Helpful Resources
- Net Price Calculator - An excellent financial aid calculator published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.
- Direct Lending Loan website - Once you have accepted a student loan on CougarWeb, the system will create an electronic
loan application. The loan application will then be transmitted electronically to
the Direct Lending platform. Once there, you will be notified via e-mail to log in
to the site and complete the loan application including signing your master promissory
note. You will need your FAFSA ID in order to sign in. In addition, this website
can provide answers regarding types of student loans, interest rates, repayment responsibilities,
entrance counseling, exit counseling, consolidation, loan services and rights and
responsibilities as a student and of the school.
- Entrance and Exit Counseling - All first time loan borrowers at Collin are required to complete entrance loan counseling.
All students who fall below half time and/or leave Collin are required to complete
exit loan counseling. (All students receiving Stafford loans MUST be attending at
least half time to be eligible for the loans.)
- Education Tax Credits - IRS Publication 970. Tax Benefits for Education
- Selective Service - Men aged 18-25 are required to register with Selective Service. Students who are
required to register with the Selective Service must do so to be eligible for State
Student Aid funds.
- National Student Loan Data System - All loans; subsidized, unsubsidized and parent PLUS loans awarded through Collin
College will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will
be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders and schools determined to be authorized
users of the data system.
- The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board - also known as THECB. THECB's website contains a wealth of information about higher
education in the State of Texas, including sources of financial aid such as exemptions
and waivers. Simply click on "Visit My Texas Future" to view these resources. Note: You will need to create a free account.
- Federal Student Aid Information - 800.433.7327
- Federal Student Aid Ombudsman - 877.557.2575
- Direct Loan Servicing - 800.848.0979
- Direct Loan Consolidation - 800. 557.7392
- COD School Relations - Applicant Services - 800.557.7394
Beyond High School
View a presentation handout that explains the financial aid process.
Other Important Information
Income-Based Loan Repayment program or IBR
On July 1, 2009, a major new student loan repayment option will become available for
the first time. Income-Based Repayment (IBR) caps monthly federal loan payments at
an affordable level based on your income and family size, and forgives any debt and
interest that remains after 25 years. If you owe more on your federal student loans
than you earn in a year, you can probably benefit from IBR. The lower your income,
the lower your monthly payment will be: in some cases, as low as $0. IBR is available
for almost all federal loans - past, present, or future - made by any lender, whether
for college or graduate school.
For more information, including a simple calculator to estimate monthly payments, please visit www.IBRinfo.org.
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