Student federal loan funds are available to assist students and parents in paying for the cost of education. To apply for a student loan a student must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), listing ETSU: 003487 to get the results from your federal application. Once the FAFSA has been processed, the results received at ETSU, and the student financial aid file completed, then eligibility can be determined and an award letter sent out. Please keep in mind borrowing should be done conservatively to avoid heavy loan debt and the potential for default.  Click on each program below to get the detailed procedure information:

Federal Stafford Loan Program

GradPLUS Loan Program

Parent PLUS Loan Program

Federal Perkins Loan Programs

All students borrowing at ETSU from the Federal Stafford and Federal Perkins Loan Programs are required to complete Entrance Loan Counseling. Federal Stafford Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling may be done electronically online at http://mapping-your-future.org/oslc. Federal Perkins Loan Entrance counseling may be done electronically online at http://mapping-your-future.org/services/oslcidx.htm. Upon online completion, you must submit your online form. This form will be sent to the Office of Financial Aid at ETSU confirming your completion of the required loan counseling session. However, Federal Perkins Loan "Exit Interview" must be completed with the ETSU Perkins Loan Department, which can be reached by phone (423 439-6117/6118) or email (bursar@etsu.edu) for details. Entrance Loan Counseling is mandatory before receiving loan funds for the first time while attending ETSU. Entrance Loan Counseling must be completed at ETSU and not at another institution. Federal regulations require all student loan borrowers to participate in Exit Loan Counseling whenever you drop below half-time enrollment status, withdraw, graduate, or transfer from ETSU.

Remember, you may request your student/parent loan through any lender (except for the Perkins Loan Program).  If your lender is not shown on the Lender Selection Form, you may write in the name of the lender you wish to borrow from and you must provide ETSU with the application.

Please be aware that the benefits offered by lenders to student loan borrowers vary and are subject to change.  Before selecting a lender, please contact various lenders of interest and review their borrower benefits to determine which lender best meets your educational borrowing needs.  The lenders listed in our Preferred Lender list have demonstrated their commitment to offering ETSU students the best overall terms and services over the life of their loan.

ETSU does not receive any monetary benefit from any lender.

There is a charge for processing a student loan (except for the Perkins Loan Program).  A student will pay a fee of up to 3% of the guaranteed loan amount. The percentage charged depends upon the lender chosen by the student. The fee is deducted proportionately from each disbursement of the loan before the funds are received in the Office of Financial Aid at ETSU.

HOW DOES ETSU SELECT ITS PREFERRED LENDERS?  Our preferred lenders are selected on the basis of:

·        Ability to transmit/process loan information electronically

·        Advantages offered to students

·        General student feedback, student preferences over time

·        Track record of performance with ETSU

·        General input from the business community; professional contacts in the student financial aid community, and ongoing review of appropriate professional business and trade journals

·        Determinations are made on an annual basis by the Director in close consultation with the Assistant Directors