Exit Counseling

If you borrowed a Federal Direct Student or GradPLUS Loan, you are required to complete exit counseling before you graduate, drop below half-time enrollment, or withdraw from school. The counseling is completed online at studentaid.gov. This will take 20-30 minutes to complete.

Here you will learn about

  • Borrower rights and responsibilities
  • Repayment plans
  • Deferment or forbearance options
  • Avoiding default

To Complete Loan Exit Counseling

  • Visit studentaid.gov
  • Under "Loan Repayment" select Loan Exit Counseling.
  • Under "Start Exit Counseling Based on Your Student Type" select your appropriate status:
    • I am an Undergraduate Student
    • I am a Graduate or Professional Student
  • Log in to start using the student's FSA ID information.
  • Complete requested information and follow instructions given.

Repayment Plans: To learn more about federal direct student loan repayment plans please visit: Repayment Plans | Federal Student Aid.

April 2025 Updates to Repayment Plans and Statuses
The loan consolidation and income-driven repayment (IDR) plan applications are available. Servicers have begun processing applications.
Eligible borrowers can apply for or recertify under the Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plans.
Borrowers who enrolled in or applied for the SAVE Plan remain in forbearance, unless they obtained a different status.
If you’re working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, are enrolled in the SAVE Plan, and want to start making qualifying payments, you must apply to switch to a currently available eligible IDR plan.
If you submitted an IDR application or recertification request that has not been processed due to the court injunction, see below for next steps.
Source: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-court-actions 

Current Payment Plans

Fixed Plans Eligibility Monthly Payment Amount
Standard

These loan types are eligible:

  • Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
  • Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
  • All PLUS loans (Direct or FFEL)
  • All Consolidation Loans (Direct or FFEL)
 Payments are a fixed amount that ensures your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).
Graduated

These loan types are eligible:

  • Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
  • Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
  • All PLUS loans (Direct or FFEL)
  • All Consolidation Loans (Direct or FFEL)
 Payments are lower at first and then increase, usually every two years. Payment amounts are designed to ensure your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).
Extended

To qualify for this plan, you must have more than $30,000 in outstanding Direct Loans (if you're a Direct Loan borrower) or more than $30,000 in outstanding FFEL Program loans (if you're a FFEL borrower). These loan types are eligible:

  • Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
  • Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
  • All PLUS loans (Direct or FFEL)
  • All Consolidation Loans (Direct or FFEL)
  

Federal Loan Consolidation: Students who are interested in learning about consolidating their federal loans can learn more at: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/consolidation.

Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to consolidate (combine) one or more federal education loans into a new Direct Consolidation Loan for the purpose of lowering your monthly payment amount or gaining access to federal forgiveness programs.

Need Help? For assistance or questions about your federal direct loans and exit counseling please contact Financial Aid at (610) 436-2627 or email us at finaidloans@wcupa.edu.