If you have applied for graduation and have received a federal student loan or a Federal TEACH grant, you are required to complete loan exit counseling prior to your graduation. This federally-required exit counseling will help you understand the next steps with your federal student loans and/or TEACH grant.
Special Note: If you are leaving DePaul, either permanently or for a period of time, you are also required to complete the federally-required exit counseling session for any federal student loan or TEACH grant you may have received.
The Department of Education provides an online exit tool at
NSLDS to complete your required exit counseling session. This online session is mandatory. If you would also like to have an in-person loan exit counseling session in addition to your online session, you are welcome to meet with a financial aid counselor. Financial aid counselors are available on a walk-in basis at DePaul Central Loop and Lincoln Park.
The exit counseling session at
NSLDS is interactive and personalized. The tool will use your actual outstanding loan amounts during your exit counseling session. Please allow approximately 20-30 minutes to complete the online session.
As you complete your exit counseling, pay special attention to:
- Loan consolidation
- Loan deferment
- Payment options (standard repayment, extended repayment, graduated repayment, and income contingent repayment)
- Loan forbearance
Remember: Do not hesitate to contact the
Direct Loan Servicer if you have questions about loan consolidation or repaying your student loans. Do not hesitate to ask questions of the financial aid staff if you are uncertain of your next steps. You may also find
Getting Ready for Graduation, our
Consolidation FAQ, as well as our
Preparing for Exit Counseling Guide to be useful in your exit planning.
The Office of Financial Aid will receive confirmation upon your completion of this requirement.
Federal Perkins Loan Exit Counseling
If you have borrowed under the Federal Perkins Loan program, you also will need to complete
exit counseling for your Perkins Loan.
Federal TEACH Grant Exit Counseling
If you have received the Federal TEACH Grant, you also will need to complete exit counseling for the TEACH Grant. Please visit the Department of Education online exit tool at
NSLDS and follow the links for TEACH grant exit counseling.