Federal Regulations require all students who have been awarded Federal Direct Loans to complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note before funds are disbursed to their student account.

Entrance Counseling

Students who have not borrowed a student loan in the past or new Graduate PLUS loan borrowers are required to complete Entrance Counseling prior to their loan disbursing.  The purpose of Entrance Counseling is to ensure you understand the terms and conditions of borrowing federal aid.  You will need your FSA ID to complete Entrance Counseling at www.StudentLoans.gov.

Master Promissory Note

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legally binding document that makes you responsible for the amount you borrow.  If you have not previously had a Direct Loan, you will need to complete a MPN for Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loans after you have accepted them.  Students must complete a separate MPN for a Graduate PLUS Loan.  Both MPN’s can be found at www.StudentLoans.gov using your FSA ID number to sign in.

At Montana State University, we encourage students and families to make informed decisions about financial aid. We highly recommend that you borrow only the amount of loans you need to successfully complete your education.