Entrance and Exit Counseling

Federal Direct Loan student borrowers are required to complete mandatory online entrance and exit counseling. The purpose of the counseling is to provide the student with information regarding his or her rights and responsibilities, the commitment that comes with the acceptance of a student loan, and to help the student understand how to manage student loans. It is important for all borrowers to realize that student loans are not grants or scholarships; they require repayment.

You will need to have an FSA ID (username and password) to access the entrance and exit counseling.

Entrance Counseling
Online entrance counseling is also required for all Direct, Graduate, and parent PLUS loan borrowers. Entrance counseling takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. After signing in on the www.studentloans.gov website to complete entrance counseling, be sure to click on the Entrance Counseling link, not the Financial Awareness Counseling link. Federal Direct Stafford, Graduate, and parent PLUS loans will not disburse until entrance counseling has been completed.

Exit Counseling
All student borrowers who leave the institution either by graduating, withdrawing, or failing to return for a subsequent semester are required by federal law to complete exit counseling on the web. Federal Direct Loan exit counseling is available at www.studentloans.gov. Student borrowers must complete exit counseling to obtain official transcripts from the Registrar’s Office.

If you have any problems completing the online counseling or have any questions, please call the Office of Financial Aid at (617) 850-1239 or email mkirchmaier@niagarafishingservices.com.