Oakland County Student Debt Relief Program with Savi

• More than 1,000 Oakland County residents have already reduced their student debt through the Savi partnership, with a projected $20 million in lifetime savings.
• Collections on defaulted federal student loans are scheduled to resume on May 5, 2025. Oakland County residents in this situation are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the Savi platform now, while free access is available.
• Free access to Savi’s student debt relief services is available to all residents and county employees through Sept. 30, 2025 at OakGov.com/Savi.

Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County’s partnership with Savi is already delivering powerful results. More than 1,000 residents have had their student debt reduced, with a projected $20 million in lifetime savings on their college loans.

These early outcomes underscore the success of the Oakland County Student Debt Relief Initiative, the first county-wide program of its kind in the nation.

“These results are just the beginning,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “We’re proving that local government can make a real, measurable difference in people’s lives by reducing the financial burden of student loan debt.”

“This is exactly the incredible impact we envisioned when we launched this program,” said Board Chair David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak). “We’re lowering costs, helping people reduce or eliminate student debt, and together making our local economy stronger.”

After a five-year hiatus during the COVID pandemic, collections on defaulted federal student loans are scheduled to resume on May 5, 2025. Oakland County residents in this situation are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the Savi platform now, while free access is available, to get the help they need before collections begin.

Oakland County’s student debt relief initiative was launched in July 2024 through a collaboration of County Executive Dave Coulter’s administration and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. The goal is to help residents navigate student loan repayment options and access federal forgiveness programs, all with the support of Savi’s expert tools and personal assistance.

“Savi ended up being a godsend for me,” said Jackie Vermilya, an immunization program specialist in Oakland County Health Division who is a Savi user. “The Savi program helped me so much with the paperwork to take advantage of the Public Loan Forgiveness Program and I was able to get $174,000 forgiven. A huge weight was taken off my shoulders and I will forever be grateful for the help I received from Savi.”

Residents and Oakland County employees can still register for free one-year access to Savi’s services through Sept. 30, 2025 by visiting OakGov.com/Savi.

Through its platform, Savi helps users discover the most effective loan repayment plans, apply for forgiveness programs and navigate the complexities of federal student loan policy. To date, Savi has identified more than $3 billion in potential loan forgiveness nationwide, with average savings exceeding $25,000 per borrower.