If you are graduating, on a leave of absence or enrolled less than half-time, federal regulations and university policy require you to complete exit loan counseling.

Borrowers of Federal Stafford and Federal Grad PLUS Loans must complete two exit loan counseling requirement. Visit www.studentloans.gov to complete federal loan counseling, then view USC's exit loan counseling webinar. For more information about the webinar, please vist the Exit Counseling Page.

If you have borrowed Federal Perkins Loans, you must complete separate exit loan counseling online with USC Student Financial Services.

First-time borrowers of Federal Direct Stafford and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans at USC are required to complete entrance loan counseling at www.studentloans.gov.

In addition to online counseling, first-time undergraduate borrowers must also attend a Cash Course webinar.

Click here for more detailed information about Mandatory Entrance Loan Counseling.

To have your loan funds deposited directly to your student account, you must take additional steps no later than 30 days before the beginning of your first semester. Click on the appropriate loan to find out what you need to do.
Federal Direct Stafford Loan Learn More
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Learn More
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Learn More
Perkins Loan Learn More
Private financing Learn More

All Title IV HEA Federal Student Loans will be reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by guarantee agencies, lenders and schools determined to be authorized users.

To review your financial aid history and to better understand your federal student loan indebtedness, log in to www.nslds.ed.gov You will need your name, date of birth, Social Security number and FAFSA PIN to access your confidential record.

If you have borrowed from one or more of the non-federal private financing programs, more information about those loans can be obtained from your lender or on your credit report at: www.annualcreditreport.com

As part of our commitment to providing students and their families with the most stable financial aid funding available, USC now participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program.  Although some loans are need-based, others may be credit-based and do not require demonstrated financial need. For details, please refer to specific program descriptions.

Students and their families should borrow wisely.  Loans represent real money that must be repaid with interest, and may include additional fees.

The US Department of Education publishes several guides to understanding the Federal Direct Loan process and borrower's rights and responsibilities. You can visit their Federal Student Aid Publications website to review important information and download the following:

student loan advisory

Be sure to follow instructions carefully and meet all applicable deadlines.  For more information, click here.

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