# >> College & Higher Education >> College Loans

How to Check on the Status of Direct Loan Student Loan Disbursements

Student loans are the only income some students will receive the entire semester, while for others it is a great supplement to their income. When financial aid checks are disbursed, students line up at the financial aid office, and will wait for hours to get those much-needed disbursements. The U.S. Department of Education underwrites the direct loan program for students. They work in conjunction with banks and other financial institutions to provide an adequate amount of financial aid to qualifying students. Before waiting in line, you can check the status of your direct loan disbursement.

Instructions

- 1
  Call the financial institution that is serving the loan to request a status of your disbursements. Although your direct loan is a federal student loan, it is issued by a bank. You will need your full name, Social Security number, address and date of birth. If you are unsure of who services your loan or prefer to check online, go to Step 2.
- 2
  Go to the National Student Loan Data System online (see Resources). Log in with your Social Security number, first two letters of your last name, date of birth and PIN to retrieve information about your loan. If you've forgotten your PIN, you can retrieve it online.
- 3
  Read over the information about your loan status and disbursement amounts and dates.

How to Take Out a Loan to Help Me Pay for Rent While in School

How to Enroll for College Classes Without Knowing Your Financial Aid Status