Press Releases

For Release: 1/31/2007

Contact: Eric Solomon, 202.659.2258

Portland, Maine, January 31, 2007 -- On February 5, Nelnet will begin providing education planning and financing services to education-seeking families through its Portland-based College Planning Center. The Portland center is an extension of Nelnet's Indiana-based national College Planning Center and represents an expansion of operations in Nelnet's regional School Service Center located in Portland's historic Old Port district. The addition of an on-site supervisor and several education counselors doubles the size of the Portland facility, supporting ample room for future expansion if the need arises.

"Nelnet doesn't just help families pay for college; we help them understand college admissions and education financing options, guiding them through the entire process," said Tom Patterson, Managing Director for Nelnet. "Extending the College Planning Center to New England allows us to provide better service to education-seeking families and the schools that serve them in the region."

More than 400 schools nationwide currently utilize Nelnet's free college planning services. Typically a college financial aid office will refer students and parents to the College Planning Center for assistance with Title IV (federal), state and institutional aid resources. Students can choose online services, direct toll-free telephone contact, e-mail and live chat; all services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English and Spanish. Counselors have extensive training in federal and state financial aid processes, rules and regulations.

Specific assistance available through Nelnet includes step-by-step instructions on completing the FAFSA – the starting point for all federal financial aid, explanation of the financial aid award process and a detailed review of specific financial aid awards. Other education planning and financing resources include nearly $10 billion in scholarship searches, online practice tests for the SAT and ACT and numerous financial planning calculators. The online resources are closely integrated with rich college planning and career services content from Peterson's, a Nelnet company.