Solano Community College participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and offers Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. We do not offer Direct PLUS Loans. There are 2 kinds of loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans while you're in school while unsubsidized loans start accruing interest immediately. This means that subsidized loans are always a better deal for the student.
What are the eligibility requirements?
To be eligible, students must meet the following federal requirements:
- Must submit a FAFSA
- Meet SAP standards
- Not be in default or overpayment status
- Have a HS diploma, GED, or state-issued equivalent
- Be pursuing a financial aid eligible major
- Be enrolled 6 units or more (Note that SCC additionally requires students to be attending 6 units or more before we will disburse loans)
- For Direct Subsidized Loans, a student must have unmet financial need (>$0 unmet need)
- Additionally, as part of the request process, students must complete entrance counseling and sign an MPN
How do I request a loan?
To apply for a loan, visit the Direct Loan page and fill out the Direct Loan Request. Students must complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before Solano can fulfill their loan request. If you do not complete have an active MPN and entrance counseling on file, your loan request must be marked as incomplete or denied.
Once your loan request form is approved, your loans will be added to your awards summary and disbursed on the next disbursement for which you're attending 6 units or more. The earliest loans are disbursed is the first day of class, in contrast with Pell which is disbursed 1 week prior to the start of class.
How much can I request?
The amount you can request varies based on whether you're a dependent or independent student as well as if you've passed 30 units yet.
First-year students (students who have passed between 0 and 29.5 units) can request up to $3500 in subsidized loans. Second-year students (students who have passed ≥30 units) can request up to $4500 in subsidized loans.
Dependent students can request up to $2000 in unsubsidized loans. Independent students can request up to $6000.
Students must request the entirety of the subsidized loan amount they are eligible for before requesting any amount of unsubsidized loans. For example, you cannot request $3000 in subsidized and $3000 in unsubsidized loans. You must request $3500 or, if you're a second-year student, $4500 in subsidized loans first.
Other Important Things to Know
If you do not have 6 units before late start units are counted—that is, if your late start units are the difference between having 6 and not having 6—you must wait for your late start classes to begin to have your loans disbursed.
Federal regulations mandate that first-year, first-time borrowers must wait 30 days from the beginning of the semester before they can have their loans disbursed.
If you drop below 6 units, you will become ineligible for loans. This may or may not trigger an overpayment depending on the exact details and timing. Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have loans and are considering dropping below 6 units to learn how you may be impacted.
Student loans are serious, long-term financial commitments. Please review the Solano Loan FAQ and the studentaid.gov Loan FAQs in their entirety before requesting a loan.