Are you a new school thinking about Direct Loans? Starting the Direct Loans Program is an important step for your school and many schools. A federal Direct Loan (DL) is a student loan made directly by the U.S. Department of Education. There are four types of Direct Loans, Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Direct Consolidation Loans (CFPB).
If your school has applied to participate in the Direct Loan program and has been approved (as indicated on the ECAR), you must send an email request to the COD School Relations Team to begin actively participating in the Direct Loan program.
Beginning Direct Loan Participation
Send your email request to CODSupport@ed.gov, and include:
- Name of the school
- Address including city, state, and zip code
- Person requesting participation, including email and phone number of the official (Note: It must be the financial aid director, or an official listed on the E-App)
- OPE ID, COD ID, and UEI number
- Request for federal school code (if not yet assigned)
Once all the information is received, the school will receive an email with their Direct Loan code and instructions to get started.
Enrolling in the Direct Loans program can be a valuable asset for schools, as it provides students with an additional option for affording their education. While the application process for the Direct Loan program begins with the E-App, it’s crucial to follow the instructions provided above to properly set up the program. Doing so ensures that students can take full advantage of the benefits offered by your institution.
Sources:
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-federal-direct-loan-en-1553/
https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/2019-07/GettingStartedinDL.pdf
About:
AUTHOR
Christal Carson
Software & Financial Aid Trainer, FAME
Christal brings the knowledge and experience from our Customer Service and Financial Aid Processing teams to her latest role on our Training team at FAME. She has 12 years of experience in the Financial Aid field with an extensive focus on Title IV Regulatory matters including the packaging of Pell and Direct Loans.
EDITOR
Sally Samuels
Director of Compliance, FAME
Sally is one of the country’s leading authorities on Federal financial aid administration with 41 years of “in the trenches” experience. As a respected Industry leader, she is frequently called upon to speak at School, Accrediting, Regional and State conferences as well as to act as school liaison during program reviews and compliance audits. Having processed, reviewed and taught financial aid for 42 years Sally’s experience includes representation at over 300 program reviews and certification visits for postsecondary institutions.
