Federal Direct Loans for SCC

Low Interest, Fixed Rate Loans

 

SCC participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan (DL) Program. This is a low-interest fixed-rate loan available from the federal government in two versions:

  • Subsidized: A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. Students are not charged any interest before repayment begins or during authorized periods of deferment. The federal government "subsidizes" the interest during these periods.
  • Unsubsidized: A unsubsidized loan is not based on financial need, and you are charged interest on the loan as soon as the funds are disbursed. You may defer payment on the interest until you have finished school, but the interest will be capitalized that is, it will be added to the amount you owe and additional interest will be based on that higher amount.

Applying for Loans

 

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are used to assist in paying for college expenses. These loans are in the student s name, and the student is responsible for repaying them after leaving school or dropping below half-time enrollment. Check current interest rates (rates are subject to increase July 1). See information and explanation for interest rates for federal loans on this https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates  .

  1. Complete the steps below to apply for the Federal Direct Student Loan:
  2. Complete a FAFSA for the relevant aid year if you have not already done so.
  3. Complete your online Entrance Counseling Once online, sign in using your FSA ID and complete the Entrance Counseling Session.
  4. Complete an electronic Master Promissory Note https://studentaid.gov/mpn/ (eMPN) Once online, sign in using your FSA ID and sign your Master Promissory Note.
  5. Complete SCC s Loan Request Form and submit to the Financial Aid Office.

Loan Request Forms

 

Applying for Fall 2024, Spring 2025 or Summer 2025 - download the following form: 
Federal Direct Student Loan Request Form (PDF)

Note: All of the above five steps must be completed  successfully before a Federal Direct Stafford Loan award will be offered to you.

Eligibility, Loan Limits and More

 

Note: All four of these steps must be completed successfully before a Federal Direct Stafford Loan award will be offered to you. Basic Eligibility: Basic eligibility for a federal student loan: A student must be enrolled in an approved degree, diploma, or certificate program and registered for at least six credit hours during the semester(s) during which loan funds are received. The student must also meet all general eligibility requirements for federal aid. All of these criteria must be met at the time of the loan disbursement each semester. Loan Limits: Loan Limits Per School Year: The amount a student can borrow per academic year will depend upon enrollment and dependency status. The amounts indicated below are the maximum amounts a student may borrow in both subsidized and unsubsidized loans for the entire academic year, including the summer semester.

DEPENDENT STUDENTS

Freshman (0-29 credits): Base $3,500
Additional Unsubsidized $2,000

Sophomore (30+ credits): Base $4,500
Additional Unsubsidized $2,000

INDEPENDENT STUDENTS

Freshman (0-29 credits): Base $3,500
Additional Unsubsidized $6,000

Sophomore (30+ credits): Base $4,500
Additional Unsubsidized $6,000

* Students may be awarded less than the full year limit each year depending on cost of attendance and other aid. * Students dependency status is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). * Students grade levels are determined by the credit hours completed in their active program of study. Lifetime Loan Limits: The aggregate loan limit is the maximum total loan debt a student may borrow as an undergraduate student. The aggregate loan limits include any Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans or Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans you may have previously received under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. As a result of legislation that took effect July 1, 2010, no further loans are being made under the FFEL Program.

AGGREGATE LOAN LIMITS

Dependent Students: $31,000 (of which $23,000 can be subsidized)
Independent Students: $57,500 (of which $23,000 can be subsidized)

If you reach your subsidized limit before reaching your combined limit, you can still be awarded unsubsidized loans until the combined loan limit is reached.

Cancellation of Loans:

Federal Student Loans may be cancelled if the borrower withdraws from classes or drops below half time enrollment (6 credit hours in the student s active program of study) during the loan period. Federal Student Loans may be cancelled or reduced by the borrower by way of written request to the Financial Aid Office.

Direct Loan Exit Counseling:

Students who have graduated, withdrawn or drop below half time enrollment who have received Federal Direct Loans must complete Exit Counseling on the following website http://studentloans.gov/.

Loan Repayment:

Once a student graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time status, the student will have six months before beginning repayment. Loan payments will be made directly to the student's loan servicer.

Payment Plans:

Repayment Estimator is a tool that William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program borrowers can use to obtain preliminary repayment plan eligibility information and estimated repayment amounts. This easy-to-use tool offers borrowers the opportunity to obtain preliminary repayment information across all of the repayment plans. Its advantage over repayment plan-specific calculators is that it provides side-by-side results for all plans and information about the total cost of a loan over time. The new repayment estimator is available for borrower use on https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/ .

The US Department of Education offers several different repayment plans. The student borrower should select the plan that best fits their individual situation. The Repayment Estimator If the student does not select a repayment plan prior to entering repayment than the loan will be under the Standard Repayment Plan (payments are a fixed amount that ensures your loans are paid off within 10 years).

Borrowers can change their repayment plan at any time for free by contacting their loan servicer. For more information on repayment plans please review: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans

Options to Postpone Federal Student Loan Payments:

  • Alternative Payment Plan Some borrowers qualify for other special payment plans such as Income Sensitive, Graduated, or Lowered Payment Plans

  • Deferment: a postponement of payment on a loan, during which interest does not accrue if the loan is subsidized. You may qualify for a deferment while you are

    • Enrolled at least half time in an eligible post-secondary school or studying full time in a graduate fellowship program or an approved disability rehabilitation program.

    • Unemployed or meet our rules for economic hardship (limited to 3 years).

    • You may also be eligible for a deferment based on qualifying active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard

  • Forbearance: allows you to temporarily stop making payments on your loan, temporarily make smaller payments, or extend the time for making payments. Some common reasons for getting forbearance are:

    • Illness or injury to self or immediate family

    • Financial hardship

    • Serving in a medical or dental internship or residency.

  • Consolidation by consolidating your student loans, you might be able to reduce your monthly payments. Contact your lender or servicer for more information. Visit https://studentaid.gov/app/launchConsolidation.action or more information.

To postpone payment on federal student loans, the borrower should contact their lender or servicer for more information about these options.

Something to keep in mind if utilizing a deferment or forbearance is only a temporary suspension of your monthly payments. In most cases, the interest on your student loans continues to accrue during this time.

What is Default?

Default means failure to honor the repayment agreement of a loan. That includes failure to make payments on time, failure to make payments in the correct amount, or failure to file deferment requests properly or on time.

Consequences of Default:

After a student's loan has defaulted, the entire balance becomes due and the student is no longer eligible for any Title IV financial aid.

Other consequences of default may include:

  • Reporting the default to all national credit bureaus.
  • Withholding of a percentage of your wages until the debt is paid in full.
  • Adding collection and attorneys fees to the balance of your loan(s).
  • Seizure of your IRS tax refund by the guarantor or U.S. Department of Education.

Student Loan Code of Conduct:

View Student Loan Code of Conduct PDF

Student Loan Ombudsman:

The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman of the Department of Education helps resolve disputes and solve other problems with federal student loans.

Contact Information for the FSA Student Loan Ombudsman's Office:

On-line assistance: Resolving Disputes | Federal Student Aid 
Telephone: (877) 557-2575 (toll free)
Fax: (606) 396-4821
Mail:
FSA Ombudsman Group
P.O. Box 1843
Monticello, KY 42633