Student Financial Assistance

Student Loan Information

What action must a student take to receive a loan after 7/1/10?

Students interested in a student loan must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be admitted into an eligible degree program, be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress, and be enrolled at least half-time.  In some instances, additional documentation is needed before a student’s FAFSA is considered complete.  Such students will receive a Missing Information Letter detailing the items needed or can view the items needed via their TopNet Account.

Once the FAFSA is considered complete and has been processed, the student will be sent an Award Notification to their WKU Email Account (if registered) or to the email account on record with the university/reported on FAFSA (if not registered).  The Award Notification will provide the amount and type of loan the student has been awarded. 
The student must take the following steps before loan funds can be disbursed:

Accept the student loan via their TopNet Account or by emailing fa.awards@wku.edu (if the student wants to accept an amount less than was awarded, it should be indicated in the content of the email)

Complete the Master Promissory Note (if one is not already on file with Direct Lending) by going to www.studentloans.gov, signing in with the student Personal Identification Number (PIN) , clicking on “Sign Master Promissory Note” and proceeding as directed.

Complete an Entrance Counseling Session (if a first-time borrower) by going to www.studentloans.gov, signing in with the student  Personal Identification Number (PIN) , clicking on “Entrance Counseling” and proceeding as directed.

Activate a Refund Preference (if this has not been done already) by going to www.wkudebitcard.com.  Note:  This step cannot be completed until the student has received their WKU Debit Card (which typically does not occur until they are officially enrolled).

Student loan funds are credited to the student’s account at the beginning of each semester (if guaranteed prior to the start of the semester).  For those guaranteed after the start of the semester, the loan funds are credited in the next applicable refund cycle. Once the loan funds have credited the student’s WKU account, a refund is issued for any remaining balance and is distributed to the student per the refund preference they chose. 

 

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