Aggie One Stop

Source: https://aggie.tamu.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/loans Parent: https://aggie.tamu.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/international-student-scholarships

Loans

Federal loans are considered financial aid. Student loans are a resource to assist families in meeting the costs of higher education expenses. By completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are considered for all types of financial aid, including loans. \ \ Your financial aid offer may include federal loans. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you decide to take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms of the loan. Student loans can come from the U.S. Department of Education. Student loans can also be from private sources, such as a bank or financial institution. Federal loans often offer borrowers lower interest rates. They also may have more flexible repayment options than loans from banks or other private sources. Visit the Federal Student Aid website for details on types of loans offered.\ \ Texas A&M University also offers emergency and short term loan programs to students needing temporary financial assistance.\ \ Financial aid payment of federal loans are dependent upon eligible enrollment. Some courses that are being retaken after previously receiving a passing grade in the course may not count toward financial aid eligible enrollment. See Maintaining Eligibility for more information.\ \ \

Loan Types

Federal Direct Subsidized Loans

The subsidized loan is a federal loan that is awarded based on financial need. The federal government will pay the interest on this loan as long as you are enrolled half-time or more. After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you will have a six-month grace period before you are required to begin repaying your loan. During this period, you will receive repayment information from your loan servicer, and you will be notified of your first payment due date.

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Eligibility

To receive the subsidized loan, you must:

• Have financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Enroll at least half-time at Texas A&M University.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• Not exceed annual or lifetime aggregate loan limits.

\ Award amounts can vary based on other eligibility factors. For more information, visit the Maintaining Eligibility page.\ \

Interest Rates and Origination Fees

The Department of Education announces the interest rates for federal student loans by July 1 each year. A new loan is awarded each academic year that you are eligible and the interest rate will stay the same until your loan is repaid. Interest rates could be different each year for new loans. This means you could have more than one subsidized loan but each one could have a different interest rate.\ \

Interest rates for Direct Subsidized loans

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Origination Fees for Direct Subsidized loans

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If you have questions about repaying your student loans, review the Repaying Your Student Loanssection on our Loans FAQs webpage.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Eligibility

To receive the unsubsidized loan, you must:

• Have a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Texas A&M University.
• Be enrolled at least half-time at Texas A&M.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• You may not exceed annual or lifetime aggregate loan limits.

\ Award amounts can vary based on other eligibility factors. For more information, please visit the Maintaining Eligibility page.\ \

Interest Rate and Origination Fees

The Department of Education announces the interest rates for federal student loans by July 1 each year. A new loan is awarded each academic year that you are eligible, and the interest rate will stay the same until your loan is repaid. Interest rates could be different each year for new loans. This means you could have more than one Unsubsidized loan but each one could have a different interest rate.

Interest rates for Direct Unsubsidized loans

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Origination Fees for Direct Unsubsidized loans

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Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law on July 4, 2025. 

Effective July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS Loans will have a maximum amount of $20,000 per dependent student per academic year, with a new lifetime borrowing limit of $65,000 per dependent student.

Existing parent or student Federal Direct Loan borrowers may continue to borrow under the current limits for up to three academic years or until the student completes their degree, whichever is less.

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

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Eligibility

In order for your parents to qualify for this loan, you must:

• Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Be enrolled at least half-time.
• Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

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Your parentmust:

• Have a good credit history.
• Not have defaulted on any previous student or parent loans.
• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen.

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How to Apply

The 2025-2026 Parent PLUS Loan application is currently available on the Federal Student Aid website.

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To apply for the PLUS loan, your parent will need to follow these steps:

• Login to the Federal Student Aid website.
• Sign in with parent's FSA ID.
• Under “Apply for Aid,” click “Apply for a Parent Plus Loan.”
• Follow all steps of the application and submit.

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If approved:

• Borrowing parent must complete the PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) through the Federal Student Aid website.
• Texas A&M University will receive your parent’s approved application the next business day.
• The Parent PLUS Loan will be awarded within 2 business days.

