why do i have to do an exit counseling course if i'm going back to school

by Dr. Bethany Hilpert Jr. 6 min read

Financial Aid Why do I need to complete the Exit Counseling when I graduate or leave school? The Exit Counseling is required by the Lender/Servicer under Federal Guidelines in order to keep your current address and phone numbers up to date to make sure that you can be contacted about the repayment of your loans.

You must complete exit counseling when you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment. The purpose of exit counseling is to ensure you understand your student loan obligations and are prepared for repayment. You'll learn about what your federal student loan payments will look like after school.

Full Answer

Do I need exit counseling?

Financial Aid Why do I need to complete the Exit Counseling when I graduate or leave school? The Exit Counseling is required by the Lender/Servicer under Federal Guidelines in order to keep your current address and phone numbers up to date to make sure that you can be contacted about the repayment of your loans.

What happens to your diploma when you finish exit counseling?

Exit counseling is a federal requirement for all students with loans whose enrollment is less than half time or who are exiting an institution or transferring to another institution. These students must complete exit counseling online at www.studentloans.gov. The purpose of exit counseling is to educate borrowers about their rights and responsibilities for the federal student loans they …

Why do I have to go through entrance counseling again?

Mar 27, 2019 · Student loan exit counseling is an online course offered by the US Department of Education through StudentLoans.gov that walks students through the federal loan (s) they signed up for to pay for their education. The purpose of loan counseling is …

What is exit counseling for student loans?

The federal government requires schools to conduct exit interviews with all students who receive specific types of federal student loans. You need exit counseling if you have a: Direct Subsidized Loan Direct Unsubsidized Loan Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized)

Do I complete exit counseling if I am going to grad school?

Exit counseling is required for all federal student loan borrowers. Borrowers who received a subsidized, unsubsidized or PLUS loan under the direct loan program must complete exit counseling when they drop below half-time enrollment, leave school or graduate.Nov 4, 2020

What happens if I don't do exit counseling?

Exit counseling is required by federal law. What happens if you don't complete it depends on your school. Typically, the Bursar's office will put your transcripts and diploma on hold until you finish exit counseling. Generally, you'll still be able to graduate.Feb 11, 2021

Who should complete exit counseling?

Anyone with Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) or PLUS Loans must complete exit counseling for student loans after leaving school. While there's no universal student loan exit counseling deadline, there are three scenarios when you must complete it.May 13, 2020

How many times do you have to do entrance counseling?

Once on file, entrance counseling has no expiration date and your MPN is valid for ten years as long as you are borrowing loans. You are not required to complete them annually, though you are able and certainly welcome to do so. Click the following links for more information about entrance counseling and MPN.

Why do I have to complete exit counseling?

You must complete exit counseling when you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment. The purpose of exit counseling is to ensure you understand your student loan obligations and are prepared for repayment. You'll learn about what your federal student loan payments will look like after school.

How long does exit counseling take?

The entire counseling process must be completed in a single session. Most people complete counseling in 20–30 minutes.

What is an exit interview for school?

The exit interview shall be for the purpose of discussing the reasons for the student permanently leaving school and to consider alternative education or other placements.

What is financial aid exit counseling?

Exit counseling provides important information that you need as you prepare to repay your federal student loan(s). Topics include: Contact Settings. My Loans. Preparing to Repay.

Can I redo my entrance counseling?

Unfortunately, no. If you navigate away from the entrance counseling session or log out your progress will not be saved. You must complete entrance counseling in a single session.

Do I have to complete loan counseling every year?

There's one problem: The counseling is mandatory. Every federal student loan borrower must complete entrance counseling upon taking out their first loan. Once you complete your counseling, don't forget what it actually covered.Feb 16, 2020

Do you have to fill out Master Promissory Note every year?

Question: Will I need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) every year? Answer: In most cases, for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, once you've submitted the MPN and it's been accepted, you won't have to fill out a new MPN for future loans you receive.

Do you have to do entrance counseling every year fafsa?

If this is the first time you're receiving a subsidized, unsubsidized, or PLUS loan under the Direct Loan Program or the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, you need to complete entrance counseling before receiving your loan.

What is exit counseling?

Student loan exit counseling is an online course offered by the US Department of Education through StudentLoans.gov that walks students through the federal loan (s) they signed up for to pay for their education.

