How to Apply for Student Loans

You must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) AND your financial aid eligibility must already be determined BEFORE you can apply for a loan and continue with the steps below. To view your financial aid eligibility, log into My Canyons at my.canyons.edu and click on "Financial Aid Status".

STEP 1: Loan Entrance Counseling Online

First, complete a MANDATORY Loan Counseling Entrance Exam ONLINE. This is required each academic year you request a Direct Loan.

Click Here to Take the Loan Counseling Entrance exam

Table listing deadlines for completing Loan Entrance Counseling based on loan period.

Loan Period	Entrance Counseling Deadline
Fall 2024 Only	November 22, 2024
Fall 2024 and Spring 2025	May 30, 2025
Spring 2025 Only	May 30, 2025
Summer 2025 Only	July 31, 2025
Fall 2025 Only	November 26, 2025
Fall 2025 and Spring 2026	May 14, 2026
Spring 2026 Only	May 14, 2026
Summer 2026	July 30, 2026

 

STEP 2: Direct Loan Request Worksheet

Next, complete the Direct Loan Request Worksheet. You are permitted no more than two loan requests per academic year. Requests for less than $200 in loans cannot be processed. Your financial aid eligibility must already be determined by the Financial Aid Office BEFORE you can apply for a loan and continue these steps.

To request a NEW student loan, complete the ONLINE Direct Loan Request Worksheet. Requests submitted with missing or blank information will be considered INCOMPLETE and will not be processed. A VALID PHOTO ID MUST BE UPLOADED with the Direct Loan Request Worksheet

IMPORTANT: Loan Requests for Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 will not be processed until after JULY 1, 2025!  Loan Requests received prior to JULY 1, 2025 for the 2025-26 Award Year will be disregarded.

ONLINE Direct Loan Request Worksheet

To make a change to a student loan ALREADY REQUESTED, complete the ONLINE Direct Loan Status Change Request.

ONLINE Direct Loan Status Change Request

Table listing deadlines for completing Direct Loan Requests based on loan period.

Loan Period	Direct Loan Request Deadline
Fall 2024 Only	November 15, 2024
Fall 2024 and Spring 2025	May 23, 2025
Spring 2025 Only	May 23, 2025
Summer 2025	July 25, 2025
Fall 2025 Only	November 20, 2025
Fall 2025 and Spring 2026	May 14, 2026
Spring 2026 Only	May 14, 2026
Summer 2026	July 23, 2026

STEP 3: Master Promissory Note Online

Wait 5 business days AFTER finishing both Steps 1 and 2 above

Then, complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) online. You will be signing your MPN online with your FAFSA Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you have already signed a MPN for a Direct Loan, that has NOT expired, you do not need to complete this step.

Click here to sign your MPN

Table listing deadlines for completing MPN based on loan period.

Loan Period	Master Promissory Note Deadline
Fall 2024 Only	November 22, 2024
Fall 2024 and Spring 2025	May 30, 2025
Spring 2025 Only	May 30, 2025
Summer 2025	July 31, 2025
Fall 2025 Only	November 26, 2025
Fall 2025 and Spring 2026	May 21, 2026
Spring 2026 Only	May 21, 2026
Summer 2026	July 30, 2026

 

STEP 4: Loan Exit Counseling Online

It is your responsibility to complete a MANDATORY Online Loan Counseling Exit Exam BEFORE you leave College of the Canyons, fall below half-time status, or stop attending.

Take the Loan Counseling Exit Exam

Student Loan Disbursements

In order to receive your loan disbursement on the published date you must complete steps 1-3 of the loan application process 10 business days before the published disbursement date.

Loan disbursement dates CLICK HERE

Student Loan Application Deadlines

Students must complete steps 1, 2 AND 3 of the loan application process prior to the published deadline. Students who fail to complete the loan application steps or complete the steps after the published deadline will not awarded or disbursed student loans. The Loan Application Deadlines are included in each of the steps above. There are no exceptions or extensions to the published deadline.