Columbia Financial Aid and Educational Financing

Graduating Senior Loan Checklist

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As you prepare to take the next step and embark on your post-graduation plans, understanding your student loan repayment options and responsibilities are especially important. To help you stay organized, we ask that you review the following check-list. Our expert staff of Financial Aid advisors are here to assist you with any questions you might have.

Confirm that your Student Account is paid.

  • Check to see if you have a balance by logging into your SSOL portal.
  • Review payment options.
  • Balances may result in an Administrative Hold on diplomas, transcripts and other academic documents. This hold will not prevent students from participating in graduation.

Review your loan history.

Complete Exit Loan Counseling.

Review Loan Repayment Options.

  • Consider the various repayment plans that are available.
  • Estimate post-graduation monthly loan repayment using the Loan Repayment Estimator.
  • During your grace period, you are not required to make payments. Interest will not accrue on Subsidized Loans during the grace period, but Unsubsidized Loans will continue to accrue interest.
    • 6 month grace period for Federal Direct Loans
    • 9 month grace period for Perkins and Institutional Loans
  • For private loans, confirm the grace period with your lenders.
  • PLUS Loans do not have a grace period.

Learn if you qualify for loan forgiveness.

Contact us.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us either via email or at (212) 854-3711, set up a virtual appointment, or walk-in at any time during our normal business hours.