682.604—Processing the borrower's loan proceeds and counseling borrowers.

(a) General. (1) This section establishes rules governing a school's processing of a borrower's Stafford or PLUS loan proceeds, and for counseling borrowers. The school shall also comply with any rules for processing a loan contained in 34 CFR part 668.

(2) Prior to a school delivering or crediting an FFEL loan account by EFT or master check, the school must provide the student or parent borrower with the notice as described under § 668.165.

(3) Except as provided in § 668.167, if the school is placed under the reimbursement payment method, a school shall not disburse a loan.

(b) Releasing loan proceeds. (1) Except as provided in § 682.207(b)(1)(v)(C)(1) and (D), the proceeds of a Stafford or PLUS loan disbursed using electronic transfer of funds must be sent directly to the school by the lender.

(ii) Upon notification by a lender under § 682.207(b)(2)(iv) that it has disbursed a loan directly to a borrower as provided under § 682.207(b)(1)(v)(C)(1) and (D), the institution must immediately notify the lender if the student is no longer eligible to receive the disbursement.

(2) (i) Except in the case of a late disbursement under paragraph (e) of this section or as provided in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) or (iv) of this section, a school may release the proceeds of any disbursement of a loan only to a student, or a parent in the case of a PLUS loan, if the school determines the student has continuously maintained eligibility in accordance with the provisions of § 682.201 from the beginning of the loan period for which the loan was intended.

(ii) [Reserved]

(iii) If, after the proceeds of the first disbursement are transmitted to the student, the student becomes ineligible due solely to the school's loss of eligibility to participate in the Title IV programs, the school may transmit the proceeds of the second or subsequent disbursement to the borrower as permitted by § 668.26.

(iv) If, prior to the transmittal of the proceeds of a disbursement to the student, the student temporarily ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis, the school may transmit the proceeds of that disbursement and any subsequent disbursement to the student if the school subsequently determines and documents in the student's file—

(A) That the student has resumed enrollment on at least a half-time basis;

(B) The student's revised cost of attendance; and

(C) That the student continues to qualify for the entire amount of the loan, notwithstanding any reduction in the student's cost of attendance caused by the student's temporary cessation of enrollment on at least a half-time basis.

(c) Processing of the loan proceeds by the school. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, if a school receives a borrower's loan proceeds, it shall hold the funds until the student has registered for classes for the period of enrollment for which the loan is intended and then follow the procedures in paragraph (c) (2) of this section.

(2) (i) Except as provided in § 682.207(b)(1)(v)(C) (1) and (D), after the student has registered, if the loan proceeds are disbursed by means of a check that requires the endorsement of the student only, the school shall deliver the check to the student, subject to paragraph (d)(2) of this section, within 30 days of the school's receipt of the check.

(ii) If the loan proceeds are disbursed by means of a check that requires the endorsement of both the borrower and the school, the school shall—

(A) In the case of the initial disbursement on a loan, endorse the check on its own behalf, and, after the student has registered, deliver it to the student subject to paragraph (d)(2) of this section, within 30 days of the school's receipt of the check; or

(B) Obtain the borrower's endorsement on the check, endorse the check on its own behalf and, after the student has registered, credit the student's account, in accordance with paragraph (d)(1) of this section, and deliver the remaining loan proceeds to the student, as specified in § 668.164(e).

(3) If the loan proceeds are disbursed by electronic funds transfer to an account of the school in accordance with § 682.207(b)(1)(ii)(B), or by master check in accordance with § 682.207(b)(1)(ii)(C), the school must, unless authorization was provided in the loan application or MPN, obtain the student's, or in the case of parent a PLUS loan, the parent borrower's written authorization for the release of the initial and any subsequent disbursement of each FFEL loan to be made, and after the student has registered either—

(i) Deliver the proceeds to the student or parent borrower as specified in § 668.164; or

(ii) Credit the student's account in accordance with paragraph (d)(1) of this section and § 668.164, notify the student or parent borrower in writing that it has so credited that account, and deliver to the student or parent borrower the remaining loan proceeds not later than the timeframe specified in 668.164.

(4) A school may not credit a student's account or release the proceeds of a loan to a student who is on a leave of absence, as described in § 668.22(d).

