Washington — Despite months of warnings by student-loan companies about their potential inability to meet the needs of borrowers, the Education Department has seen little need to take action.

But the loan companies may be succeeding in convincing their own customers. Pennsylvania State University announced today that it would join the federal government’s direct-loan program, which provides federally guaranteed student loans without the involvement of private banks. Several dozen other colleges have taken a similar step so far this year, according to the department.

Penn State’s executive director of student aid, Anna Griswold, said in a statement that by joining direct lending, the university was “removing the uncertainty for our students and letting them know their loans will be funded.”

Student-loan companies have been warning for months that they might not be able to serve all potential borrowers, as part of their campaign to convince Congress that lawmakers cut their subsidies too deeply last year. Thomas A. Butts, a former financial-aid director at the University of Michigan, said last week that the loan companies, after fighting for years to persuade colleges to join the bank-based system, known as FFELP, could now be “shooting themselves in the foot” by raising concerns about their ability to serve the market.

The Consumer Bankers Association, which represents most major student-loan providers, made a move today to reverse that perception by sending a letter to college financial-aid directors saying that many of its members remained committed to student lending.

“Despite a series of negative developments that have increased their costs and reduced their margins, banks plan to continue making both FFELP and private loans in academic year 2008-2009,” Joe Belew, the association’s president, said in the letter. —Paul Basken