Entrance & Exit Counseling

Direct Loan Entrance Counseling 

Students who are first-time borrowers of subsidized and/or unsubsidized Direct Student loans must complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling before we can disburse loans. Direct Loan Entrance Counseling helps ensure that the borrower understands the terms and conditions of the loan, as well as his or her rights and responsibilities as a loan borrower. Borrowers who do not complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling will be unable to receive student loans.

Direct Loan Entrance Counseling is available at Student Aid Page. Students will need their FSA ID to log in. Make sure to indicate Southwestern College as the recipient school once the process is complete so that an electronic notice is sent to us.  

Link to PDF document of the Department of Education's publication "Entrance Counseling Guide"

Direct Loan Exit Counseling

Students who have taken out Direct Student Loan are required by federal law to have Direct Loan Exit Counseling any time they graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment for any reason. Exit counseling provides important information needed to prepare to repay federal student loans. It reacquaints students with the type(s) of loans which they have, the amount of their indebtedness, and their rights and responsibilities under each loan program.

Direct Loan Exit Counseling is available at Student Aid Page. Students will need their FSA ID to log in.

Students will also be asked to provide the name, address, email address, and telephone number for their next of kin; two references who live in the U.S.; and current or expected employer (if known).

The student will take a short "exam" specific to their loan program. All questions on the exam must be answered correctly before the exit counseling is considered complete. Upon completion of the exam, students will print the confirmation page and sent to the financial aid office that they have completed the exit counseling successfully

Students will have a restriction placed on their records until the Direct Loan Exit Counseling requirement is satisfied. The restriction prohibits you from registering for classes at Southwestern College. Once you have completed the loan exit counseling requirement, AND notified the loan coordinator, the hold will be released within 1-2 business days.