POSTED DATE September 25, 2023
AUTHOR Federal Student Aid
ELECTRONIC ANNOUNCEMENT ID LOANS-23-09
SUBJECT FY 2020 Official Cohort Default Rates Distributed Sept. 25, 2023
On Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) distributed the FY 2020 official cohort default rate (CDR) notification packages to all eligible domestic and foreign schools only. The rates will be publicly released later this week.
In this announcement, we provide information about our distribution of the official rates and the begin dates and other reminders about the cohort default rate appeal process.
Distribution of FY 2020 Official Cohort Default Rates
For both eligible domestic and foreign schools enrolled in the Electronic Cohort Default Rate (eCDR) process, we sent FY 2020 official cohort default rate and accompanying documentation via the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG). This information was sent to the SAIG mailbox to the destination point administrator designated by the school. Each eCDR package contained the following information:
- Cover Letter (message class SHDRLROP)
- Extract-Type Loan Record Detail Report (message class SHCDREOP)
Notes:
- A Comma Delimited-Type Loan Record Detail Report (formerly sent via message class CDRCSVOP) is available via the 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.
- Like last year, the Reader-Friendly Loan Record Detail Report (message class SHCDRROP) is available in a PDF via the NSLDS Professional Access website. This report can also be downloaded from the Reports area as the SHCDR NSLDS School CDR History Report – PDF Download.
Schools not enrolled in eCDR will not receive an eCDR notification package. Schools may download their cohort default rate and accompanying Loan Record Detail Reports from the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS®) via the NSLDS Professional Access website.
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. If you have questions about using the LRDR Import Tool or NSLDS, contact the NSLDS Customer Support Center at 1-800-999-8219. You can also contact Customer Support by email at nslds@ed.gov.
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 2020 official CDR 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 through the NSLDS website.
Begin Dates for Appealing FY 2020 Official Cohort Default Rates
The period for appealing the FY 2020 official CDR under 34 C.F.R Part 668, Subpart N begins on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, for all schools.
Reminders About the Cohort Default Rate Appeal Process
Schools must use the electronic Cohort Default Rate Appeals (eCDR Appeals) System for the following appeals and adjustments.
- Loan Servicing Appeal
- Uncorrected Data Adjustment
- New Data Adjustment
Previously, some appeal types could be mailed to us in paper format, but we have moved to electronic submissions (email) since 2020. Schools must submit the following appeals electronically via password secured email (not the eCDR Appeals System) to the Cohort Default Rate Group; paper submissions will not be accepted.
- Economically Disadvantaged Appeal
- Participation Rate Index Appeal
- Erroneous Data Appeal
Send these appeals to fsa.schools.default.management@ed.gov with a copy (cc:) to mary.mcgeorge@ed.gov. The subject line of the email should be labeled as: FY 2020 Official [Insert appeal type], OPEID.
As a reminder, eCDR Appeals is a web-based application that allows schools to electronically submit certain adjustments/appeals requests during the specified timeframes. The application allows data managers (guaranty agency or federal loan servicer) and Federal Student Aid personnel to electronically view and respond to these adjustments/appeals. 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 Partner Eligibility and Oversight Services (PEOS) at the email address given below. As stated above, the period for challenging the FY 2020 official CDR begins on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, for all schools.
To complete an adjustment or appeal, you may need the data manager’s contact information. Click on the “Alphabetical and Numerical Data Manager Contacts” link from the home page of the Default Management Topics page on the Knowledge Center.
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 Topics page.
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.
Default Management Website Updates and Content Consolidation
As a reminder, in September 2022, we integrated all CDR information under the Default Management Topics page on the Knowledge Center.
All default management page URLs that began with “www2.ed.gov/OSFAP” were retired. Users with bookmarks containing that prefix must update those bookmarks as soon as possible. Ideally, users should update the bookmark to the Default Management Topics home page: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/topics/default-management.
Contact Information
For additional information regarding the school cohort default rate calculation or the challenge processes, refer to the CDRG.
You may also contact us by email at fsa.schools.default.management@ed.gov or by phone at 202-377-4259.