What People Say About This Service
"My LSS Financial Counselor really helped me out! He explained the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and my options. He made sure I understood the information being presented and what my next steps needed to be. Just a little support can go a long way."
– Julie
"LSS Financial Counseling has been and continues to be available as a tremendous support in navigating and managing my complicated student loans. When I received conflicting and confusing information from the companies managing my student loans, the LSS Financial Counseling staff helped me determine the best strategies to move forward. I’m getting closer to paying off my loans and feeling better financially. Thanks, LSS Financial Counseling for all of your time and help with my student loans and helping me to improve other aspects of my financial well-being."
– Aimee
“The step by step support I received from the LSS Financial Counseling team gave me the confidence to complete the student loan forgiveness process. The information was confusing, so to have guidance through it all made a world of difference for me.”
– Lauren
"The prospect of contacting someone for help and acknowledging my problem was scary, daunting and intimidating. I thought the process would be lengthy and complicated; I thought I’d be condemned and shamed. But from my very first meeting with my financial counselor and each one after that, I was treated with respect. He didn’t come down from an ivory tower to tell me what to do and talk down to me. He was just another member of the community who had answers and tools. He was there to assist me, not fix me."
"In just two weeks after that first meeting, I was firmly on the road to a future free of student loan debt. Instead of facing payments well into retirement, I can now erase my debt within 10 years – something I believed would never happen."
– Chris from Minneapolis, MN
"I just wanted to thank you for your assistance with my student loans. A few years ago, one of your counselors helped me refinance my student loans and get into an affordable payment plan. This year during my automatic annual recalculation, my student loan payment went up from $500 to $1,000 a month -- an amount that would have been impossible for me to afford.
"The same counselor assisted me again. She provide me information on how to request an immediate recalculation, including how to submit it and what documentation I needed to include. I just received my recalculation, and my payment is back down to an affordable amount.
"Sincere thanks to her and your program for helping me relieve my financial stress and allowing me to develop a plan to continue managing my student loans!"
– Chris from Hibbing, MN
“I had planned to be veterinarian and attended vet school for one year. Unfortunately, I had to drop out for personal reasons and was left with $100,000 in student loan from just that one year. Fortunately, I heard about LSS Financial Counseling and got connected with one of your counselors. He got me signed up for an income-based payment plan to lower my monthly payment from almost $300 to $40. He also signed me up for Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which will be huge. By the time I’ve gone through the program I will have paid $5,000 on the loans – and the rest will be forgiven. There was no other way I could pay that off.
“Working with LSS Financial Counseling was a life-changing experience for me. My counselor made me feel less shameful and alone about my debt and made me feel it was manageable – something I could get control over. I feel ready for the future and more confident and comfortable with my finances.”
– Allison
“The balances were zeroes! My student loan counselor offered me support and guidance which led to my federal student loans being forgiven.”
– Marsha
What Do I Need for Counseling?
In order for your financial counseling session to be most productive, it is helpful to have the following information available:
- Your monthly income
- Typical monthly expenses
- Statements from your creditors.
- Any other information you believe would be helpful in understanding your financial situation.
Get Started Today
Our free and confidential Student Loan Services are available for Minnesota residents by phone or virtually. We also offer in-person appointments across Minnesota.
We have counselors who are fluent in Spanish and Hmong. In addition, American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available as needed.