Financial Aid...Loans-How to Apply

Much of the work of applying for a student loan is done automatically when you fill out your FAFSA. After the U.S. Department of Education reviews your FAFSA, it will send you an award letter telling you if you qualify for loans and financial aid.

-FAFSA online

You must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) pledging to repay the money. You will also need to fill out an entrance interview. Both of these are available online:

Entrance interview online
Master Promissory Note online

Note: You will need a Personal Identification Number to sign your MPN electronically. To locate your PIN, visit the PIN locator at the U.S. Department of Education.

For 2008-2009, MPNs cannot be signed electronically before June 1, 2008.

PIN locator: http://www.pin.ed.gov

You may pre-qualify for a Federal PLUS loan online. A PLUS loan is issued to parents of dependent students, whereas Stafford loans are issued to students.

On-line PLUS loan pre-approval