You are here: Home / Admission / Financial Aid / Loans

Loans


Starting with 2009/2010, the University will participate exclusively in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program for the following loan programs: Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Graduate PLUS Loan, and Federal Parent PLUS Loan. If you are a continuing borrower (meaning that you borrowed a federal loan using a private lender or bank in the past), you will need to complete a new MPN for the Direct Loan Program. All new and continuing federal loan borrowers for the 2009/2010 academic year must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Direct Loan Program.

You will need the following items to complete and electronically sign the MPN:

  • Your Federal Student Aid PIN. This is the same PIN you use to sign the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Visit the Department of Education PIN website at www.pin.ed.gov for more information.
  • Your full name, social security number, date of birth, and driver’s license information. Be sure to type your social security number carefully. If it does not match the school’s records, we won’t receive notice of your MPN completion.
  • You will also need to provide names, addresses, and telephone numbers for two references. Reference information is used by the Department of Education if they are unable to locate you after you graduate. The references must have a different address than you and different addresses from each other.
  • The entire MPN process should take you less than 30 minutes to complete.

Federal Direct Stafford Loan (Subsidized/Unsubsidized) MPN

If you are borrowing a Federal Direct Stafford Loan for 2009/2010, complete your MPN electronically via the Depart of Education’s website, www.dlenote.ed.gov. Be sure to read the “What You Need” and “What to Expect” links on the left side of the page before starting. You have not completed the MPN process until you see the “Success” message at the end of the session.

  • Login to the MPN site www.dlenote.ed.gov using your Federal Student Aid PIN. (Don’t know your PIN? Visit the Department of Education PIN site www.pin.ed.gov.)
  • Provide all requested personal information.
  • Once you see the “Success!” message, you are finished with the Federal Direct Stafford Loan MPN.
  • If you have questions about the MPN as you are completing it, click the “Contact Us” button on the Department of Education’s website. www.dlenote.ed.gov

Note: If you are a first time borrower at UConn, you must also complete Entrance Counseling at www.financialaid.uconn.edu/counseling.

The links below will take you to the websites where you can complete either the Entrance & MPN or Exit Loan Counseling Session. Please be sure to read and follow the instructions on these links to ensure proper completion of the counseling session.

The University now participates exclusively in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, in which borrowers obtain loan funds directly from the U. S. Department of Education. The previous loan program in which parents and students borrowed directly from private banks and lenders will no longer be continued. For further information and frequently asked questions on the Direct Loan program go to this site.

Students borrowing for the first time at the UConn School of Social Work or who are first time borrowers in the Direct Loan program will need to complete entrance counseling and the Master Promissory Note.

Entrance & MPN Counseling

Exit Counseling

If you have decided to decline all or a portion of a loan you had previously accepted, please complete this form and return it to the UConn School of Social Work Office of Admission and Financial Aid.

Alternative Loans for Credit Extension Program Students

Credit Extension Program students are not eligible for regular financial aid but they can receive funding through alternative (private) loans. These loans are through commercial banks, have variable interest rates and require a credit check. To learn more or to apply, go to www.Financialaid.uconn.edu/index.php/loans, scroll down to Alternative Loans and use the Learn More button. Instructions and links are here. The lender will ask for what school you are attending. Use UConn Storrs as your school as they process our loans.

  • When you register for your Credit Extension Program class, you must tell the Registrar that you intend to pay for your classes with an alternative loan. You will be registered and will have 10 days  to obtain your loan. If after this date you have not obtained your loan or made other payment arrangements, you will be dropped from the classes.
  • When applying for an alternative loan, students must complete a loan application directly with a lender. The Office of Student Financial Aid Services has developed a list of suggested lenders that offer competitive loan programs and benefits to their borrowers. You have the right to choose to borrow through any alternative loan lender. Lender websites can be accessed directly from the Lender List. This list is on the web site listed above. Make sure you scroll all the way down to the Graduate Alternative loan lenders.
  • You will also have to fill out an alternative Loan information form which is on the website listed above. This provides information to the school which is required to process the loan.
  • Upon credit approval, our office will receive notification to certify eligibility for the loan, and funds will be sent to the school.

You must notify the Financial Aid Office at the School of Social Work that you are applying for an alternative loan. The lenders require that the School of Social Work develop Cost of Attendance for the term so they know how much can be lent. If this is not done, the loan is usually disapproved by the lender. The office can also track the loan and often times correct errors.