Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling Interview

Before receiving a federal student loan, such as a Direct Stafford Loan, borrowers are required to complete student loan entrance counseling. This is to ensure that you understand your responsibility and the obligation you are assuming. You will also be required to complete exit counseling upon leaving school.

About Entrance Counseling

Entrance counseling is a requirement for all federal student loan borrowers (except Parent PLUS loan borrowers). During entrance counseling, you will learn about what it means to be a student loan borrower including what your Direct Loan is, how to effectively manage your expenses, and your right and responsibilities as a federal loan borrower.

While entrance counseling may sound boring, it's incredibly important to pay attention! Many students do not know how to manage their loans until repayment begins, at which point it may be too late. Understand your loans early to make the best repayment choices while in school.

If you do not complete an entrance counseling session, you will be unable to receive your federal student loans.

How to Complete Entrance Counseling

Student Loan entrance counseling can take place in a few different ways, such as:

In person with a financial aid counselor
Online through your school's platform
Online at StudentLoans.gov

To find out which type of counseling is required for you, check with your school's financial aid office.

Entrance Counseling at StudentLoans.gov

StudentLoans.gov provides a quick and easy online counseling session for Direct Loan borrowers. In this session, you'll find useful tips and tools to help you develop a budget and manage your educational expenses. It also helps you understand your loan responsibilities when you enter repayment.

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

Your Federal Student Aid PIN
School name
20–30 minutes

Remember, you'll have to go through a similar process when you graduate or leave school — Learn about exit counseling now.