(5) A school may not release the first installment of a Stafford loan for endorsement to a student who is enrolled in the first year of an undergraduate program of study and who has not previously received a Stafford, SLS, Direct Subsidized, or Direct Unsubsidized loan until 30 days after the first day of the student's program of study unless—

(i) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section, the school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate, calculated under subpart M of 34 CFR part 668, of less than 10 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which data are available; or

(ii) For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2011, the school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate, calculated under either subpart M or subpart N of 34 CFR part 668 of less than 15 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which data are available; or

(iii) The school is an eligible home institution certifying a loan to cover the student's cost of attendance in a study abroad program and has a cohort default rate, calculated under either subpart M or subpart N of 34 CFR part 668, of less than 5 percent for the single most recent fiscal year for which data are available.

(6) Unless the provision of § 682.207(d) applies—

(i) If a loan period is more than one payment period, the school must deliver loan proceeds at least once in each payment period; and

(ii) If a loan period is one payment period, the school must make at least two deliveries of loan proceeds during that payment period.

(A) For a loan certified under § 682.603(f)(1)(i)(A), the school may not make the second delivery until the calendar midpoint between the first and last scheduled days of class of the loan period; or

(B) For a loan certified under § 682.603(f)(1)(i)(B), the school may not make the second delivery until the student successfully completes half of the number of credit hours or clock hours and half of the number of weeks of instructional time in the payment period.

(7) The school must deliver loan proceeds in substantially equal installments, and no installment may exceed one-half of the loan.

(8) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (c)(6) through (c)(9) of this section, a school is not required to deliver loan proceeds in more than one installment if—

(i) (A) The student's loan period is not more than one semester, one trimester, one quarter, or, for non term-based schools or schools with non-standard terms, 4 months; and

(B) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(8)(i)(B)(2) of this section, the school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate, calculated under subpart M of 34 CFR part 668, of less than 10 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which data are available; or

(2) For loan disbursements made on or after October 1, 2011, the school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate, calculated under either subpart M or subpart N of 34 CFR part 668 of less than 15 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which data are available; or

(ii) The school is an eligible home institution certifying a loan to cover the student's cost of attendance in a study abroad program and has a cohort default rate, calculated under subpart M or subpart N of 34 CFR part 668, of less than 5 percent for the single most recent fiscal year for which data are available.

(9) A school may deliver loan proceeds in accordance with paragraphs (c)(5) and (c)(10) of this section, if the school certified the loan prior to the deadline as provided for in § 682.603(h).

(d) Applying the loan proceeds. (1) For purposes of paragraphs (c)(2)(ii)(B) and (c)(3)(ii) of this section, a school may not credit a registered student's account earlier than the period specified in § 668.164.

(ii) (A) The school may credit a registered student's account with only those loan proceeds covering costs specified in § 668.164.

(B) The school, as a fiduciary for the benefit of the guaranty agency, the Secretary, and the student, may hold any additional loan proceeds that the student requests in writing that the school retain in order to assist the student in managing his or her loan funds for the remainder of the academic year. The school shall maintain these funds, as provided in § 668.165(b)(5).

(2) For purposes of paragraphs (c)(2)(i), (c)(2)(ii) and (c)(3) of this section, a school may not deliver loan proceeds earlier than the timeframe specified in § 668.164.

(3) If a student does not begin attendance in the period of enrollment—

(i) Disbursed loan proceeds must be handled in accordance with 34 CFR 668.21; and

(ii) Undelivered loan funds held by the school must be handled in accordance with 34 CFR 668.167.

(e) Processing a late disbursement. (1) A school may process a late disbursement received from a lender under § 682.207(f) in accordance with § 668.164(g).

(2) If the total amount of the late disbursement and all prior disbursements is greater than that portion of the borrower's educational charges, the school shall return the balance of the borrower's loan proceeds to the lender with a notice certifying—

(i) The beginning and ending dates of the period during which the borrower was enrolled at the school as an eligible student during the loan period or payment period; and

(ii) The borrower's corrected financial need for the loan for that period of enrollment or payment period.

(f) Entrance counseling. (1) A school must ensure that entrance counseling is conducted with each Stafford loan borrower prior to its release of the first disbursement, unless the student borrower has received a prior Federal Stafford, Federal SLS, or Direct subsidized or unsubsidized loan.

(2) A school must ensure that entrance counseling is conducted with each graduate or professional student PLUS loan borrower prior to its release of the first disbursement, unless the student has received a prior Federal PLUS loan or Direct PLUS loan.