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If denied:

• Your parent can appeal the denial on the Federal Student Aid website.
• The parent can also obtain an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history.
• If the loan is later approved, Texas A&M will receive the approved application and award the Parent PLUS Loan upon completion of the required Endorser Addendum, PLUS Credit Counseling, and Plus Loan MPN.

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How to Request an Increase

To increase their current PLUS loan, your parent will need to follow these steps:

• Login to the Federal Student Aid website.
• Sign in with the borrowing parent's FSA ID
• Under “Apply for Aid,” select “Apply for a Parent Plus Loan.”
• Start application.
• Select award year.
• Under reason for submitting direct plus loan request, select “Change."
• Select the Plus loan application you want to increase.
• Enter the new total amount of the loan.
• Example: If your original loan was for $5,000, and you need an additional $2,000, you will enter $7,000 as the new total. If you enter a number that is LESSthan your existing loan, this will be processed as a DECREASE.
• Submit request.

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Once submitted, the request will be processed within 1-3 business days. If submitted within 180 days of the original application, a new credit check will not be required.

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Interest Rates and Origination Fees

The Department of Education announces the interest rates for federal PLUS loans by July 1 of each year. Interest rates could be different each year for any new loans. The interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan.

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Interest rates for Direct Parent PLUS loans

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Origination Fees for Direct Parent PLUS loans

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Repayment

Parents have the option in the application to request a deferment of the loan payments until six months after their student has graduated or otherwise dropped below half-time enrollment. Deferment can also be requested through the servicer. If deferment is not selected, payments will be expected upon disbursement, or the paying out of the loan funds.

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For more information on the PLUS loan, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law on July 4, 2025.

The Graduate PLUS Loan program will begin phasing out July 1, 2026, at the start of the 2026–27 academic year. The program will no longer be available to new borrowers (i.e., students who have not borrowed federal loans in their current graduate program).

Existing Federal Direct Loan borrowers may continue to borrow from the Graduate PLUS Loan program for up to three academic years or until the student completes their degree, whichever is less.

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

Eligibility

• Be enrolled at least half-time in a graduate or professional program.
• View Professional Enrollment Status definitions.
• Have a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Texas A&M
• Complete the online application and entrance counseling on the Federal Student Aid website.

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How to Apply

The 2025-2026 Graduate PLUS loan application is currently available on the Federal Student Aid website.

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Graduate PLUS loans are based on credit, therefore in order to apply:

1. Log onto the Federal Student Aid website.
2. Sign in using your FSA ID.
3. Under “Apply for Aid,” click on "Apply for a Plus Loan."
4. Select Direct PLUS Loan Request for Graduate/Professional Student Borrowers.
5. Follow through all steps of the application and submit.
6. You will receive an instant credit decision after submitting the application.

If approved:

• Complete the PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Graduate/Professional Students on the Federal Student Aid website.
• Complete Graduate/Professional Direct Loan Entrance Counseling on the Federal Student Aid website.
• Texas A&M University will receive your approved application and award the Graduate PLUS Loan.

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If denied:

• You can appeal the denial on the Federal Student Aid website.
• You can obtain an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history.
• If your loan is later approved, Texas A&M University will receive your approved application and award the Graduate PLUS Loan upon completion of the required Endorser Addendum, Plus Credit Counseling, and Plus Loan (MPN).

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Interest Rates and Origination Fees

The Department of Education announces the interest rates for federal PLUS loans by July 1 of each year. Interest rates could be different each year for any new loans. The interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan.

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Interest rates for Direct Graduate PLUS loans

Origination Fees for Direct Graduate PLUS loans

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How to Request an Increase

To increase your Graduate PLUS loan, you will need to follow these steps:

• Login to the Federal Student Aid website.
• Sign in using FSA ID
• Under "Apply for Aid," select “Apply for a Grad PLUS Loan.”
• Start application.
• Select award year.
• Under reason for Direct PLUS Loan request, select “Change.”
• Select the PLUS loan application you want to increase.
• Enter new total loan amount.
• Example: If your original loan was for $5,000, and you need an additional $2,000, you need to enter $7,000 as the new total. If you enter a number that is LESSthan your existing loan, this will be processed as a DECREASE.
• Submit request.

