOHELA, Aidvantage, Nelnet, and others. The company’s federal servicing contract simply ended, and with it, access to their online portal disappeared overnight.

Think of it like your favorite local coffee shop suddenly closing and all the customers being redirected to different Starbucks locations around town. Same coffee (your loans), different baristas (servicers).

Where Did Your CornerStone Loans Go?

Your loans didn’t vanish into thin air—they were reassigned to other Department of Education-approved servicers. The most common destinations were:

• MOHELA (Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority)
• Aidvantage (formerly Navient’s federal servicing arm)
• Nelnet
• Great Lakes Educational Loan Services

To find out exactly where your loans landed, here’s what you need to do:

1. Log into StudentAid.gov using your FSA ID
2. Check your loan dashboard—it will show your current servicer
3. Alternatively, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID

Pro tip: If you can’t remember your FSA ID, you can recover it on the StudentAid.gov homepage. This is your golden ticket to all federal student aid information.

The Top 10 Questions Former CornerStone Borrowers Ask

1. Why Can’t I Sign In to CornerStone Anymore?

Simple answer: Because CornerStone ended its federal servicing contract in October 2020. Every borrower account was migrated to another servicer, so the login portal was permanently shut down. It’s not coming back.

2. Who Is My New Loan Servicer, and How Do I Confirm It?

Your best bet is logging into StudentAid.gov with your FSA ID and checking your dashboard. You can also call 1-800-4-FED-AID if you prefer talking to a human. The website will clearly list your current servicer—no guessing games.

3. Did My Interest Rate or Repayment Plan Change After the Transfer?

Absolutely not. This is crucial to understand: servicer changes don’t alter your loan’s interest rate, balance, income-driven repayment plan, or Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility. They only change who sends you the bills and processes your payments.

Your loan terms are like a marriage certificate—they follow you regardless of who’s handling the paperwork.

4. I Was on Autopay with CornerStone. Do I Need to Re-enroll?

Unfortunately, yes. When loan portfolios transfer, autopay instructions typically don’t carry over. You’ll need to set up new autopay on your current servicer’s website to maintain that sweet 0.25-percentage-point interest rate discount.

Don’t sleep on this—that quarter-point discount can save you hundreds of dollars over the life of your loan. For those looking to manage their debt more effectively, maintaining autopay is a smart first step.

5. How Do I Get My 1098-E Interest Statement Now?

Your current servicer issues your annual 1098-E form (or lets you download it from their website). If you need older forms from your CornerStone days, request them from your new servicer—they maintain all your historical payment records.

This is especially important for tax season, as student loan interest can provide valuable deductions for eligible borrowers.

6. Will My PSLF or IDR Payment Counts Transfer Correctly?

By federal law, your payment counts and qualifying months must follow your loans to the new servicer. However, bureaucracy isn’t perfect, so verify these totals on StudentAid.gov a few weeks after your transfer.

If the numbers look off, contact your new servicer immediately with documentation. For borrowers pursuing income-driven repayment options, maintaining accurate payment counts is absolutely critical.

7. I Never Got a Transfer Letter—What Should I Do?

First, don’t panic. Check StudentAid.gov to identify your current servicer, then call them directly to update your email, phone, and mailing address. Many transfer notices got lost in spam folders or were sent to outdated addresses.

8. I Just Received an Email Saying I Owe CornerStone Money—Is This a Scam?

Red flag alert! Since CornerStone no longer services federal loans, any payment request from “CornerStone” is highly suspicious. These scams are unfortunately common and prey on borrower confusion.

Always verify suspicious messages by logging into StudentAid.gov or calling 1-800-4-FED-AID before clicking any links or providing personal information.

9. What If My Payment Posted to CornerStone After the Transfer Date?

Misdirected payments should be forwarded to your new servicer, but don’t assume this happened automatically. Contact your new servicer with proof of payment to ensure it was credited correctly to your account.

10. Does CornerStone Still Handle Any Student Loans?

Nope. As of 2025, CornerStone is completely out of federal loan servicing. The parent company, UHEAA, now focuses exclusively on state aid programs in Utah.

What This Means for Your Financial Strategy

The CornerStone transfer represents more than just a change in customer service—it’s an opportunity to reassess your student loan repayment strategy. Here’s what smart borrowers are doing:

Reviewing Repayment Options: With a new servicer comes a fresh chance to evaluate whether your current repayment plan still makes sense. The SAVE plan, for instance, offers significant benefits for many borrowers that weren’t available when you first signed up with CornerStone.

Consolidating Strategically: If you have multiple loan servicers now, loan consolidation might simplify your financial life. Just be careful—consolidation resets your PSLF payment count to zero.

Building Emergency Funds: The transfer chaos is a perfect reminder that financial surprises happen. Consider building a robust emergency fund to handle unexpected changes in your loan servicing or payment amounts.

Table: CornerStone vs. Current Major Servicers

Protecting Yourself from Student Loan Scams

The CornerStone situation created a perfect storm for scammers. Here’s how to protect yourself:

Never pay upfront fees for loan forgiveness or modification services. Legitimate federal programs are free.

Verify everything through StudentAid.gov before taking action on any loan-related communication.

Be suspicious of urgency. Scammers love phrases like “limited time offer” or “act now before your loans default.”

For borrowers dealing with financial stress, legitimate debt counseling services can provide valuable guidance without upfront costs.

Your Next Steps: A Action Plan

Here’s your roadmap to getting back on track after the CornerStone transfer:

Week 1: Log into StudentAid.gov, identify your new servicer, and create an account on their website.

Week 2: Set up autopay to maintain your interest rate discount and review your current repayment plan.

Week 3: Update your contact information with your new servicer and download any needed tax forms.

Week 4: If you’re pursuing PSLF, verify your payment counts and submit any required recertification paperwork.

For those juggling multiple financial priorities, consider whether personal loans or other debt consolidation strategies might simplify your overall financial picture.

The Silver Lining

While the CornerStone transfer was undoubtedly frustrating, many borrowers found their new servicers offered better online tools, mobile apps, and customer service options. Some discovered repayment plans or forgiveness programs they hadn’t known about before.

Change is never easy, especially when it involves your financial obligations. But remember—your loans are the same, your interest rates haven’t changed, and your path to payoff remains clear. You’ve just got a new partner helping you along the way.

Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This

The CornerStone student loan transfer threw a curveball at thousands of borrowers, but it’s not insurmountable. By taking proactive steps to understand your new servicer, setting up autopay, and staying vigilant against scams, you’ll be back on solid financial footing in no time.

Remember, you’re not just managing loans—you’re building a foundation for your financial future. Whether that includes aggressive debt payoff strategies, building wealth through smart budgeting, or simply staying current with your obligations, every positive step counts.

The CornerStone chapter of your student loan story is closed, but your journey toward financial freedom continues. And honestly? That’s pretty exciting.

Ready to take control of your student loans and overall financial health? Share your CornerStone transfer experience in the comments below, and let’s help each other navigate these changes successfully.

For more financial insights and money management tips, visit Wealthopedia – your trusted resource for building wealth and managing debt.