(3) Entrance counseling for Stafford and graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrowers must provide comprehensive information on the terms and conditions of the loan and on the responsibilities of the borrower with respect to the loan. This information may be provided to the borrower—

(i) During an entrance counseling session conducted in person;

(ii) On a separate written form provided to the borrower that the borrower signs and returns to the school; or

(iii) Online or by interactive electronic means, with the borrower acknowledging receipt of the information.

(4) If entrance counseling is conducted online or through interactive electronic means, the school must take reasonable steps to ensure that each student borrower receives the counseling materials, and participates in and completes the entrance counseling, which may include completion of any interactive program that tests the borrower's understanding of the terms and conditions of the borrower's loans.

(5) A school must ensure that an individual with expertise in the title IV programs is reasonably available shortly after the counseling to answer the student borrower's questions regarding those programs. As an alternative, prior to releasing the proceeds of a loan, in the case of a student borrower enrolled in a correspondence program or a student borrower enrolled in a study-abroad program that the home institution approves for credit, the counseling may be provided through written materials.

(6) Entrance counseling for Stafford Loan borrowers must—

(i) Explain the use of a Master Promissory Note;

(ii) Emphasize to the student borrower the seriousness and importance of the repayment obligation the student borrower is assuming;

(iii) Describe the likely consequences of default, including adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under Federal law, and litigation;

(iv) In the case of a student borrower (other than a loan made or originated by the school), emphasize that the student borrower is obligated to repay the full amount of the loan even if the student borrower does not complete the program, does not complete the program within the regular time for program completion, is unable to obtain employment upon completion, or is otherwise dissatisfied with or does not receive the educational or other services that the student borrower purchased from the school;

(v) Inform the student borrower of sample monthly repayment amounts based on—

(A) A range of student levels of indebtedness of Stafford loan borrowers, or student borrowers with Stafford and PLUS loans, depending on the types of loans the borrower has obtained; or

(B) The average indebtedness of other borrowers in the same program at the same school as the borrower;

(vi) To the extent practicable, explain the effect of accepting the loan to be disbursed on the eligibility of the borrower for other forms of student financial assistance;

(vii) Provide information on how interest accrues and is capitalized during periods when the interest is not paid by either the borrower or the Secretary;

(viii) Inform the borrower of the option to pay the interest on an unsubsidized Stafford Loan while the borrower is in school;

(ix) Explain the definition of half-time enrollment at the school, during regular terms and summer school, if applicable, and the consequences of not maintaining half-time enrollment;

(x) Explain the importance of contacting the appropriate offices at the school if the borrower withdraws prior to completing the borrower's program of study so that the school can provide exit counseling, including information regarding the borrower's repayment options and loan consolidation;

(xi) Provide information on the National Student Loan Data System and how the borrower can access the borrower's records; and

(xii) Provide the name of and contact information for the individual the borrower may contact if the borrower has any questions about the borrower's rights and responsibilities or the terms and conditions of the loan.

(7) Entrance counseling for graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrowers must—

(i) Inform the student borrower of sample monthly repayment amounts based on—

(A) A range of student levels of indebtedness of graduate or professional student PLUS loan borrowers, or student borrowers with Stafford and PLUS loans, depending on the types of loans the borrower has obtained; or

(B) The average indebtedness of other borrowers in the same program at the same school as the borrower;

(ii) Inform the borrower of the option to pay interest on a PLUS Loan while the borrower is in school;

(iii) For a graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrower who has received a prior FFEL Stafford, or Direct subsidized or unsubsidized loan, provide the information specified in § 682.603(d)(1)(i) through § 682.603(d)(1)(iii); and

(iv) For a graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrower who has not received a prior FFEL Stafford, or Direct subsidized or unsubsidized loan, provide the information specified in paragraph (f)(6)(i) through (f)(6)(xii) of this section.

(8) A school must maintain documentation substantiating the school's compliance with this section for each student borrower.

(g) Exit counseling. (1) A school must ensure that exit counseling is conducted with each Stafford loan borrower and graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrower either in person, by audiovisual presentation, or by interactive electronic means. In each case, the school must ensure that this counseling is conducted shortly before the student borrower ceases at least half-time study at the school, and that an individual with expertise in the title IV programs is reasonably available shortly after the counseling to answer the student borrower's questions. As an alternative, in the case of a student borrower enrolled in a correspondence program or a study-abroad program that the home institution approves for credit, written counseling materials may be provided by mail within 30 days after the student borrower completes the program. If a student borrower withdraws from school without the school's prior knowledge or fails to complete an exit counseling session as required, the school must ensure that exit counseling is provided through either interactive electronic means or by mailing written counseling materials to the student borrower at the student borrower's last known address within 30 days after learning that the student borrower has withdrawn from school or failed to complete the exit counseling as required.

