The federal government provides several types of loans to help students and their families pay for college and other educational expenses. One of the most popular types of federal student loan programs is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, known to most as Navient student loans. Navient, a spin-off from Sallie Mae, is the country's largest servicer of federal education loans.

Unlike private student loans, Navient government loans are federally subsidized, meaning the government funds the loan and covers part of the interest for the borrower during college. School districts, state colleges, and universities may also use the student loan program through the Department of Education to disburse direct loans.

Navient government loans offer a few distinct advantages over private lender loans.

1. Lower Rates: Unlike most private loans, student loan rates at Navient can be as low as 4.45% depending on the type of loan and when it was taken out. Private lenders often charge much higher interest rates.

2. Deferment and Forbearance: If you are having difficulty making payments on your loan due to financial hardships, federal loans allow you to defer payments, so you can avoid defaulting.