Expanded Higher Education Opportunities for Hispanic Communities: Nelnet and HACU Announce New Partnership

Nov 22, 2004

LINCOLN, Neb., Nov 22, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Nelnet (National Education Loan Network) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) have announced a new partnership to expand higher education opportunities for Hispanic students and their families.

The new partnership, the HACU Education Loan Program, will provide the more than 390 colleges and universities that are HACU members and affiliates with access to Nelnet's student loan services, college planning, and financial aid information -- all designed to simplify and enhance opportunities to fund a college education. HACU serves more than two-thirds of all Hispanic college and university students.

The HACU Education Loan Program also will provide a discounted student loan with additional borrower benefits to students and parents of students attending HACU member institutions. Through the agreement HACU students and parents will have access to Nelnet's valuable student loan services and college planning resources, including financial literacy, debt management information, and other innovative products, which are available in Spanish and English.

"We at HACU are very excited about this new partnership with Nelnet. Student loans are an important ingredient in expanding access to higher education for Hispanic students. We look forward to opening the doors to college to many more students through the HACU Education Loan Program powered by Nelnet," said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.

"Nelnet is pleased to partner with HACU and continue our vision of making education dreams possible," said Nelnet President Don Bouc. "Together we can increase access to, and opportunities in, higher education with affordable student loans and top-of-the-line college planning tools."

Nelnet, a leading education finance company in the United States, offers a comprehensive set of Internet-based, open system products to serve schools and students at any point in the student loan process. The new partnership will allow Nelnet to work directly with HACU member campuses to encourage the most effective use of available college finance resources.

The HACU Education Loan Program will provide HACU member colleges and universities access to Nelnet's acclaimed College Planning Center and technology-based products, including college planning tools and resources, scholarship and financial aid information, assistance with filing FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms, and test preparation materials. Students and staff at HACU member institutions also will have access to Nelnet's expert College Planning Counselors at any point in the college funding search and application process.

Nelnet is one of the leading education finance companies in the United States and is focused on providing quality student loan products and services to students and schools nationwide. With over $14 billion in total assets, Nelnet originates in excess of $3 billion for itself and its service partners annually, and its servicing software is used by approximately 35 clients, including Nelnet, to service nearly $50 billion in student loans. Nelnet ranks among the nation's leaders in terms of total student loan assets.

Nelnet offers a broad range of student loan and financial services and technology-based products, including student loan origination and lending, guarantee servicing, and a suite of software solutions. Our products are designed to simplify the student loan process by automating financial aid delivery, loan processing, and funds disbursement. Our services help to facilitate and streamline education finance for all involved in the industry, including student and parent borrowers, lenders, financial aid officers, guaranty agencies, governmental agencies, servicers, and the capital markets.

For more information about HACU, contact HACU's national headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, at 210.692.3805, Ext. 3214, or visit www.hacu.net. For more information about Nelnet, contact Sheila Odom at 402.458.2329, or visit www.nelnet.net.

    (code #: nnig)

SOURCE Nelnet

media, Sheila Odom, +1-402-458-2329,
nelnetcommunications@nelnet.net, or investors, Cheryl Watson, +1-317-469-2064,
investorrelations@nelnet.net, both of Nelnet
http://www.hacu.net

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