(2) The exit counseling must—

(i) Inform the student borrower of the average anticipated monthly repayment amount based on the student borrower's indebtedness or on the average indebtedness of student borrowers who have obtained Stafford loans, PLUS Loans, or student borrowers who have obtained both Stafford and PLUS loans, depending on the types of loans the student borrower has obtained, for attendance at the same school or in the same program of study at the same school;

(ii) Review for the student borrower available repayment plan options, including standard, graduated, extended, income sensitive and income-based repayment plans, including a description of the different features of each plan and sample information showing the average anticipated monthly payments, and the difference in interest paid and total payments under each plan;

(iii) Explain to the borrower the options to prepay each loan, to pay each loan on a shorter schedule, and to change repayment plans;

(iv) Provide information on the effects of loan consolidation including, at a minimum—

(A) The effects of consolidation on total interest to be paid, fees to be paid, and length of repayment;

(B) The effects of consolidation on a borrower's underlying loan benefits, including grace periods, loan forgiveness, cancellation, and deferment opportunities;

(D) That borrower benefit programs may vary among different lenders;

(v) Include debt-management strategies that are designed to facilitate repayment;

(vi) Include the matters described in paragraph (f)(6)(i), (f)(6)(ii), and (f)(6)(iv) of this section;

(vii) Describe the likely consequences of default, including adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under Federal law, and litigation;

(viii) Provide—

(A) A general description of the terms and conditions under which a borrower may obtain full or partial forgiveness or discharge of principal and interest, defer repayment of principal or interest, or be granted forbearance on a title IV loan, including forgiveness benefits or discharge benefits available to a FFEL borrower who consolidates his or her loan into the Direct Loan program; and

(B) A copy, either in print or by electronic means, of the information the Secretary makes available pursuant to section 485(d) of the HEA;

(ix) Require the student borrower to provide current information concerning name, address, social security number, references, and driver's license number and State of issuance, as well as the student borrower's expected permanent address, the address of the student borrower's next of kin, and the name and address of the student borrower's expected employer (if known). The school must ensure that this information is provided to the guaranty agency or agencies listed in the student borrower's records within 60 days after the student borrower provides the information;

(x) Review for the student borrower information on the availability of the Student Loan Ombudsman's office;

(xi) Inform the student borrower of the availability of title IV loan information in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and how NSLDS can be used to obtain title IV loan status information; and

(xii) A general description of the types of tax benefits that may be available to borrowers.

(3) If exit counseling is conducted by electronic interactive means, the school must take reasonable steps to ensure that each student borrower receives the counseling materials, and participates in and completes the counseling.

(4) The school must maintain documentation substantiating the school's compliance with this section for each student borrower.

(h) Treatment of excess loan proceeds. Except as provided under paragraph (i) of this section if, before the delivery of any Stafford, SLS or PLUS loan disbursement, the school learns that the borrower will receive or has received financial aid for the period of enrollment for which the loan was made that exceeds the amount of assistance for which the student is eligible, the school shall reduce or eliminate the overaward by either—

(1) Using the student's SLS, PLUS, nonsubsidized or unsubsidized Stafford, or State-sponsored or private loan to cover the expected family contribution, if not already done;

(2) (i) Returning the entire undelivered disbursement to the lender or escrow agent; and

(ii) Providing the lender with a written statement—

(A) Describing the reason for the return of the funds, if any;

(B) Setting forth the student's revised financial need; and

(C) Directing the lender to re-disburse a revised amount and, if necessary, revise subsequent disbursements to eliminate the overaward; or

(3) Returning to the lender any portion of the disbursement for which the student is ineligible and providing the lender with a written statement explaining the return of the funds.

(i) For purposes of paragraph (h) of this section, funds obtained from any Federal College Work-Study employment that do not exceed the borrower's financial need by more than $300 may not be considered as excess loan proceeds.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1845-0020)

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1077, 1078, 1078-1, 1082, 1085, 1092, 1094 )

Code of Federal Regulations

[57 FR 60323, Dec. 18, 1992]

Code of Federal Regulations

Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting § 682.604 , see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.fdsys.gov.