This service is free to students.

Federal law requires borrowers  to complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling prior to receiving the first disbursement of a Direct Loan. However, a borrower who is receiving his or her first Direct Loan is not required to complete entrance counseling if he or she has previously received the same type of loan through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program.  This quick and easy interactive counseling session provides useful tips and tools to help you develop a budget for managing your educational expenses and helps you to understand your loan responsibilities.

Benefits to students

• Counseling sessions meet regulatory requirements
• Students can complete the counseling programs at their convenience online
• Sessions help students understand the rights and responsibilities of  borrowing
• Provides information and terms to help you make the right choices

You are borrowing Direct Subsidized Loans and/or Direct Unsubsidized Loans to help you finance your education. Repaying these loans is a serious responsibility. Check with your school's financial aid office to be sure that this session will satisfy their requirements for Entrance Counseling.

Please note that you must complete the entire session once you begin. There will be a series of short quizzes that you will be required to complete before continuing through the session.  If you exit the counseling before completing the session and return later, you will need to start over from the beginning. You must receive a confirmation page before the process is complete.

Timely completion of entrance counseling ensures you receive your funds in time to pay tuition and fees by settlement deadline.

This counseling session covers the following federal student loan types:

William D. Ford Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans

• Direct Subsidized Loans
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Direct PLUS Loans (for graduate/professional students)

Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans

• Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans
• Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
• Federal PLUS Loans (for graduate/professional students)

This online entrance counseling session will take about 20-30 minutes to complete.