Apply Early - Most schools set priority deadlines (usually March or April) for submitting the need analysis form. This is the deadline you must meet to qualify for government grants. Please follow these five easy steps when applying for a student loan:

Step 1: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The first step in applying for financial aid is to fill out a FAFSA form. This is a standard federal application used to determine eligibility for most types of financial aid. Parents usually provide the tax information needed to complete the form. The application can be picked up at your school's financial aid office, or it is available via the FASFA link on our Web site.The FAFSA Web site will require a PIN to proceed and provides instructions for how to obtain your PIN. After the FAFSA form is completed, it will be sent to the address you provide.

Step 2: Student Aid Report (SAR)

Four to six weeks after you submit your FAFSA form, both you and the schools to which you applied will receive a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR). This report is generated from the financial aid information you provided on your FAFSA. Based on this report, each school will create a financial award package that will be sent to you.

Step 3: Award Letters

A few weeks after receiving your SAR, your financial aid office will send you an award letter, outlining the financial aid package it has put together for you. The award letter will show your family contribution, the financial aid you are eligible for and the amount of aid awarded to you. Let the financial aid office know right away whether you want all, part or none of the financial aid package.

Step 4: Loan Application

If your financial aid package is not enough to cover your education expenses, you may qualify for a government-sponsored loan through the Federal Stafford, Parents PLUS or Graduate PLUS loans.

Step 5: Promissory Note

Signing your promissory note is the final step in the loan process. A promissory note is a legally binding agreement in which the borrower promises to repay the loan, with interest. You will sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN), which means you can obtain multiple loans over the course of several years without having to sign a new promissory note each time. The MPN applies to Federal Stafford and Federal Plus loan borrowers.

For more information, please call 1-800-858-7822 or email Studentlending@regions.com.

To apply for (or learn more about) a Stafford loan click here.
To apply for (or learn more about) a Parent PLUS loan click here.
To apply for (or learn more about) a Graduate PLUS loan click here.
To apply for (or learn more about) an Alternative loan click here.

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