Summer for Connecticut

Student loan help, built for Connecticut

The case in brief

About 591,000 Connecticut residents hold $22.4 billion in student debt; 91,000 are already in default.
Changing federal repayment rules and complex applications make it hard for borrowers to use relief programs for which they may qualify.
Summer combines a digital platform, borrower outreach, and student loan experts to help people lower payments, pursue forgiveness, and resolve default.

See how Summer works

591,617CT residents with private and federal student loans

$22.4Bin outstanding student loans

91,000CT residents already in default

1) Challenge

Connecticut's borrowers are under immense stress

The scale of student debt is substantial, and borrowers say they want help finding a way through.

Connecticut borrower survey · July 2026

Borrowers want help navigating relief.

88%

of surveyed borrowers want help navigating assistance programs, checking eligibility, and accessing benefits.

44%are in default or expect to default in 2026.

See which borrowers face the greatest default risk

Who faces the greatest pressure

Borrowers of color face a higher risk of default.

In the Connecticut survey, Black and Hispanic or Latino borrowers reported greater risk of default this year than White borrowers.

Likelihood of defaulting in 2026

Black borrowers54%

Hispanic or Latino borrowers49%

White borrowers37%

71%of borrowers are ages 25–44, in their prime working years.

See how student debt is affecting residents’ finances

The domino effect of student debt and its drag on the state's economy

36%delayed homeownership

34%put off retirement savings

24%delayed starting a family

66%reported a negative impact on their mental health

Source: Centiment Connecticut borrower survey, July 15–20, 2026 (519 borrower respondents).

Explore more borrower findings

79%said student loans are causing financial difficulty

46%lack confidence in making upcoming payments

53%owe more than $40,000; 1 in 5 owe more than $70,000

If their debt were reduced, 49% said they would prioritize saving for a home and 16% said they would increase local spending.

These responses came from 519 current borrowers among 914 Connecticut residents surveyed. Centiment reports a 95% confidence level and ±4.30% margin of error.

See how Connecticut fits in the larger federal landscape

Federal Student Aid data through June 30, 2026

The federal repayment system is in a state of turmoil

Since pandemic-era repayment protections wound down, Federal Student Aid reports skyrocketing defaults, deepening delinquencies, and millions of borrowers still navigating the transition out of SAVE Plan-related forbearance.

9.3Mborrowers nationally are in default, with $234 billion in outstanding federal student loans

3.5Mare more than 30 days delinquent—including 1.5 million at risk of default within six months

8Mhave at least one loan in forbearance; FSA expects this number to fall as more SAVE borrowers exit

FSA also reports that many borrowers leaving SAVE are enrolling in other income-driven repayment plans. A statewide service can help Connecticut residents evaluate their options and act before delinquency turns into default.

National figures; not Connecticut-specific counts. Source: Federal Student Aid quarterly reports through June 30, 2026

Source: Centiment Connecticut borrower survey, July 15–20, 2026 (519 borrower respondents).

2) Solution

Built in Connecticut by borrowers and former public servants

Summer, PBC is a Certified B Corp founded in Connecticut in partnership with Yale University in 2017 by student loan experts from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Department of Education. Summer partners with state and local governments nationwide to help residents access federal benefits. It pairs coordinated outreach with a digital platform and expert guidance through enrollment in eligible assistance programs.

1 millionborrowers helped

$2.2 billionin total projected lifetime savings

How Summer's platform works for residents

01 / FIND

Identify options

Review loan, income, and employment information to surface relevant repayment and forgiveness pathways.

02 / APPLY

Get through the forms

Guide borrowers through applications for eligible federal and state programs, with support at difficult steps.

03 / STAY ON TRACK

Follow through

Help borrowers manage next steps, including options to recertify and resolve default when applicable.

Product walkthrough

See how a resident uses Summer

A resident gets a clear starting point, personalized options, and help completing the steps required by federal or state programs.

01
Create a secure account
Enter basic information to begin the free, guided experience.
02
Seamlessly sync your student loans
Add loan, income, and employment information so Summer can identify relevant paths.
03
Compare personalized options
See the current plan alongside eligible programs, monthly payments, and potential forgiveness.
04
Complete the application
Move through forms and next steps with built-in guidance and access to Summer’s support team, including certified student loan experts.

A look inside SummerSummer offers expert guidance, built to handle complex situations

A walkthrough of income-driven repayment on Summer’s platform. A Connecticut program would use state-specific information and configuration.

Connecticut page preview

A starting point built for Connecticut borrowers

See Summer’s working mockup of a Connecticut borrower landing page. This preview is not live enrollment or an approved state program.

View the page mockup

PREVIEW PASSWORDSavings2026

Screenshot of Summer’s proposed Connecticut borrower page, showing its header and family photograph

Customized for Connecticut borrowers

The state has already invested in helping borrowers. Summer can help residents use it.

Borrowers need an easier path to federal relief and greater awareness of Connecticut’s own programs. Summer, PBC can bring both together in one place, helping residents find their options, understand eligibility, and access benefits—including the Connecticut Student Loan Reimbursement Program.

Supporting borrower advocates

More guidance for borrowers, more capacity for public offices

Help more residents navigate assistance. Connecticut’s Office of the Student Loan Ombudsperson helps people understand their rights and resolve complaints. Summer’s digital tools and student loan experts could give residents another path to individualized repayment and forgiveness guidance at scale.
Make outcomes visible. Summer can provide government partners with aggregate reporting on borrower reach, applications, and outcomes. Any referral process for complex complaints would be defined with the relevant state office if a program is established.

Reaching Connecticut borrowers

Meet borrowers where they are.

Reach borrowers through trusted partners. Summer can work with Connecticut unions, colleges, and community organizations to put guidance in front of people they already serve.
Turn awareness into applications. Pair awareness campaigns and borrower testimonials with hands-on support, then measure completed applications—not just clicks.

Borrowers served through Summer

For Denise and Sam, relief is personal

These stories show the people behind Summer’s results in other communities.

Denise

$221 / month

saved after enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan with Summer’s help.

Sam

$38,000

saved through Public Service Loan Forgiveness with Summer’s help.

NYC case study · $143 million in projected lifetime savings

Case Study

A working model for scale and measurable relief

Summer began serving New York City employees in 2025 and expanded access to residents later that year. The partnership combined a digital path through repayment and forgiveness programs with expert support, agency outreach, and regular reporting.

$143,000,000

in total projected lifetime savings and forgiveness for New Yorkers across the employee and resident programs since launching in 2025.

Summer-reported results as of September 2026

WHAT CONNECTICUT CAN CARRY FORWARD

Access is only the beginning.

Give residents one clear entry point and show relevant options.
Pair self-service tools with experts who help complete applications.
Use agency and community outreach, then report actions and projected outcomes with agreed definitions.

Explore Summer’s NYC resident page

Summer in the News

Connect with Summer

Help more borrowers find their way forward

Summer works with government and other sponsoring partners to provide student loan guidance at no cost to borrowers.

Contact Summer

Sources and context

Connecticut borrower figures and state comparisons are drawn from Federal Reserve Bank of New York household debt statistics and the Connecticut Centiment borrower survey of 519 current borrowers, July 15–20, 2026. National repayment figures come from Federal Student Aid quarterly reports through June 30, 2026. Summer and New York City outcomes shown here are Summer-reported projected lifetime results. This page describes a possible approach; Connecticut has not announced or approved a Summer program.