Entrance counseling ensures you understand the terms and conditions of your loan and your rights and responsibilities. You'll learn what a loan is, how interest works, your options for repayment, and how to avoid delinquency and default. This is an important step to understanding the DEBT you are taking on and that it MUST be repaid.
Before you begin
Entrance Counseling takes about 30 minutes to complete, and it must be completed in a SINGLE SESSION. There are 6 modules to review and 3 quizzes to complete
If you have not yet created your SA ID, you can CREATE (an) ACCOUNT in this location FSA ID
When to Complete or Renew your EC
- If you have not had a prior Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)
- If you have paid off all of your previous Federal student loans
- If you want a refresher about how Federal Direct Loans work, repayment options, and how borrowing may impact you in the future
- Go to the Federal Student Aid website
- Click Log in to your account
- Enter your FSA ID and Password
- Click the Log In button
- Read the Disclaimer
- Click the Accept button
- Click on the dropdown “I’m Preparing For School”
- Click on the link Complete Entrance Counseling
- Click the Start button next to “I am an Undergraduate Student”

Warning
Entrance Counseling takes about 30 minutes to complete, and it must be completed in a SINGLE SESSION
- Click the Continue button
- Type Pennsylvania in the “Choose a State” box
- Type Community College of Allegheny County in the “Search School by Name” box
- Click the Continue button
- Begin completing Entrance Counseling Modules

Estimating the Cost of Your Education
Click the Start button

Paying for your Education
Paying for your education - Entrance Counseling Modules
Read the Information provided under the Sources of Aid You Don’t Have to Repay se...
Read the Information provided under the Sources of Aid You Don’t Have to Repay section.
Click the Continue button.
Read the information provided under the Loan Basics section.
Click Continue button.
Read the information provided under the Learn the Types of Student Loans section.
Click the Continue button.
Congratulations! You have completed Paying for you Education module.
Federal Student Loans
How much you can expect to borrow
Prepare for Repayment After School
Prepare for repayment after school - Entrance Counseling Modules
Entrance Counseling Modules – Prepare for Repayment After School Read the Informa...
Read the Information provided under Why Do You Pay section.
Click the Continue button.
Read the Information provided under the Know your Repayment Burden and Responsibilities section.
Click the Continue button.
Read the Information provided under When Does Loan Repayment Begin section.
Click the Continue button.
Read the Information provided under Choose the Right Repayment Plan for You section.
Click the Continue button.
Read the Information provided under the You Must Repay Your Loans No Matter What section.
Click the Continue button.
Consequences for Not Repaying Student Loans
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Read the Summary of information provided
- Click the Submit button
- Congratulations you have completed the Entrance Counseling!

- Read "What is the Total Cost of Your School Program" and click Continue
- Enter School Name
- Select Type of Tuition using the drop-down box
- Select Living Arrangement using the drop-down box
- Select Expected Years to Complete Program using the drop-down box
- Click the View Data button
- Click the Continue button
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Congratulations! You will move to the next module by clicking Continue
- Read the Information provided under How Student Loans Works section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the Information provided under Federal Student Loan Types section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the Information provided under the What are the Max Loan Amounts I Can Borrow section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the Information provided under the Parent Plus Loans Could Help You Close the Gap section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the Information provided under The Federal Student Loan Process section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the Information provided under the Roles and Responsibilities In your Student Loan Journey section
- Click the Continue button
- Click the Continue button to move on to the Quiz
- Read the Information provided under Estimate Your Annual and Total Student Loan Debt
- Select the Type of Degree you are seeking – Associates or Certificate
- Enter your Field of Study (optional)
- Click on the View Data button to based on Average Debt After Graduation
- Use the calculator provided to help you with expected future debt
- Click the Continue button
- Read the Information provided under The Difference in What You’re Offered and What You Need section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the Information in The Impact of Interest section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the information in the Making Payments While In School section
- Click the Continue button
- Congratulations! You can move on to the Quiz
- Click on the Continue button
- Read the information under the What Happens if You Miss Payments section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the information under the What Happens if You Default section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the information under the How to Prevent and Avoid Delinquency and Default section
- Click the Continue button
- Read the information under the Learn About Loan Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge section
- Click the Continue button
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Congratulations!! you have completed Consequences of Not Repaying Your Federal Student Loans
- Click the Continue button to start the next module
- Read "What is the Total Cost of Your School Program" and click Continue