Entrance Counseling

Entrance Counseling <School/Conference information>

Agenda • Understand Your Commitment. • Your Loan Terms. • 150 Percent Subsidized Direct Loan Limit. • Repayment. • Consequences. • Affordability Analysis. • Getting Help. • Questions and Answers.

Understand Your Commitment Read all communication, forms and documents carefully. Understand the terms of your student loan. Manage your money. Ask for help.

Understand Your Commitment Master Promissory Note • Master Promissory Note: • Must be signed in order to receive loan funds. • Legally binding document. • Specifies your rights and responsibilities. • MPN multi-year feature: • Sign once. • You can “opt out” and sign a new MPN for each loan. • Some schools do not use this feature. • May expire in certain cases. • Borrower’s Rights and Responsibilities Statement. • Expect a “Plain Language Disclosure” for any subsequent loans. • Separate MPNs.

Understand Your Commitment Master Promissory Note • You promise to repay your loan, even if you: • Don’t complete your program of study at all or within the regular time frame for completion. • Are unable to locate employment after completing your program. • Are dissatisfied with or don’t receive services purchased from the school. • Don’t receive payment coupons or notifications from your loan servicer.

Understand Your Commitment Effect on Other Aid Monitor award notifications for updates. Contact financial aid office with questions.

Understand Your Commitment • No longer attending scheduled classes. • Contact us if you withdraw. • Exit counseling materials. • Drop below half-time: • Begin using grace period. • May enter repayment. Enrollment Status and Withdrawal Required to receive: • Direct Loan disbursements. • In-school deferment. Definition: • Undergraduates: school-defined, within federal requirements. • Graduates: school-defined. Drop below half-time: • Begin using grace period. • May enter repayment.

Your Loan Terms Availability of Loan Types X X X X

Your Loan Terms Interest Rates 0.25 percent rate deduction with automatic payments.

Your Loan Terms Interest Capitalization • Interest that accrues will be capitalized. • Payment of interest while in school saves money. Source: www.finaid.org Cost of Interest Capitalization Calculator.

Your Loan Terms Fees

150 Percent Subsidized Loan Limit • Limits Direct Subsidized loans for “first-time borrowers.” • Limited to 150 percent of published length of student’s current educational program. • Definition of first-time borrower: • No outstanding principal balance as of July 1, 2013. • Repaid all prior loans before July 1, 2013 before borrowing again.

150 Percent Subsidized Loan Limit • Affected borrowers who reach or exceed the 150 percent limit may experience: Effect on Borrowers They no longer qualify for Direct Subsidized loans beyond 150 percent of the program length, unless entering a longer program. They no longer qualify for interest subsidy on previously obtained loans as of the date attendancebegins after reaching the limit. Once interest subsidy is lost, it cannot be regained. Borrower becomes responsible for interest that accrues. Unpaid interest is capitalized.

150 Percent Subsidized Loan Limit Definitions 3 Department of Education calculates periods using information reported by schools.

Repayment Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans • Repayment begins: • After a six-month grace period that starts once no longer enrolled at least half time. • Immediately, if grace period expired previously. • Interest subsidy applies. • Eliminated for loans first disbursed July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2014. • No penalty for early repayment. • Unless delayed or deferred, the borrower’s first payment usually is due within 60 days of entering repayment.

Repayment PLUS Loans • Repayment begins when the loan is finally and fully disbursed. • No grace period. • May qualify for a post-enrollment deferment period. • Payment of principal begins six months after borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half time. • Renewable. • No penalty for early repayment. • Unless delayed or deferred, the borrower’s first payment usually is due within 60 days of entering repayment.

Repayment • Default repayment plan. • Generally results in lowest interest cost. • Minimum payment: $50/month. • Payments increase over time. • No payment will exceed three times any other payment. • Borrowers with $30,000 or more in FFEL or DL student loans. • Longer repayment period. Standard Graduated Extended

Repayment • Must have a partial financial hardship. • Minimum payment: $0/month. • Forgiveness available after 25 years. • Payment amount based on annual income. • Must re-apply each year. • Payment amount based on annual income. • Minimum payment: $5/month. • Must re-apply each year. • Must have a partial financial hardship. • Minimum payment: $0/month. • Must re-apply each year.. Income-Driven Plans Income-based Income-sensitive (FFELP) Income-contingent (DL) Pay as You Earn (DL)

Repayment Standard Repayment • Example of a standard repayment schedule: Source: http://calculator.usafunds.org/.

Repayment Relief Options Consolidation. Deferment. Forbearance. Discharge and forgiveness.

Consequences Delinquency Delinquency Lender has not received payment by the stated due date. Late charges may be assessed. Negative mark on your credit record.

Consequences Default • Lose eligibility for future federal financial aid. • Lose eligibility for flexible loan repayment options. • Adverse credit reports. • State-issued licenses can be withdrawn or denied. • Income tax refunds can be withheld. • Wages can be garnished. • Federal benefit payments can be confiscated. • Interest continues to accumulate. • Federal debt collection procedures, including fees and fines. • Legal action. No loan payments for 270 consecutive days or more

Affordability Analysis www.usafunds.org: Search for “Student Loan Affordability Analysis” How much income will you have? How much of your income are you willing to spend on your loans? How much can you borrower before your loans are no longer affordable?

Getting Help National Student Loan Data System www.nslds.ed.gov.

Getting Help Difficult Situations • If you cannot make a student loan payment: • Your loan holder. • Your school. • Department of Education. • If you have an unresolved issue: • Department of Education Ombudsman: • Phone: (877) 557-2575 • E-mail: fsaombudsmanoffice@ed.gov. • www.ombudsman.ed.gov.

Review Q: What legally binding document must you sign before you can receive your subsidized, unsubsidized or Grad PLUS loan funds? A: A Federal Master Promissory Note.

Review Q: Do you have to repay your Direct Loans if you don’t finish your program of study? A: Yes. By signing a Master Promissory Note, you are promising to repay your student loan even if you don’t finish your program, you are dissatisfied with your educational experience, or you cannot find a job.

Review Q: When will repayment begin on your subsidized, unsubsidized loan or Grad PLUS loan? A: After you no longer are enrolled at least half time in a degree or certificate program, you will have one six-month grace period (or post-enrollment deferment period for Grad PLUS loans) before repayment begins. The first payment is due within 30-45 days after the repayment period starts.

Review Q: Which of the following statements about defaulting on your student loan is false? a. Default means no payment was made for 270 days. b. Default usually results in additional fees and collection costs. c. Defaulted loans are not reported to consumer reporting agencies. d. Defaulted loans must be returned to good standing in order to get future federal financial aid.

Review Q: List at least one way to get help regarding your student loan if you need it. A: Your resources include: • Your loan servicer. • Your school. • U.S. Department of Education. • U.S. Department of Education Ombudsman.

Questions and Answers

Resources • www.usafunds.org. • www.nslds.ed.gov. • www.studentaid.ed.gov. • www.ombudsman.ed.gov.

Entrance Counseling