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Once submitted, the request will be processed within 1-3 business days. If submitted within 180 days of the original application, a new credit check will not be required.

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Repayment

Repayment is deferred until the student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment status. Interest will accrue during deferment. The student’s loan servicer will contact them about when the first payment is due. For more information, see the Repaying Your Student Loans section on our Loans FAQs webpage.

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Federal Direct Loan Limits

Undergraduate Students

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\ *All “Maximum Total Debt” amounts (lifetime limits) include both DIRECT and FFELP subsidized and unsubsidized loans.\ \ **

Graduate Students

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\ *All “Maximum Total Debt” amounts (lifetime limits) include both DIRECT and FFELP subsidized and unsubsidized loans.***The graduate total debt limit includes subsidized and unsubsidized student loans received during undergraduate study.*\ \

Public Health Graduate Students and Pharmacy Students

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\ *All “Maximum Total Debt” amounts (lifetime limits) include both DIRECT and FFELP subsidized and unsubsidized loans.***The graduate total debt limit includes subsidized and unsubsidized student loans received during undergraduate study.*****The annual loan limit for certainmajorscan change fromyear to year and is determined by the budget duration (number of months the student spends in school).*\ \ For more information, see the Repaying Your Student Loans** section on our Loans FAQs webpage.

State Loans

College Access Loan

The College Access Loan (CAL) is a non-need based state loan program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The CAL loan is only available to degree-seeking students who are Texas residents. Find out more about the interest rate and fees associated with borrowing this loan on the state’s website. \ \

Eligibility

• Students MUST be Texas Residents.
• Students must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) every semester.
• Students need to be credit-worthy or have a credit-worthy co-signer to pursue a CAL loan.
• Students must be enrolled at least half-time per semester.
• Federal Direct Loan eligibility will be taken into consideration whether or not the student has accepted or declined the loans.

\ For more information, see the Repaying Your Student Loans section on our Loans FAQs webpage.\ \

Future Occupations & Reskilling Workforce Advancement to Reach Demand (FORWARD) Loan

The Future Occupations & Reskilling Workforce Advancement to Reach Demand (FORWARD) Loan Program is a non-need-based state loan program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The FORWARD loan is only available to degree-seeking students who are Texas residents. Find out more about the interest rate and fees associated with borrowing this loan on the state’s website.\ \

Eligibility

• Students MUST be Texas Residents.
• Students must be registered with Selective Service or be exempt.
• Students must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) every semester.
• Students need to be credit-worthy or have a credit-worthy co-signer to pursue a FORWARD loan.
• Student must NOT exceed manageable loan debt calculated by the THECB.
• Student must be enrolled in a High-Demand Credential program that the student will be able to complete in two years or less.
• Federal Direct Loan eligibility will be taken into consideration whether or not the student has accepted or declined the loans.

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State Loan Campus Codes

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\ For more information, see the Repaying Your Student Loans section on our Loans FAQs webpage.

Health Professions Student Loan

The Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) and the Loan for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) are loans administered by the Health Resources & Services Administration processed by Texas A&M University. HPSL is available to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Dental Surgery students. The LDS is available only to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students. These loans are awarded to students with financial need in their family, therefore parent information must be included on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Providing parent information will not affect your eligibility for other need-based aid. This loan has a 12-month grace period after graduation before repayment begins. Interest does not accrue until after the grace period ends.  \ \ After the application is complete and all documents are submitted, the information will be reviewed and this loan will be awarded based on financial need. Students will be notified by email if they are offered this award and will complete an electronic Master Promissory Note through Heartland ECSI before the award will disburse.\ \

Application Process:

• Complete a FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Complete the HPSL application through the Financial Aid Portal.
• Submit all documentation that has been requested through the Financial Aid Portal.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

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\ For more information, see the Repaying Your Student Loans section on our Loans FAQs webpage.

