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Home ― About DSU ― Consumer Information ― Online Student Loan Counseling

Online Student Loan Counseling

Before you take out a student loan to help pay for your Dakota State education, you’ll need to know the responsibilities that come with it. Entrance and exit loan counseling are required of all students who take out loans. Entrance loan counseling will teach you how the loan process works, how to manage your education expenses, additional financial resources to consider, and your responsibilities as a borrower. Exit loan counseling will prepare you to repay your student loans as you begin your life as a DSU alum.

Online Student Loan Counseling

Entrance loan counseling

Students who borrow any Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan are required to complete an entrance loan counseling session before they receive their first loan disbursement. This requirement can be completed online at the same website in which the master promissory note is completed:

StudentLoans.gov

Exit loan counseling

Students who borrow any Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan are required to complete an Exit Loan Counseling session when they graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time status.

Exit Loan Counseling

If you received a Federal Perkins loan, you must complete an Exit Interview if you graduate, transfer, drop below the required six credit hours, or leave the campus, even for just one semester. The Exit Interview will provide a detailed explanation of repayment, deferment, and cancellation privileges along with answering specific questions about loans.

*Please note the Federal Perkins Loan Exit Interview is a SEPARATE requirement from any other loan exit interviews that you may be required to complete. (For example, Stafford Loans)

Exit Interview Instructions

  • Access ECSI's website by clicking on https://heartland.ecsi.net/
  • Select Students & Borrowers
  • Choose Sign in or Register
  • Create a new account, if you do not have one. *** You will need your ECSI Key to connect your account to your profile. Contact ECSI if you do not have your key at (888) 549-3274 ***
  • Under your Student Loans & Accounts Receivable Account, the Exit Interview will be located on the Documents tab.

Please be advised that a HOLD will be placed on your account for unmet Perkins Loan requirements, preventing access to transcripts and further class registration.

Perkins Loan Exit Counseling