Federal regulations require all borrowers to complete Federal Direct Stafford Loan Exit counseling before they graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment. Visit www.studentloans.gov to complete exit counseling. Graduating students may meet one-on-one with their Financial Aid Counselor to discuss loan repayment
Highly Recommended:
- Student Loan History Review Reviewing and understanding your student loan history is key when transitioning into loan repayment. The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education’s central database for student aid. NSLDS provides a cumulative loan history of all your federal loans and includes contact information for your loan servicers.
- Loan Repayment Calculator to estimate your loan payment and choose a repayment plan that meets your future income level.
- The loan repayment calculator can be found here.
- You can view the Student Loan Exit Counseling Guide here.
Additional Resources:
- There are several repayment plan options to choose from and it is important to research them here.
- There are limited circumstances when student loan consolidation makes sense. Visit here for more information.
- You can deduct student loan interest on your income tax return if you meet the qualifications. Visit the IRS for more information here.
Loan Repayment Assistance
- The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Will forgive or cancel the remaining balance due on eligible Direct Loan Program loans after having made 120 payments on those loans under certain repayment plans while employed in certain public service jobs. More information here.
- Texas Access To Justice Program
- South Texas College of Law Houston and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation have a cooperative Loan Repayment Assistance Program. STCL Houston provides one-half of the funding for our graduates who participate in the program. TAJF provides the other one-half funding. If you are working in legal aid in Texas, please click here for more information here.