What does it mean to finish school with student debt?

With graduation just around the corner, most students are wrapped up in the job hunt, and starting out on their career path. For students graduating with student loan debt, finishing school also means entering repayment. If you hold a federal student loan, you might not remember entrance counseling ...

What to do if you have questions about your student loan?

If you complete the exit counseling session but still have any questions about your student loan (s), reach out to the financial aid office for help. That’s what they are there for! You can also browse the Federal Student Aid website for answers specific to your federal loan (s).

Is exit counseling good for credit?

Neither are good for a borrower and their credit score, but defaulting on a loan is decidedly worse. The exit counseling course provides borrowers with information on how to avoid these two events, and what to do if you can’t avoid delinquency.

Do you have to go through counseling for a federal student loan?

If you hold a federal student loan, you might not remember entrance counseling from your freshman year and all the helpful advice it included. That is why all federal loan holders are also required to go through complete counseling again before their deferment period has ended.

Do you have to complete exit counseling?

You must complete exit counseling each time you drop below half-time enrollment, graduate, or leave school and enter a repayment period.

How to go through exit counseling?

Prepare to go through exit counseling when or if you: Graduate. Change your attendance to less than half-time. Withdraw from school or stop attending. Transfer to another school. Take a leave of absence that is more than 180 days. Before you start exit counseling, you'll need to gather a few key pieces of information.

What is exit counseling?

Exit counseling is similar to the entrance counseling you received when you first completed your master promissory note.

Do you need exit counseling for a federal student loan?

You need exit counseling if you have a: Direct Subsidized Loan. Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students.

What is half time enrollment?

Half-time enrollment is an enrollment status applied to students who are only enrolled in half of the expected full-time course load. Half-time enrollment can affect the cost of attendence (COA), and each school may have different specification for what qualifies as half-time enrollment.

Can you chat with student aid?

You can also live chat in your StudentAid.gov account.

Do you have to do exit counseling if you drop out of school?

Yes, you must complete exit counseling when you withdraw, drop below half-time enrollment, or leave school for any reason.

Does a school have alternate exit counseling?

Your school may have alternate exit counseling requirements. Check with your school's financial aid office.

Do you need to complete exit counseling?

You'll need to complete exit counseling whenever you leave your school, even if you plan to restart another program later.

What is exit counseling?

A: In short, exit counseling is a session loan students are required to do whenever their loans enter grace period. This allows the Department of Education to confirm that you are receiving up to date information on your rights, responsibilities, and loan repayment options, if you should exceed six months and enter repayment.

Does GCSC report exit counseling?

A: GCSC will no longer report your enrolment, so you are still required to complete an exit counseling session for our institution. As long as your enrollment is at least half-time by your new institution’s standards, your loan(s) will remain in deferment when they report your enrollment.

What happens if you don't complete exit counseling?

Typically, the Bursar’s office will put your transcripts and diploma on hold until you finish exit counseling. Generally, you’ll still be able to graduate.

What is exit counseling?

Exit counseling is a requirement for all federal student loan borrowers. It breaks down what you can expect when it comes to student loan repayments. And beyond that, it sets you up to handle your money wisely as you transition into the work force.

How long do you have to wait to pay off student loans after exit counseling?

After exit counseling, you generally have a six-month grace period before repayments start. Typically, your student loan servicer — the company that handles repayments — contacts you during this time to review how your repayment plan works and give you instructions on how to get started.

What is student loan exit counseling?

While student loan entrance counseling gives you a primer for how federal student loans work and tips for managing your personal finances, student loan exit counseling gives you a more in-depth look at your repayment options and how to avoid defaulting.

How to get exit counseling online?

You can complete exit counseling online through the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website by logging in to your FSA account. However, some schools also offer in-person exit counseling. Check with your school’s financial aid office to find out which options are available to you.

How long do you have to pay back student loans after you transfer?

This also means you’ll typically have to start paying back your student loans six months after you transfer, unless you apply for in-school deferment.

Does FSA have exit counseling?

The FSA doesn’t have any specific deadlines for exit counseling, but your school’s financial aid office might. If you plan on graduating, dropping out of school or falling below half-time enrollment, reach out to your financial aid office for instructions.

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