Student & Parent Loans

The federal government, through the U.S. Department of Education, offers Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans. Federal loans are the most common type of student loans. At CWI, between 25% to 30% of students borrow.

• Federal student loans do not require a credit check and have reasonably low interest rates. 
• Repayment and forgiveness options are generous.
• By accepting and completing the requirements to receive a Federal Student Loan, you understand loan information is submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), a system accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and schools determined to be authorized users.

Types of federal loans

Subsidized Loans

• Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, as determined by your information on the FAFSA.
• CWI determines the amount you can borrow, and the amount may not exceed your financial need or your annual and aggregate loan limits.
• For a subsidized loan, the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest:
  • While you are attending school at least half-time.
  • For the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a grace period*).
  • During a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments).

*If you received a Direct Subsidized Loan that was first disbursed between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2014, you will be responsible for paying any interest that accrues during your grace period. If you choose not to pay the interest that accrues during your grace period, the interest will be added to your principal balance.

Unsubsidized Loans

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students with no requirement to demonstrate financial need.
• CWI determines the amount you can borrow by considering the cost of attendance and other financial aid you receive.
• For an unsubsidized loan, you are responsible for paying the interest while you are in school.
• If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school or during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).

Steps to Apply

To apply for a Federal Direct Student Loan, you must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are eligible, Direct Loans will be included along with grants, scholarships, and work-study as part of your financial aid package at CWI.

Applying for Aid

MORE INFORMATION

• Loans | Federal Student Aid
• A Minute to Learn It – Borrowing Student Loans | Financial Aid TV
• Differences Between Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans | Federal Student Aid

Parent PLUS loans are available to credit-worthy parents of eligible dependent students to help cover unmet education-related costs.

• The U.S. Department of Education is the lender.
• The borrower must not have an adverse credit history.
• The maximum loan amount is the student’s cost of attendance, as determined by CWI, minus any other financial aid received.
• By accepting and completing the requirements to receive a Parent PLUS Loan, you understand that loan information is submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), a system accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and schools determined to be authorized users.

Eligibility

To receive a Parent PLUS Loan: 

• You must be the parent (biological, adoptive, or stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credits).
• The student must meet general eligibility requirements for federal student aid.
• The parent must pass a credit check. 
• The parent must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen.

Steps to Apply

To apply for a Parent PLUS loan: 

1. The student must apply for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA.
2. After submitting the FAFSA, the parent must complete a Parent PLUS Loan Application.  

More Information

• Parent PLUS Loans | Federal Student Aid
• What is a Parent PLUS Loan? | Financial Aid TV

Loans to cover educational costs are also available through private lenders, such as banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. Less than 1% of CWI students choose to borrow from private student loan programs.  

• Private student loan borrowers must be credit-worthy.
• Interest rates are usually market-based and competitive.
• Repayment and forgiveness options are more restrictive than federal loans.
• It is always advised that you take out all federal student loans first, then supplement with private loans as needed.

Private Loan Process

Students typically initiate the private loan application by applying through the lender of their choice. The lender would then contact CWI regarding the student's eligibility. Students are encouraged to review the unique benefits of Federal Student Loans and compare a historical list of lenders for CWI by completing Private Loan Counseling.

Code of Conduct

In accordance with federal regulations, CWI is committed to the highest standards of professional conduct. The College is a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), follows its code of conduct, and adheres to the regulations related to issuance of private education loans, as follows:

• Ban on Revenue Sharing Arrangements: CWI will not enter into any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender or guarantor.
• Gift Ban: CWI employees, and their family members, will not solicit or accept any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans. Gifts include any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount.
• Contracting Arrangements Prohibited: CWI employees will not accept any fee, payment, or financial benefit from a lender or affiliate of any lender as compensation for any consulting arrangement or other contract for services to a lender.
• Interaction with Borrowers: CWI will not automatically assign any private education loan to a student or refuse to certify, or delay the certification, of any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
• Prohibition on Offers of Funds for Private Loans: CWI will not request or accept from any lender an offer of funds to be used for private education loans in exchange for CWI providing any promises to the lender regarding the number of loans to be made, the volume of loans to be made, or any preferred lender arrangement.
• Ban on Staffing Assistance: CWI will not request or accept assistance from any lender for call center or financial aid office staffing.
• Advisory Board Compensation: CWI employees who serve on an advisory board, commission or group established by a lender or guarantor is prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender or guarantor, except to be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.

