Student/Parent Loans

A student loan is money for educational expenses that must be paid back with interest. Student loans can help you meet today's education expenses, but they will also bind you to a future of financial commitment that can last as long as 10 years. That's why it's important to fully understand your rights and responsibilities as a borrower before you take out a loan.

CWI offers student and parent loans from the Federal Direct Loan Program (loan funds come directly from the U.S. Department of Education).

Please review the most current Direct Loan interest rates, payment plans, and other information at the U.S. Department of Education's Direct Loan website or the following brochures:

Direct Loan Basics for Students »

Direct Loan Basics for Parents (PLUS Loans) »

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Effective July 1st, 2009 - The College of Western Idaho (CWI), along with our accrediting partner, the College of Southern Idaho (CSI), will no longer offer Federal Stafford Loans in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). CWI will instead participate exclusively in the Federal Direct Loan Program. Students will continue to have access to low-interest, federally backed student loans in the Federal Direct Loan Program

Learn More »

Step by Step: How to Apply for Financial Aid

Types of Federal Stafford Loans

Subsidized Stafford Loans are "need based." The federal government pays the interest to the lender as long as you are enrolled at least half time and during the "grace period" and authorized periods of deferment. Interest will begin to accrue when you enter repayment.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans have no interest subsidy. The loan principal can be deferred, but you must pay the interest monthly or quarterly while enrolled or choose to defer the interest and have the interest added to the loan principal. This is known as "interest capitalization."
PLUS Loans are loans that parents may be eligible for to help cover the educational cost of their dependent student. There is no interest subsidy on these loans. The parent does generally have to pass a credit check to receive this loan. The yearly limit on a PLUS Loan is equal to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid the student will receive.

Other Important Information

Repayment begins six months after graduation, withdrawal from college, or enrollment at less than half-time.
All loans are disbursed in two equal installments, usually one in the fall and one in the spring.
First time borrowers at CWI are required to complete entrance counseling before the loan can be released.
If you are a first year, first time borrower, CWI is required to hold your first student loan disbursement for 30 days. The 30-day count begins on the first day of the semester. This is a one-time hold and will not apply in subsequent semesters.
If you decide to borrow for one semester only, the loan must be disbursed in two equal installments with the second installment coming at the midpoint of the semester.
You must be maintaining satisfactory progress to continue to receive your Federal Student Aid. It is the student's responsibility to read and to know the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

Direct Loan Application Instructions

STEP 1 - Entrance Counseling

Students borrowing William D. Ford Direct Stafford Loans for the first time must complete an online entrance counseling session. Students who have completed an entrance counseling session at CWI previously do not need to repeat an entrance counseling session (Skip to step 2).

Read and follow the instructions for completing the tutorial and quiz. (You will need a browser that is Java enabled such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher. You will be guided through the counseling session. Be sure to read everything carefully, as you will be required to complete a quiz at the end of the session. You will not be able to complete the session without answering every question.

IMPORTANT! - There are 4 additional steps required after completing the entrance counseling tutorial and quiz. You will be prompted and guided through the steps as follows:

1 - Enter your Personal Information

2 - Read and accept your Borrower's Rights and Responsibilities

3 - Select the Schools that should be notified that you have completed Entrance Counseling - be sure to include the College of Southern Idaho (001619).

4 - You're Done!

DO NOT EXIT THE COUNSELING SESSION UNTIL THESE STEPS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND YOU HAVE RECIEVED A CONFIRMATION NUMBER.

CWI will recieve electronic notification from the U.S. Department of Education confirming you have sucessfully completed the entrance counseling session. We recommend that you also print a copy of your "Contratulations!" page and retain it for your records.

Your loan funds cannot be delivered to you without completing an entrance counseling session.

Click here to complete your entrance counseling session now!

STEP 2 - Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN)

You can now complete your Student MPN online! Click here to begin.

Select the Schools that should be notified that you have completed your MPN - be sure to include the College of Southern Idaho (001619).

If you are unable to complete your Master Promissory Note online, paper MPN(s) can be generated. Contact us to have paper copies of your MPN mailed to you.

STEP 3 - Sign and Return Your Award Notification.

If you indicated on your FAFSA application that you were interested in a student loan, your award notification (issued to you once you have completed all the documentation requirements) will include a student loan offer. You can accept, decline, or reduce the amount offered at any time prior to disbursement. Review your award notification carefully, make any modifications you desire, sign and return your award notification to CWI One Stop Student Services.

NOTE: If you did not recieve a student loan offer, please complete a Student Loan Application (select and download the appropriate application using the links above) and submit it to CWI One Stop Student Services. Please allow 10 business days for processing.

PLUS Loan Application Instructions

STEP 1 - Complete a PLUS Loan Application Online

Complete a PLUS Loan Application online.

CWI will recieve electronic notification from the U.S. Department of Education confirming you have sucessfully completed the PLUS Loan Application. We recommend that you also print a copy of your PLUS Application confirmation page and retain it for your records.

Complete a PLUS Loan Disbursement Authorization and submit it to CWI One Stop Student Services.

PLUS loan funds cannot be delivered to your student's account without completing a PLUS Loan Disbursement Authorization.

STEP 2 - Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN)

You can now complete your PLUS MPN online! Click here to begin.

IMPORTANT: You must also complete a PLUS Loan Disbursement Authorization form in addition to your PLUS Loan Application.

If you are unable to complete your Master Promissory Note online, paper MPN(s) can be generated. Contact us to have paper copies of your MPN mailed to you.

STEP 3 - Sign and Return Your Student's Award Notification.

Once your Parent PLUS Loan has been added to your student's aid package, CWI will issue a new award notification. Please review your student's award notification carefully with them. If you would like to reduce the amount of the PLUS Loan offered, please contact us.

CAUTION! - Student Loan Default

Loans are legal obligations. Before you accept a student loan consider the amount you’ll have to repay over the years. Please consider carefully your future ability and willingness to repay borrowed money that must be repaid with interest, just like car loans and mortgages. Loans CANNOT be canceled because:

you didn’t like the education you received
you didn’t get a job in your field of study,
you’re having financial difficulty

If you don't pay back the loan as you agreed to do in your student loan promissory note, you may be in default. A loan default can severely impact your credit status. If you default on any federal student loan, the federal government may take serious actions against you such as:

Your loans may be turned over to a collection agency.
You'll be liable for the costs associated with collecting your loan, including court costs and attorney fees.
You can be sued for the entire amount of your loan.
Your wages may be garnished. (Federal law limits the amount that may be garnished to 15% of the borrower's take-home pay.)
Your federal and state income tax refunds may be intercepted.
The federal government may withhold part of your Social Security benefit payments. (The US Supreme Court upheld the government's ability to collect defaulted student loans in this manner without a statute of limitations in Lockhart v US (04-881, December 2005).)
Your defaulted loans will appear on your credit record, making it difficult for you to obtain an auto loan, mortgage, or even credit cards. A bad credit record can also harm your ability to find a job.
You won't receive any more federal financial aid until you repay the loan in full or make arrangements to repay what you already owe and make at least six consecutive, on-time, monthly payments. (You will also be ineligible for assistance under most federal benefit programs.)
You'll be ineligible for deferments.
Subsidized interest benefits will be denied.
You may not be able to renew a professional license you hold.