Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized)
Federal
Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) by law must be used first to pay tuition before being used for living expenses. Accordingly, these loans are disbursed directly to your student account, one-half each term. At least half-time enrollment is required.
Columbia has implemented Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) with many lenders so that loan funds are transmitted directly into the student's University account at the beginning of each term. However, for lenders that still send paper checks to the University, students must remember to endorse these checks at the University’s Cashiering windows in Kent Hall, at the beginning of each term. Checks that are not signed promptly will expire and be returned to the lender. It is your responsibility to make sure that your federal
Stafford loan funds are credited to your student account. Before
Stafford funds can be disbursed you must attend an Entrance Interview session and complete an Entrance Interview Form. The Entrance Interview session is held during Orientation in August. You only need to do this once while you are enrolled at the
Law
School .
