Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are long-term, low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education.
To apply for a Federal Direct Loan, you must complete a Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please note that there are other required steps in this process other than completing a FAFSA form. (See the Federal Direct Loan Process below.)
The Subsidized Federal Direct Loan is need-based. The federal government pays the interest on the loan during: (1) your enrollment as at least a half-time student; and (2) a deferment, which is a temporary, authorized time when your payments may be postponed.
The Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan is non-need-based. "Unsubsidized" means the federal government does not pay the interest on your behalf. You are responsible for paying all interest on the loan. Interest is charged beginning the day the loan is paid to you until the day the loan is repaid in full. You can choose to pay the accumulated interest while you are in school, or have the unpaid interest capitalized, i.e. added to the principal balance of the loan. Note: If your loan interest is capitalized, it will increase the amount you have to repay.
Irvine Valley College Does NOT participate in the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program.
Borrowing can be costly. We recommend that you consider borrowing only if you have exhausted all other options. Only borrow what you need. Make a budget for yourself to keep your debt within manageable limits.
Federal Direct Loan Process
If you are interested in applying for a Federal Direct Loan, please note the following before the Financial Aid Office can process your request for a Federal Direct Loan:
- You must have a completed financial aid file at IVC. This means you must have completed a FAFSA and turned in all required documents requested by the Financial Aid Office, including any SAP appeal if your financial aid is suspended for GPA, completion rate, or maximum time frame.
- You must be enrolled in at least six (6) active units that follow your academic plan. Disbursements could be delayed for any 2nd eight-week courses since those will not be considered until the start date of the course.
- You must have an approved "My Academic Plan" (MAP) listed in your MySite account.
- If you are a new borrower at IVC, you must complete Loan Entrance Counseling online at https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/. Once this has been completed the Financial Aid Office will be notified in approximately 1 week.
- If you are a new borrower at IVC, you must complete a Master Promissory Note online at https://studentaid.gov/mpn/. After your Master Promissory Note has been electronically signed, the Financial Aid Office will be notified in approximately 1 week.
- You must come in-person to the Financial Aid Office with a valid government issued photo ID to complete a Federal Direct Loan Request Form.
Deadline to Submit Loan Request Form
Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 |
November 27, 2024 | May 1, 2025 | July 3, 2025 |
Approved loan amounts will be viewable through the My Financial Aid Portal under "Awards" once the loan has been processed. Standard processing timeline for loan requests are 2 – 4 weeks.
Your loan funds are disbursed once each semester (Fall and Spring), generally 30 days into the term.
Please make sure that the mailing address is up-to-date on MySite and/or your Direct Deposit in Nelnet is up-to-date.
Annual Loan Amounts
The Federal Direct Loan amount that you are eligible to borrow each academic year (Fall, Spring and Summer) is limited by: (1) your grade level; (2) whether you are a dependent or an independent student; (3) your financial need; and (4) your costs. You cannot borrow more than your financial need or the cost of your attendance at IVC (your budget). Since IVC is a two-year institution, you may not borrow more than the second-year amount, even if you are enrolled for a "third year."
| Dependent Students | Base Amount (Subsidized or Unsubsidized) | Additional Unsubsidized Loan effective July 1, 2008 | Total Annual Combined Maximum Amount of Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman 1st Year | $3,500 | $2,000* | $5,500* |
| Sophomore 2nd year | $4,500 | $2,000* | $6,500* |
| Independent Students | Base Amount (Subsidized or Unsubsidized) | Additional Unsubsidized Loan effective July 1, 2008 | Total Annual Combined Maximum Amount of Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman 1st Year | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| Sophomore 2nd year | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
Lifetime Aggregate Loan Limits
Undergraduate Dependent Students can borrow a maximum total of $31,000 (of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized loans).
Undergraduate Independent Students can borrow a maximum total of $57,500 (of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized loans).
Interest Rates:
For the Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan, the federal government will pay the interest until you enter your grace period. Repayment begins six months after you ceased to be enrolled as a student with at least half-time status.
For the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan, the government will not pay interest while a student is in school. Interest accrues and must be paid or capitalized during periods of enrollment in school and/or deferment.
Current interest rates can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.
Loan Fees
For student loans, an origination fee of the total loan will be assessed and deducted automatically. The net disbursement will reflect these fees; therefore, the amount credited to the student's account will be less than the loan amount. This fee is determined by the U.S. Department of Education. Current amounts are available at Federal Student Aid.
Loan Entrance Counseling
Loan Entrance Counseling is REQUIRED for all student borrowers applying for a Federal Direct Loan at IVC. Counseling can be completed online and will help you understand your rights and obligations as a student loan borrower. Entrance counseling must be completed before we will process your Federal Direct Loan. Other required steps are needed before we can process a Federal Direct Loan (please see Federal Direct Loan Process above). You can complete both your Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note at https://studentaid.gov.
You will need an FSA ID and password to complete the loan process online. This FSA ID and password are the same information used to complete the FAFSA application. You can retrieve this information at studentaid.gov/fafsa.
The Financial Aid Office will receive confirmation in approximately one (1) week after the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note are completed. You can view/print these documents in your Federal Student Aid profile > My Documents.
Loan Exit Counseling
All students who receive a Federal Direct Loan at IVC are required to complete Loan Exit Counseling at https://studentaid.gov if they graduate, transfer, withdraw or drop below half-time.
Student Loan Repayment
After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you have a six-month “grace period” before you have to begin repayment. For more information on loan repayment, please see https://studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans.
Federal regulations require that all student loan borrowers must have an exit interview/exit counseling during their final semester at IVC. During the exit counseling, you are reminded of your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. Topics include: when repayment starts, various repayment plans, deferments, loan consolidation, and consequences of default.
You'll receive information about repayment, and your loan provider will notify you of the date loan repayment begins. We can't emphasize enough the importance of making your full loan payment on time either monthly (which is usually when you'll pay) or according to your repayment schedule. If you don't, you could end up in default, which has serious consequences. Student loans are real loans — just as real as car loans or mortgages. You have to pay back your student loans. Exit Counseling can be completed online at https://studentaid.gov
Review Your Loan Information
The U.S. Department of Education's National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) allows you to access information on loan and/or federal grant amounts, your loan status (including outstanding balances), and disbursements made. Visit http://studentaid.gov > Profile > My Aid.
Paying Back Your Loan(s)
You have a choice of repayment plans. How much you pay and how long you take to repay your loans will vary depending on the repayment plan you choose. There are several repayment plans available: Standard: Extended, Graduated, Income Based Repayment (IBR), and Income Contingent Repayment (ICR). For more information, see https://studentloans.gov.
Default
If you defaulted, it means you failed to make payments on your student loan according to the terms of your promissory note, the binding legal document you signed at the time you took out your loan. In other words, you failed to make your loan payments as scheduled. Your school, the financial institution that made or owns your loan, your loan guarantor, and the federal government all can take action to recover the money you owe.
Here are some consequences of default:
- National credit bureaus can be notified of your default, which will harm your credit rating, making it hard to buy a car or a house.
- You would be ineligible for additional federal student aid if you decided to return to school.
- Loan payments can be deducted from your paycheck.
- State and federal income tax refunds can be withheld and applied toward the you owe.
- You will have to pay late fees and collection costs on top of what you already owe.
- You can be sued.
About Federal Student Financial Aid Programs
NOTICE — You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for any of the Federal programs. You must be a U.S citizen or an eligible noncitizen to qualify for aid. If you are in default on a student loan or owe a refund on a federal grant, you will not be eligible for federal student financial aid until the default is cleared or the overpayment repaid.