Student Loan Counseling
Understand your loan obligations with entrance and exit counseling
Loan counseling is required when a student takes on a federal loan and when they graduate. Students will be instructed by their school on how to complete loan counseling, which many schools offer online.
- Entrance counseling explains your initial responsibilities when you take out a federal direct loan
- Exit counseling reviews your responsibilities when you graduate and need to begin repaying the loan
Take advantage of these mandated counseling sessions to learn how to handle your loans responsibly. Get a head start on a positive financial future.
These are designed to help you understand your loan obligations, not overwhelm you with useless information. Here is an overview of what to expect.
Entrance counseling
Entrance counseling sessions may typically cover these topics:
- Borrower's rights and responsibilities statement regarding any Direct Stafford Loans
- Repayment plans
- Information about other sources of aid, from scholarships to aid from state agencies
- School and federal policies covering withdrawals and loan refunds
- How to budget successfully
Exit counseling
To prepare you for beginning to repay your loan, these items are typically covered in exit counseling:
- Explanations of grace periods and payment options
- How to avoid delinquency and default
- Deferment and forbearance options
- A disclosure statement covering the loan balance owed and the number of payments
Additional student loan and college planning resources
- Student Loan Deferment and Deferred Interest
- Benefits of Prepayment
- What Happens to My Loans When I Graduate?
- How to Handle Financial Changes
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