Nurse Faculty Loan Program

For more information about the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, visit the Texas A&M University College of Nursing.

Alternative Loans

Alternative (private) loans are administered and processed by private lending institutions to be used for educational costs after exhausting potentially more favorable federal and state financial aid options first.\ \ Visit ELMSelect to search for an Alternative Loan.\ \

Application Process

Alternative Loans take longer to process than federal loans due to the multiple disclosure statements and right-to-cancel period required by federal lending laws. Please read carefully to understand the process.\ \

1. Select your preferred lender and apply through the lender’s website.
2. NOTE:Check the table below to ensure you are using the correct school code.
3. When applying for your loan, you will be asked for your Loan Term. The loan term can be for one or both semesters in the academic year. Please use the dates below to determine your preferred loan term.
4. Complete the Application Disclosure Statement from your lender. Ask your lender questions if you are unsure of any information.
5. Submit the Self-Certification form to your lender. This form can be found in the Financial Aid Portal under Helpful Links.
6. If approved, you will be asked to complete an Approval Disclosure Statement from the lender.
7. Scholarships & Financial Aid will then receive your loan request from the lender and notify them if you are eligible to receive the loan.
8. Once Scholarships & Financial Aid certifies the loan, you will receive a Final Loan Disclosure Statement from the lender.

*This process will take 10-15 business days from start to finish, please plan accordingly*\ \ If you need to discuss emergency loan options, please contact our office.\ \ \

Loan Terms

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Alternative Loan Application Codes

If you have questions about which campus code to use please contact our office.\ \

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\ If you're thinking of applying for an alternative loan, please review our Tips for Student Borrowers and the Repaying Your Student Loans section on our Loans FAQs webpage.

Short-Term Loans

The Short-term Loan Program is funded by the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students, the Texas A&M University Class of 1926, University departments, as well as colleges and friends of Texas A&M University.

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Short-term loan funds help students who experience temporary financial difficulty related to educational or educationally related expenses other than tuition and required fees.

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→ Use short-term loans to pay for school-related expenses when you have money from home, a paycheck, or other sources, but it won't arrive in time to pay your tuition bill or buy books.

→ Interest rates are usually lower than commercial loans.

→ Remember, these loans are for relatively short periods, one to twelve months, and must be repaid in full on the due date.

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Eligibility

• You must be enrolled at least half-time.

• Graduate Students – 5 hours for fall and spring; 3 hours for summer

• Undergraduate Students - 6 hours
• Blinn Team Students - 3 hours
• Professional Students – 6 hours for fall and spring; 4 hours for summer
• Undergraduate students must have a minimum GPA of 1.5.
• Graduate students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

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Interest Rate and Processing

• 8%* simple interest per annum.
• A $10 processing charge calculates on each loan's total amount

* If the loan is not paid by the due date, additional late charges of 0.5% per month will accrue on the unpaid principal balance until paid in full.

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Right to Cancel

According to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) of 2009, Scholarships & Financial Aid must account for a three day disclosure period. Therefore, after the signed promissory note and self-certification forms are submitted, three business days must pass before funds are released to your student account. This will create a delay in your ability to receive short-term loan funds.

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Please plan accordingly, knowing that Short-term Loan funds cannot be released for three business days after you have submitted a signed promissory note and self-certification form.

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Repayment

This loan must be repaid (with interest) within the repayment period set for your loan. You may request the length of your repayment period on the loan application, as the repayment period can be anywhere between one and twelve months long. However, the financial aid advisor will determine if you are eligible for that repayment period based on the loan amount approved and your classification.

If the loan is not paid in full by the due date, registration will be blocked until the loan is paid in full. Past due loans are subject to collection fees, attorney fees, higher interest rates, as well as negative credit reports to national credit bureaus.

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Information on where to repay your loan will be included on your promissory note.

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If you have direct deposit (ACH) set up before applying for a Short-term loan it will take 3-5 business days from the end of the Right to Cancel period for your money to be deposited to your bank account. You may authorize direct deposit of short-term loan funds and financial aid refunds through Howdy and by searching for Financial Aid Portal and following the link to the portal. You may contact the Aggie One Stop for questions about your short-term loan repayment.

