Visit the Federal Student Aids Student Loan website at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action

1. Apply for Federal Student Aid PIN or logging in PIN web site http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp
2. Submit a 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or logging at www.fafsa.ed.gov
3. Entrance Counseling;
4. Sign Direct Loan Electronic Master Promissory Note (eMPN);
5. Exit Counseling or logging in with a PIN at National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for Students http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/ 

Students wishing to obtain information to keep track of how much you are borrowing, you can access National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/ using your Federal Student Aid PIN to view your Financial Aid History.

Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling

Student must complete your loan ENTRANCE counseling prior to the first Direct loan or PLUS loan disbursement by visiting
https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action 

Student must complete your loan EXIT counseling by the end of the first semester of disbursement by visiting http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/. No second disbursement for the academic year will be processed until the exit counseling is completed. 

It is to your advantage to learn about managing your repayment obligations and options before repayment begins. Please click here for more information about the Repayment Plans and Calculators.

Disbursement Information

University of the West disburses the Federal Student Aid funds and State Student Aid funds. UWest first uses the funds to pay your tuition, fees, room and board charges, and then any other costs associated with attendance. If Loan or Grant funds have a credit balance remaining on your student’s account, you will receive a refund by check, unless you give the school written permission to hold the funds until later in the payment period.

The Financial Aid office does not issue checks. Financial aid funds are disbursed by the Bursar’s office.

• Pell Grants amounts require calculation, which are based on the COA (Cost of Attendance), EFC (Expected Family Contribution), and the enrollment status.
• FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant), each payment is the full award divided by the number of payment periods during the Academic year. These payments are usually issued with the Pell Grant disbursements
• Cal Grants are based on the funds available by the State. Theis is disbursed in one payment per semester.
• All Federal Direct Loans Program will be disbursed in equal amounts in two payment periods regardless of the loan amount or length of the loan period during the academic year. One for the Fall semester and the other for the Spring semester. Loan funds will be received by the UWest from the Department of the Education after the end of the Add/Drop period for the semester. Each semester loan disbursement will be posted to your student account until the student has enrolled in at least half-time credit hours. your loan may be disbursed for slightly less than what you borrowed as the Department of Education retains up to 4% of a Federal Direct or PLUS loan disbursement as a lender fee.
• After the funds are posted to your student account, there is a FSA (Federal Student Aid) credit balance that occurs. Any excess Loan funds will be processed as a financial aid refund check within 14 calendar days in accordance with federal regulation.
• If a student will be attending a single semester, or summer term, Federal regulations require two (2) disbursements for one semester loans. The second disbursement will be disbursed when the student reaches the calendar midpoint of the semester.
• If a student is in the first year of undergraduate study and is a first-time Stafford borrower, the student has a thirty calendar days waiting period for the first disbursement of his/her first loan.
• If a student drops below half-time enrollment, he or she will no longer be eligible for a Direct Loan and or Cal Grant.
• Loan and Grant disbursements will not be released until the instructors have completed the attendance verification. The attendance verification must be completed, or the financial aid refund will be delayed.
• If your financial aid is not enough to cover all debt with the university, you will be expected to pay the difference immediately.
• It is recommended that you set aside sufficient funds at the beginning of each term to cover expenses such as books, room, meals, etc. while financial aid disbursement are processed.

Federal Direct Loan Repayments

It is to your advantage to learn about managing your repayment obligations and options before repayment begins.

1. Stand Repayment Plan;
2. Extended Repayment Plan;
3. Graduated Repayment Plan;
4. Income Contingent Repayment Plan;
5. Income-Based Repayment Plan

Please click here for more information about the Repayment Plans and Calculators.