About Our Loans
Types of Loans
If you need help paying for college or career school, the office of Federal Student Aid can assist you with getting the money you need. Check out this video to learn about grants, loans, and work-study jobs and how they can help fund your education.
Federal Direct Loans
As the most common source of college loan funding, Federal Direct loans have a fixed rate with low interest. Direct loans are available to students who are attending Southern at least half time (6 credit hours) and are enrolled in a program that leads to a degree or certificate. To apply for a Direct loan, you must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The information from your FAFSA will determine how much student aid you are eligible to receive. Direct loans are generally included as part of your financial aid package.
Subsidized Loans
Unsubsidized loans
Direct Unsubsidized loans are not need-based. You are responsible for all of the interest that accrues on the loan.
Direct Unsubsidized loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students; there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need.
If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).
Direct Loan Requirements
Step 2: Complete Entrance Counseling. The first time you take out a loan, you’ll need to complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling before your loan proceeds can be released.
Step 3: Complete Master Promissory Note. Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) to finalize the loan.
Step 4: Upon graduation or separation from the school, you will be required to complete an Exit Counseling. More on exit counseling at the bottom of this page.
Responsible Loan Borrowing
Direct Parent Plus Loan
- Who is it for? Parents of students who are enrolled for 6 or more credit hours.
- How much can be borrowed? Parents may borrow as much as the cost of attendance minus other financial aid.
- Can the loan be deferred? If needed, repayment can be deferred until the student is no longer enrolled for at least 6 credit hours.
- Is approval guaranteed? Because this loan is based on credit score, not all parents will be approved.
- What happens if they are denied? If your parent is denied the PLUS loan, you become eligible for an additional amount in the Stafford Loan program.
- How do my parents apply? They can apply on the Direct PLUS website to begin the process.
Nursing Loan
The FAFSA will apply you for both loans, and qualified students will see the loan as part of their financial aid award. For additional information please contact your student finance counselor once your FAFSA has been processed.
Complete your Nursing Promissory Note here once you have been awarded.
Alternative Loans
Alternative loans are available to meet educational expenses when federal, private, and personal resources have been exhausted.
Typically, with Alternative loans:
- Applications can be completed over the phone or online.
- Eligibility is determined in 10 or 15 minutes.
- Interest rates and eligibility requirements vary with each lender.
- Interest starts accruing immediately.
- Payments, including interest, can be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half time (6 credit hours).
- We do not endorse any particular Alternative loan lender. We recommend you search the web for a suitable student loan provider that meets your needs. For questions please contact our office.
Loan Exit Counseling
Exit Counseling is required when you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. Exit Counseling provides important information to help you prepare for the repayment of your federal student loan(s). Exit Counseling MUST be completed for each school at the termination of your enrollment period or when you "leave"; even if you are transferring to another school.
Direct Loans:
- Log in to StudentLoans.gov using your FSA ID
- Select "Complete Counseling" on the left-hand navigation bar
- Select "Exit Counseling" under "Choose Counseling Type"
- If you log in, you will be able to:
- See your federal student loan information available in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
- Notify schools of counseling completion
- View proof of counseling completion
Institutional, Perkins, and Nursing Loans
INSTITUTIONAL, PERKINS, and NURSING LOANS exit counseling is done through ECSI.
Go to http://heartland.ecsi.net/ and click on Sign in or Register button at the top of the page. After signing in*, click on the School’s name and then click on the View Account button. Your exit counseling will be listed under the documents tab.
For exit counseling questions: HeartlandECSI - Student Loan Servicing| 888.549.3274
Available:Monday - Friday 7:30am – 9:00pm EST
LIVE CHAT ONLINE @ http://heartland.ecsi.net/
*NOTE: After you have successfully created a new profile and/or signed in, you may need to connect your account to your profile. To do so, click on the Connect an Account button. When connecting your account, you will be asked to provide your Heartland Key (Account Number). The account number is a 17 character alphanumeric number (including a hyphen). A sample account number is 01122-12345678912. You can also search for your account number using your first name, last name, Social Security Number and zip code.
Please remember that you will need to complete exit counseling for each type of loan you have (Federal, Perkins, Nursing and/or SAU Institutional).