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For more information, review the FAQs sections about Short-Term Loans and Repaying Your Student Loanson our Loans FAQs webpage.

Emergency Tuition & Fees Loans

The Emergency Tuition and Fees Loan (ETFL) is available to help you pay your Texas A&M University tuition and required fees. This loan applies directly to your tuition and fee account when Scholarships & Financial Aid approves your application, and you sign the Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you have signed a MPN for an Emergency Tuition and Fees loan from a prior semester, you do not have to sign another promissory note.\ \ Depending upon timing, your financial aid refund may apply toward your ETFL, but this is not always the case. It is your responsibility to use any refunds issued to you to repay an outstanding ETFL and to ensure your outstanding ETFL balance is at zero by the loan due date.\ \ The application for the ETFL is available online at sfaid.tamu.edu/stlapp.\ \

Eligibility

• You must be enrolled in at least 1 hour at Texas A&M University.
• You must have an active Texas A&M University student email account.
• You must be clear of all financial blocks with Texas A&M University.
• You must meet minimum GPA requirements.
• Graduate Students – 3.0 minimum GPA
• Undergraduate Students - 1.5 minimum GPA
• Law Students – 2.33 minimum GPA
• Pharmacy Students – 2.0 minimum GPA
• Dental Students – 2.0 minimum GPA
• Veterinary Medicine Students – 2.0 minimum GPA
• Medical Students- 2.0 minimum GPA

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Interest Rate and Processing

• 5% simple interest rate
• $10 processing fee is calculated on each loan. This charge will be added to the amount of the loan you are approved to receive.

\ Once approved for a loan, you will be instructed via email to sign a Master Promissory Note before funds can be released. Instructions will be sent to your official Texas A&M University email. If you have signed a Master Promissory Note for an ETFL before, you do not have to sign another one for a new Emergency Tuition and Fees Loan.\ \

Receiving Funds

This loan will be applied directly to your tuition and fees account after the Master Promissory Note has been signed and submitted to Scholarships & Financial Aid.\ \

Repayment

Repayment terms are contingent upon the semester in which the loan posts. All payments will be due on the 15th day of the month.

• Fall and Spring loans are due approximately 90 days after the loan applies to your student billing account.
• Summer loans are due approximately 30 days after the loan applies to your student billing account.

\ If the loan is not paid in full by the due date, registration will be blocked until the account balance is paid in full. You may contact Aggie One Stop via telephone at 979-847-1787 for questions about your Emergency Tuition and Fee Loan repayment. \ \ For more information, review the FAQ section about Emergency Tuition and Fees Loans on our Loans FAQs webpage.

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Direct Loan Counseling

A student loan is money that you borrow from the federal government, state government or private lenders. These loans must be repaid. If you are receiving a Federal Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or PLUS loan for the first time at Texas A&M University, you must also complete Loan Entrance Counseling.\ \

Master Promissory Note

For every loan that you accept, you will have to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN). Once signed, the MPN is a binding, legal document where you agree to the loan repayment terms. The MPN should be read carefully and a copy kept for your records. Direct Loan MPNs must be completed on the Federal Student Aid website.\ \

Entrance Counseling

To complete Entrance Counseling for your Direct Loans, visit Howdy. \ \ Once you accept a Direct Loan:\

• Search for Financial Aid Portal.
• Select the current academic year.
• On the Status page, look for the link for Loan Entrance Counseling.
• Follow the instructions to complete Loan Entrance Counseling on the Federal Student Aid website.

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Exit Counseling

Once you graduate, fall below half-time, or leave Texas A&M, you will be sent information about Loan Exit Counseling if you received a Direct Loan or Graduate PLUS Loan.\  \ If you received the Federal TEACH Grant, you will be sent Exit Counseling information if you withdraw, graduate, or change into an ineligible TEACH Grant major. \ \ Online exit counseling for Federal Loans and the TEACH Grant can be completed on the Federal Student Aid website.

Loans

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