Direct Loan Proces

Federal Direct Stafford Loans
In order to be eligible for a Federal Stafford Loan a student must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once the FAFSA has been completed the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) will send a financial aid award to the student. If the award includes a Federal Stafford Loan, the student needs to accept or decline the loan through BannerWeb within 14 days from the date on their award letter or by May 1st, whichever is later.  

All students borrowing Federal Direct Loans at JCU will need to complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling as well as a Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note. You may have completed both of these requirements if you have attended a previous institution, but you will need to complete them again in order to borrow at JCU and have these funds credit your student account.

You will need your Department of Education-issued FAFSA PIN number to complete this process. Go to www.pin.ed.gov to find your current PIN, apply for a PIN, or to obtain a new PIN. Please note: This process needs to be completed by the student with the student's information, not the parent's.
In order to finalize your Direct Loan you must complete BOTH of the following online:

Entrance Counseling

1. Go to studentloans.gov
2. Click on green 'Sign-In' button.
3. Sign in using your information and FAFSA PIN.
4. Click on 'Complete Entrance Counseling' and follow the instructions.

Master Promissory Note

1. Go to studentloans.gov
2. Click on green 'Sign-In' button.
3. Sign in using your information and FAFSA PIN.
4. Click on 'Complete Master Promissory Note.'
5. Select 'Subsidized/Unsubsidized' and follow the instructions.

           *The process is not complete until you see a 'Congratulations' message.*

Please print confirmations for your personal records. John Carroll will be notified electronically within 24-48 hours once you have completed the process. All Federal Direct Stafford Loan funds will be electronically transferred to the student's account on the first day of classes for the fall and spring semesters.

Both the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans charge a 1% origination fee, and offer a .5% rebate; therefore, the loan will be reduced by a total net amount of .5%. The subsidized Stafford loan has a fixed interest rate of 3.4%. Interest will not accrue on this loan until repayment begins. The unsubsidized Stafford loan has a fixed interest rate of 6.8%. Interest begins accruing right away. Once the student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment status, there is a six-month grace period before repayment begins.

For more information about Stafford loans, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.