Santa Clara University

All Federal Direct Loan borrowers are required to complete an Exit Counseling session prior to graduation, leave of absence and/or withdrawal from school. The purpose of the exit counseling is to inform borrowers of the provisions of the loans as well as their rights and responsibilities now that the loans are in another status. Students who also borrowed a Federal Perkins Loan can complete their Exit Counseling session online at www.uasexit.com.
Federal Direct Loan
The Federal Direct Loan Program offers four repayment options that are available to borrowers of Direct Loans. The repayment plans are the Standard Repayment Plan, Extended Repayment Plan, Graduated Repayment Plan and the Income Contingent Plan. You can find out more information about these repayment plans in Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid.

Loan payments are made to the United States Department of Education's Direct Loan Servicing Center. The toll free number is 1-800-848-0979 and the address is:

Borrower Services Department
Direct Loan Servicing Center
PO Box 4609
Utica, NY 13504-4609

Before you leave school or graduate, you are requested to complete Exit Counseling. The purpose of Exit Counseling is to select a repayment plan; review deferment, forbearance and cancellation provisions; review loan consolidation; and review the serious consequences of delinquency and default. An email will be sent requesting that you complete this process once you apply for graduation. You will receive a notice when it is time for you to complete the Exit Counseling requirement. If the Exit Counseling requirement is not met within the designated time frame typically one quarter, you may experience a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid.

The Exit Counseling requirement may be met online through the Direct Loan Web site at www.dl.ed.gov.

It is important that you repay your student loans. If you think you might have a problem making a scheduled payment on your student loans, you should contact the Federal Direct Student Loan Servicing Center immediately at 1-800-848-0979. The Servicing Center will work with you to help avoid the adverse consequences of delinquency or default. The options to avoid default include changing repayment plans, receiving a deferment or requesting a forbearance.

If you do not make a payment on time, then you are considered delinquent. Default occurs when a Federal Direct Loan borrower becomes 270 days delinquent in making a loan payment. There are numerous adverse consequences that will result if you default on your student loan. These negative consequences include, but are not limited to, the following:

• You will not be eligible for future federal financial aid
• Your account may be turned over to a collection agency
• Your credit rating will be damaged
• Your federal income tax refund may be withheld from you
• Your wages may be garnished
• Your car and other possessions may be repossessed
• The federal government can sue you