Managing Your Aid:

Loan Counseling

Loan Entrance Requirements

All new borrowers are required to complete entrance counseling prior to receiving Federal Direct Loans. During entrance counseling, you will learn:

  • What a Direct Loan is and how the loan process works
  • Managing your education expenses
  • Other financial resources to consider to help pay for your education
  • Your rights and responsibilities as a borrower

Complete the Loan Entrance Counseling online. Please note that professional undergraduate students should complete the Undergraduate Loan Entrance Counseling, and graduate students should complete the Graduate Loan Entrance Counseling. Allow about 30 minutes to complete the counseling. The Office of Graduate and Professional Student Financial Services will receive automatic notification concerning a completed entrance counseling session. If you have questions about entrance counseling, please call the Student Services Center (SSC) at (626) 815-2020.

Loan Exit Requirements

The federal government requires all loan borrowers to complete the Loan Exit Requirement as a recipient of the Federal Stafford or Graduate PLUS Loans, whether the loans were received through the Federal Family Education Loan Program or the Direct Loan Program. You must complete loan exit counseling when you withdraw from school, drop below half time, or graduate. Exit counseling provides important information regarding a borrower’s rights and responsibilities.

Please plan to complete the session in one sitting, allowing 20–30 minutes for completion. Prior to completing exit counseling, you will need to have the following information ready:

  • Your FSA ID, used to complete the FAFSA
  • Expected employer (if known)
  • Next of kin (name, address, email address, and phone number)
  • Two references who live in the United States (names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers)
  • Details on your future income, financial aid, and living expenses, if known

Complete the Loan Exit Counseling online. The Office of Graduate and Professional Student Financial Services will receive automatic notification concerning a completed exit counseling session. If you have questions about exit counseling, please call the Student Services Center (SSC) at (626) 815-2020.

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