by Staff Report
HARTFORD, CT – Connecticut residents will be offered a series of free virtual webinars to help them better understand student loan repayment and forgiveness options amid continuing changes to federal student loan programs.
Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Student Loan Ombudsperson Michelle Jarvis-Lettman this week said the state will provide the events in partnership with the Student Debt Crisis Center.
“Student loan debt affects Connecticut residents of all ages, and navigating repayment can become even more challenging when federal programs and requirements change,” Lamont said in a news release. “These webinars will give borrowers access to clear, reliable information about the options available to them so they can make informed decisions about their financial futures.”
Approximately 521,400 Connecticut residents hold $19.8 billion in federal student loan debt, according to an April 2026 report from the Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller citing U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid data.
Borrowers between the ages of 25 and 49 account for approximately $12.6 billion of that debt, while Connecticut borrowers age 62 and older hold approximately $2 billion in federal student loan debt, officials said.
“Student loan borrowers should not have to navigate this overbearing federal student loan system alone,” Jarvis-Lettman said. “Borrowers should have a trustworthy advocate who will provide guidance and compassion while they make financial decisions for their education.”
Jarvis-Lettman said her office’s goal is to make complicated student loan information easier to understand and provide Connecticut residents with practical information they can use to evaluate their options and determine their next steps.
All webinars are free and virtual, but participants must register separately for each session. The series includes:
Sept. 23 at 12 p.m.: Understanding July 1 Changes
Oct. 22 at 12 p.m.: Entering Repayment
Nov. 5 at 12 p.m.: Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Nov. 19 at 12 p.m.: Exiting the SAVE Plan and Other Repayment Options
The sessions will focus on providing borrowers with information on recent federal student loan changes, general repayment options, entering repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness and repayment options for borrowers transitioning out of the SAVE plan, Jarvis-Lettman said. Borrowers can also book one-on-one appointments (phone call or virtual) with the office by using the Online Appointment Booking Portal.
The Connecticut Office of the Student Loan Ombudsperson is now a division of the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, as of July 1. It previously operated as an entity within the Connecticut Department of Banking.
In addition to the resources available through the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsperson, the Office of Higher Education administers the Student Loan Reimbursement Program, which provides eligible Connecticut residents with reimbursement for qualifying student loan payments.
Connecticut residents who attended an eligible Connecticut college or university and complete 50 hours of volunteer service may qualify for reimbursement of up to $5,000 for student loan payments made in 2025, subject to program eligibility requirements and available funding.
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