Loan Repayment Information

 

Exit Counseling

Exit Counseling provides important information regarding student loans and repayment. It must be completed each time a student drops below half-time status (6 credits), leaves school or graduates.

Things to know:

Complete Exit Counseling here for Federal Students Loans and Federal TEACH Grant.  If you had a Federal Perkins Loan or Nursing Loan, please contact Student Accounts Office for the exit counseling process. 

 

Navigating Repayment

Student loan repayment can seem overwhelming but it is important to understand the details of loan repayment to save both time and money. Remember, student loans are just like any other loans; they must be repaid. The resources below will help guide you through when repayment starts, how to make a payment, repayment plan options and what to do if they have trouble making payments.

Steps to Repayment:

  1. Know what is owed
    • Visit the National Student Loan Data System to review the federal loans received and find out who the loan servicer is. The loan servicer is who loan payments will go to.  Please bring a copy of this to the Graduation Fair or the Financial Aid Office and we are happy to review this information with you. 
  1. Make the most of your Grace Period
    • Federal Direct loans have a 6-month grace period after graduation or dropping below six credits
    • Federal Perkins and Nursing Loans have a 9-month grace period
    • Private Educational loans may or may not have a grace period; be sure to check!
  1. Select your repayment plan and plan for making the first payment!

 

Repayment Plans

There are many different federal loan repayment plans. Review all your options and choose the one that makes the most financial sense for you. Use the Repayment Estimator to see how your payments will look under the different options.

Details about the different repayment plans.

You can change your repayment plan at any time. Contact your loan servicer if you have any questions. They are there to work with you and help you determine the best repayment plan for you.

If you borrowed Private Student Loans or Nursing Loan, please note that they are not federal loans, will not appear on NSLDS, and will not be repaid to your federal loan servicer. You must contact your private loan lender for repayment information.

 

Trouble making payments?

If you begin to have troubles making your loan payments, contact your servicer right away. They will help you find an option that will keep you out of credit trouble. For example, they may suggest you change your repayment plan to one that is based on your income. Other temporary relief options in times of financial hardship include deferment or forbearance or loan consolidation.

 

What happens if I don't make a student loan payment?

A loan is considered delinquent the first day after a payment is missed. You will remain delinquent on your student loans until all missed payments are made to bring your loans current. Loan servicers report all delinquencies of at least 90 days to the three major credit bureaus which can negatively impact your credit.  Your loan will go into default status if a payment has not been made in 270 days. The consequences of default are severe:

 

Contact Us

Financial Aid Office
Hamilton Hall
210 Glasgow Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Email: finaid-edn@pennwest.edu
Phone: 814-732-3500
Fax: 814-732-2129Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.