Student loans must be repaid. Be a smart borrower by keeping your total debt low, carefully considering your future ability and willingness to repay the money you borrow, and knowing your repayment options! 

• Unlike other forms of consumer debt (e.g., credit cards, car loans, etc.), student loans usually cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.
• Repayment includes the initial borrowed amount plus interest over time. 
• The lower the interest rate, the less you will have to pay over time.

LOAN Repayment COUNSELING

CWI partners with Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Solutions, a non-profit organization that provides FREE Federal Student Loan counseling services to all CWI students.

ECMC Solutions offers a variety of resources to help CWI students learn about their options when it comes to loan repayment, loan forgiveness, and even what's available if you are struggling to pay your loans. Resources include, but are not limited to:

• Webinars
• One-on-one appointments
• Live chat on their website

ECMC Solutions

Repayment Strategies

Know Your Goals

• Research your degree plan and path to graduation.
• Take only the classes you need to graduate to avoid paying extra costs.
• Graduate on time.

TIP: Learn what you can expect to earn when you graduate from college, and adjust your borrowing expectations accordingly. Visit CareerOnestop to search for information and wages by occupation and location. 

Know What You Owe

• Students apply for aid, including student loans, once per year.
• Each year, you will have the opportunity to review your financial aid and loan options. 
• As loans are offered annually, it can be easy to lose track of exactly how much you have borrowed.

TIP: Review your student loan history and total loan debt at least once per year on the Federal Student Aid site under Manage Loans in your account.  

Make Smart Borrowing Decisions 

• Financial aid and student loan funding is not unlimited.
• If your goal is to earn a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or higher, you need to know how much  total funding is available to you.
• Choose to avoid student loan debt by paying out of pocket or taking advantage of alternative types of aid.

TIP: Estimate your total student loan debt at graduation, and calculate your future monthly student loan payments using a Student Loan Calculator or Debt/Salary Wizard. 

Know Your Repayment Options & Select the Right Payment Plan

• The U.S. Department of Education has several different payment plan options, most of which are designed to flex with your earning ability.
• Review your federal student loan repayment options with the Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator. 

If you do not make your loan payments, you risk going into default. A loan in default has serious consequences, and the federal government will take action to recover the money you owe. CWI's cohort default rate of 0.0% is also the current national average due to the pandemic pause on student loan payments.

Avoiding Default

The first step to avoiding loan default is to learn what default means and understanding the consequences. 

• If I don’t make my loan payments, when is my loan considered to be in default?
• How is missing a payment a problem?
• Avoiding Default
• Default Rates

Getting out of default

Learn what to do should you find yourself in default on your student loans.

• Getting Out of Default
• Student Loan Delinquency and Default
• What if my loans are in default, but I think it’s an error?

Exit counseling is required for all College of Western Idaho (CWI) student loan borrowers who graduate, transfer, or drop below part-time enrollment status (6 credits). Parent PLUS loan borrowers are not required to complete exit counseling. 

Complete Student Loan Exit Counseling

• Once logged in, select Manage Loans, Complete Exit Counseling, then Start.
• From the list of schools, select College of Western Idaho. This will allow CWI to receive a notification of completion.
• Finish all steps of the exit counseling, then choose Submit Counseling.

It can take up to seven (7) business days for CWI to be notified of your completion. A temporary hold will be placed on your diploma and/or transcripts until confirmation is received.