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Exit Counseling Instructions

Direct Loan Exit Counseling Helpful Hints

Exit counseling is required for federal student loan borrowers who leave school or drop below half-time enrollment. The purpose of exit counseling is to ensure that you understand your student loan obligations and to prepare you for repayment. These useful tips will help you to get started.

  • Before you begin, you should have your StudentAid.gov account as well as details on your income, financial aid and living expenses. You will also need to update your contact information with current names, addresses, e-mails, and phone numbers for your closest living relative and two different references who live in the US, as well as your future employer, if known.
  • Allow 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to complete the process in one session. Close all other internet browsers.
  • Loan data is available in your Aid Summary. You may log in anytime to view it.
  • Contact the Federal Aid Information Center at 1-(800) 433-3243 for assistance. You can also live chat in your StudentAid.gov account.

Direct Loan Exit Counseling Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Go to the Exit Counseling landing page on StudentAid.gov and review the information. Sign into your student account by clicking the blue Log In button. Enter your email, phone or FSA ID and password. To recover your username or reset your password, click the blue log in button and then click the Forgot Username or Password link to reset your information.

Step 2: Once logged in, click the Start button to begin. Follow the instructions and complete all the steps.

Step 3: Proceed through the counseling in the provided sequence. You cannot skip around or save and return to an incomplete session.

Step 4: Throughout the session, you will answer a few questions to help you remember what you have learned.

Step 5: You will receive a confirmation message when you have completed the counseling session. Vassar will receive an electronic confirmation record within a few days of completion.

You may visit the Help Center if you have any questions or you may contact the Federal Aid Information Center at 1-(800) 433-3243 for further assistance.