How to apply for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

Find out if you are eligible

Full-time undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine units per term; graduate students must maintain full-time status.
Programs of instruction offered via telecommunication methods are not eligible.
Students must maintain satisfactory academic standing: undergraduate students must successfully complete a minimum of 21 units and maintain a C+ average per academic year, and graduate students must pass all their courses.
Students on academic probation are still eligible to receive funding; however, failure to pass their courses during the probation period will result in a suspension of loan funds.

Complete your application every year

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the FAFSA website. Use the Saint Paul University federal code G10221. The information collected through this application is used by the US Department of Education to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Complete the appropriate Master Promissory Note(s).
Complete the US Student Information Sheet (PDF) form and forward it to the Financial Aid and Awards Service.
If you’re a first-time borrower, complete the entrance counselling element:

Access the US Student Loans website and sign in to complete entrance counselling. The Financial Aid and Awards Service will not process your loan until it has received confirmation that you have successfully completed the counselling session. If you had already completed the Entrance Counselling, you’ve fulfilled this requirement.
Once the Financial Aid and Awards Service has processed your application, a visa letter indicating your loan eligibility will be mailed to you at your mailing address in the United States.