Loan Requirements

Once you accept a Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loan, the U.S. Department of Education requires you to complete additional steps before the loan funds will credit toward the charges on your UW-W Student Account:

1. Entrance Counseling, REQUIRED for first-time borrowers
2. Master Promissory Note, REQUIRED for first-time borrowers

In addition to this website, there are additional tools to assist you with understanding these loans:

• The 2023-2024 Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Steps and FAQs document.
• The 2024-2025 Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Steps and FAQs document.

• Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans from Federal Student Aid

Step 1: Entrance Counseling

All first-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers must complete Entrance Counseling to receive their loan(s).  Entrance Counseling is an online tutorial which explains important information regarding the loan(s) you are about to borrow. 

Follow the steps below to complete the Entrance Counseling:

1. Go to Federal Student Aid using Chrome, Safari, or Firefox (they do not recommend using Internet Explorer).
2. Click on “Log In” using the student’s Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).
   • This is the same FSA ID the student used to file the FAFSA.
   • Be sure to log in as the student and not the parent or someone else; you must log in using the student’s FSA ID.
3. From the “Loans and Grants” menu at the top of the page, select “Loan Entrance Counseling.”
   • If you are working on an Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree, select “Start” in the “I am and Undergraduate Student” section.
   • If you are working on a Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree, select “Start" in the “I am a Graduate or Professional Student” section.
4. In the school notification section, choose WI and then University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. 
5. From this point forward, enter information and answer questions as requested.
6. Once done with all 5 sections of the entrance counseling, be sure to click on “Submit.”

Step 2: Master Promissory Note

All first-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) to receive their loan.  The MPN is the agreement you sign acknowledging the Federal Direct Loan is a loan that you must pay back after you graduate or drop below half-time enrollment. 

Follow the steps below to complete the MPN:

1. Go to Federal Student Aid using Chrome, Safari, or Firefox (they do not recommend using Internet Explorer).
2. Click on “Log In” using the student’s Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).
   • This is the same FSA ID the student used to file the FAFSA.
   • Be sure to log in as the student and not the parent or someone else; you must log in using the student’s FSA ID.
3. From the “Loans and Grants” menu at the top of the page, select “Master Promissory Note (MPN).”
   • If you are working on an Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree, select “Start” in the “I am and Undergraduate Student” section.
   • If you are working on a Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree, select “Start" in the “I am a Graduate/Professional Student” section.
4. Enter the information requested.
5. Once done with all sections of the MPN, be sure to click on “Submit.”

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

Parents wishing to borrow a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan, please follow the steps outlined in the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan page.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Graduate students wishing to borrow a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan, please follow the steps outlined in the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan page.