Loan Application Process

Review the appropriate checklist below to apply for educational loans included with your financial aid. If you have any questions about the application process, please feel free to contact the Office of External Loans at 216.368.6153 or faloans@case.edu.

CWRU Undergraduate Student Loan Checklist

CWRU Graduate Loan Checklist

CWRU Parent Loan Checklist

Documents for Federal Direct Loans

For ALL Federal Direct Loans:

• Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement
  • The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement is for ALL individuals borrowing a loan through the U.S. Department of Education. This includes students, U.S. military service members and their dependents, who borrow the subsidized, unsubsidized, or Grad PLUS, as well as any parents borrowing the Parent PLUS. It is meant to make sure that every borrower understands their responsibility to repay their loan, how much they have borrowed, and how much loan eligibility remains. 

Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans Requirements:

• Entrance Counseling
  • The Entrance Counseling is the U.S. Department of Education’s way of ensuring that students, including U.S. military service members and their dependents understand their responsibilities and obligations. It must be completed once as an undergraduate or graduate student at CWRU.
• Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Undergraduate Students
  • The MPN for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans is the legal document where the borrower promises to repay their loans and any accrued interest to the U.S. Department of Education. It must be completed by undergraduate students at least once every 10 years. It is possible that additional completions may be necessary.
• Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Graduate/Professional Students
  • The MPN for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans is the legal document where the borrower promises to repay their loans and any accrued interest to the U.S. Department of Education. It must be completed by graduate/professional students at least once every 10 years. It is possible that additional completions may be necessary.

Federal Direct PLUS Document Requirements - Graduate Students:

• Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional Students
  • The Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional Students is the request for supplemental information to determine the applicant’s eligibility. There is a credit check for adverse credit as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. A determination of eligibility is typically provided immediately and sent by email. It must be completed every academic year.
• Entrance Counseling
  • The Entrance Counseling is the U.S. Department of Education’s way of ensuring that students, including U.S. military service members and their dependents understand their responsibilities and obligations. It must be completed once as a graduate student at CWRU.
• Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Graduate/Professional Students
  • The MPN for Direct PLUS Loans is the legal document where the borrower promises to repay their loans and any accrued interest to the U.S. Department of Education. It must be completed by graduate/professional students at least once every 10 years. It is possible that additional completions may be necessary.

Federal Direct PLUS Document Requirements - Parents of Undergraduate Students:

• Direct PLUS Loan Application for Parents
  • The Direct PLUS Loan Application for Parents is the request for supplemental information to determine the applicant’s eligibility. There is a credit check for adverse credit as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. A determination of eligibility is typically provided immediately and sent by email. It must be completed every academic year.
• PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Parents
  • The PLUS MPN for Parents of Dependent Undergraduate Student is the legal document where the borrower promises to repay their loans and any accrued interest to the U.S. Department of Education. It must be completed by the parent borrower at least once every 10 years. It is possible that additional completions may be necessary.

Additional Federal Direct PLUS Requirements for Denied Applicants

• PLUS Credit Counseling
  • The PLUS Credit Counseling will help borrowers understand the obligations involved with receiving a PLUS and help in making decisions about taking on student loan debt. This is required of any borrower who was initially denied a PLUS, including those who have obtained an endorser or successfully completed an appeal with the U.S. Department of Education.
• Endorser Addendum
  • The Endorser Addendum is the agreement that allows someone other than the initial PLUS borrower to agree to repay the Direct PLUS if the borrower stops making payments or defaults. Their credit will be checked using the same criteria as the PLUS Application itself. It will also require either the Endorser Code, available from the initial PLUS denial, or the Award Identification Number, available from the Office of External Loans after the application has been processed.