CFPB Consumer Complaint Profile
Nelnet, Inc.
Behind the 24,433 CFPB complaints on file for this company is a data trail showing how it typically handles credit, billing and collection disputes.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 24,433
- Total complaints
- 7,093
- Last 12 months
- 99.7%
- Timely response
- 56
- States affected
The verdict
Out of 3,848 financial companies in the CFPB database, Nelnet, Inc. has accumulated 24,433 complaints, placing it #31 by volume. It answers 99.7% of complaints on time - above the 93% median for companies with 100+ complaints.
- #31
- of 3,848 companies by volume
- 99.7%
- answered on time
- Student loan
- most-complained product
- 56
- states with complaints
Percent of CFPB complaints answered within the regulator's expected window. Industry benchmark sits at 95%.
Reading this profile
Complaints by Product
Top Issues
Complaints by Year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 31 |
| 2013 | 35 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 553 |
| 2017 | 1,013 |
| 2018 | 991 |
| 2019 | 922 |
| 2020 | 1,119 |
| 2021 | 1,418 |
| 2022 | 1,809 |
| 2023 | 3,361 |
| 2024 | 3,537 |
| 2025 | 8,074 |
| 2026 | 1,520 |
Complaints by State (Top 15)
Company Responses
What the CFPB Complaint Record Shows for Nelnet, Inc.
Nelnet, Inc. carries 24,433 complaints in the CFPB's database, 7,093 of them filed within the past 12 months. Consumers spanning 56 states and territories have weighed in, giving this a nationwide footprint. No product draws more complaints than "Student loan," which sits at the top of the product breakdown. The specific issue named most within that category is "Dealing with your lender or servicer," a reasonable starting point for understanding recurring friction.
Nelnet, Inc.'s timely response rate stands at 99.7%, meaning that share of CFPB-forwarded complaints received a company reply within the 15-day window the Bureau expects. That figure is at or above the industry benchmark and suggests the company's intake and escalation processes are functioning as designed. Consumers formally disputed the company's response in 18.8% of resolved cases, a signal of how often the initial resolution failed to satisfy the complainant. Among resolved complaints, 0.2% closed with the consumer receiving monetary or non-monetary relief.
How to read complaint counts
Complaint counts alone do not tell the full story, larger institutions with more customers will naturally generate more complaints in absolute terms. The more informative signals are the direction of the yearly trend shown above, the state-level concentration (which hints at regional servicing issues or regulatory exposure), and the ratio of monetary-relief closures to closed-without-relief outcomes. Taken together, these fields give consumers a reasonable empirical basis for deciding whether to escalate a dispute, and give researchers a starting point for investigating institutional patterns.
Educational data summary, not financial or legal advice. Individual complaint outcomes vary. Consumers should consult a qualified attorney or financial advisor for guidance on a specific dispute.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CFPB complaints does Nelnet, Inc. have?
Nelnet, Inc. has 24,433 total consumer complaints filed with the CFPB, with 7,093 filed in the last 12 months.
Does Nelnet, Inc. respond to complaints on time?
Nelnet, Inc. has a 99.7% timely response rate to CFPB complaints. That is a strong response record by CFPB standards.
What product generates the most complaints for Nelnet, Inc.?
Among all products tied to Nelnet, Inc., "Student loan" accounts for the largest share of complaints (full breakdown above).
What is the most common complaint issue with Nelnet, Inc.?
"Dealing with your lender or servicer" is the single most frequently cited issue in complaints against Nelnet, Inc. - see all issues and counts above.
How do I file a complaint against Nelnet, Inc.?
You can file a complaint against Nelnet, Inc. directly with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB will forward your complaint to the company and work to get you a response, typically within 15 days.
In how many states have consumers complained about Nelnet, Inc.?
Consumers in 56 states and territories have filed complaints about Nelnet, Inc. with the CFPB. This count includes the 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and smaller CFPB-tracked jurisdictions such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and military postal codes (APO/FPO), which is why it can exceed the 52 states and territories that have a dedicated state page on this site.
Similar Companies
Matched by complaint volume nationwide and by product category - a different peer set than the sibling-portal links below.
Similar complaint volume (~24,433)
Also handles Student loan
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database CFPB Consumer Complaint Database Data through March 2026
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.