How To Remove Student Loans From Your Credit Report

Like most debts, student loans appear on your credit report and can impact your credit score, both positively and negatively. While they usually stay on your report for years, even after they're paid off, mistakes can happen — like payments being misreported or the wrong account appearing entirely. In fact, an April 2024 study by Consumer Reports and WorkMoney revealed that more than half of consumers found errors on their credit reports, with more than a quarter of those errors leading to credit damage.

When checking your credit report, it's important to understand what information should and shouldn't be there and what steps to take if errors appear. Keep reading to learn when and how to remove student loans from your credit report.

When can student loans be removed from a credit report?

Generally speaking, you can't remove information about your student loans from your credit report as long as it's accurate. This includes both positive and negative information, including payment histories, balances, missed payments, and more.

That being said, student loans don't stay on your credit report indefinitely once you've paid them off. Closed accounts appear on your credit report for 10 years. However, any negative information about the accounts, including late payments, accounts in collections, or charged-off accounts, falls off after seven years.

The only situation where you can usually have information removed from your credit report ahead of schedule is if it's inaccurate.

For example, if your student loan lender incorrectly reported a missed payment, you could have that specific payment — though not the entire account — removed. On the other hand, if student loans that aren't yours at all appear on your credit report, you could have them removed altogether.

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Common student loan errors on credit reports

Credit report errors generally fall into three distinct categories:

• Identity errors: You may find student loans on your credit report that aren't yours but belong to someone with a similar name. It's also possible to have student loans in your name as a result of identity theft.
• Account status errors: It's possible that an account's status was reported incorrectly. For example, a closed account could be marked open, an account could be incorrectly marked as late, delinquent, or in default, or information could be listed under the wrong date.
• Data management errors: You may find a student loan on your credit report with an incorrect balance.

Duplicate student loan accounts can also show up on credit reports. For example, in mid-2024, more than one million borrowers had their student loans reported multiple times, making it seem like they owed twice as much as they actually did.

However, those duplicate reports aren't always an error, according to Ali Zane, a credit consultant and CEO of iMax Credit Repair Firm.

“Student loans are generally broken up by semester or quarter, so it's not uncommon for someone's student loans to show up as 10 different accounts,” says Zane.

It's important to compare the loans and balances on your credit report to your personal records to determine if the duplicate report is actually an error.

How to dispute incorrect student loans on your credit report

If there's incorrect information on your credit report, you can dispute it with both the lender and the credit bureaus. They are required to correct it for free. Here's how to file your dispute:

1. Identify which credit reports have incorrect information: Check your credit report with all three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. File a dispute with any credit report that reports incorrect information.
2. Gather your documents: If you have any documents that support your argument, get copies and provide them with your dispute. For example, maybe your credit report shows a missed payment, but both your bank statement and payment history in your student loan account prove that to be false.
3. Submit your dispute: Each credit bureau gives multiple ways to file disputes, including online, via mail, and over the phone. If you decide to submit your dispute via mail, the Federal Trade Commission provides a sample letter you can use to get started.

Once you submit your dispute, the credit bureau must investigate it within 30 days. If the lender can provide documentation to show the information is accurate, it will likely remain on your credit report. However, if it's actually an error, it should be removed. Once the credit bureau completes its investigation, you'll get their response in writing.

What to do if a student loan error isn't resolved

Filing a dispute with the credit bureau doesn't always result in the error being removed from your credit report. In that case, you have a few options.

“If the credit bureau doesn't fix the problem, it's time to go to the source: the loan servicer,” says Steven Kibbel, certified financial planner. “Sometimes, the error starts there, and they'll need to correct it before it filters down to your credit report.”

Another step you can take is to add a statement to your credit file. While this won't improve your credit or remove the information, it will give you the opportunity to explain certain aspects of your credit report. When a company pulls your credit report, they'll be able to see the statement.

Another option is to file a complaint with either the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or your state's attorney general's office (or both). And in extreme cases, you may consider a lawsuit against the credit reporting company.

“You might need to talk to a consumer rights attorney,” says Kibbel. “It can be a long process, but persistence pays off.”

Check Out: 3 Ways To Refinance Student Loans With Bad Credit

Tips for keeping your credit report accurate

Staying proactive can help you catch and correct credit report errors early. Regularly reviewing your credit report is the best way to stay on top of any mistakes and ensure your information is accurate.

“Stay vigilant and regularly review your credit reports. Even if you're using a credit monitoring service, it's on you to double-check the details,” says Jeanne Kelly, credit coach and author of “The 90-Day Credit Challenge.”

You can pull your free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. While federal law guarantees a free credit report every 12 months, the site has offered free weekly reports since the pandemic.

Another step is to communicate with your loan servicers early to correct errors. Keep all letters and documents from your loan servicer, and compare them to your online student loan account and your credit report to ensure everything is accurate. When you find inaccurate information, act as quickly as possible.