Loans
Loans are financial aid and a debt that must be repaid with interest at a future date. Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours per aid period. The aid periods include fall, spring (includes Winter Minimester), and Summer (includes May minimester, summer I, and summer II).
Paying for your education requires preparation and planning. Before borrowing, make sure you understand the commitment you are making, the type of loan you are taking, and the requirements to stay out of repayment while you are in school. Plan ahead. Resources regarding how to plan for your financial future are available on our Financial Literacy web page.
The Direct Subsidized Loan is a need-based loan. You will not be charged any interest prior to repayment or during any authorized period of deferment. The student must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and must not have exceeded his or her annual or lifetime aggregate loan limits. Students are qualified through the standard FAFSA application process.
During deferment, the federal government pays the interest on the loan until the time of repayment. Payment is automatically deferred until the borrower is no longer enrolled on at least a half-time basis. At the time the borrower is no longer enrolled half-time, a six-month grace period begins prior to entering repayment. Students are allotted one six-month period for all federal student loans borrowed.
The Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not a need-based loan. Instead, the loan is awarded to students who do not qualify for Subsidized funds but still need additional financial assistance. The loan accrues interest as soon as it is disbursed and for the lifetime of the loan. The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered and must not have exceeded their annual or lifetime aggregate loan limits to be awarded.
The student is responsible for any accruing interest during in-school and deferment periods. Repayment is automatically deferred until the borrower is no longer enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Any unpaid interest at the time of entering repayment will be capitalized and added to the principal balance of the loan. Therefore, it is recommended that the borrower pays toward the accrued interest. At the time the borrower is no longer enrolled half-time, a six-month grace period begins prior to entering repayment. Students are allotted one six-month grace period for all federal student loans borrowed.
Students who leave Blinn by graduating, withdrawing, or dropping below six hours of enrollment are required by federal regulations to complete Direct Loan Exit Counseling. A request will be placed on the student’s financial aid portal in myBLINN requesting that they complete the Exit Counseling. Students will be sent an email to their Blinn and personal accounts informing them of the requirement. They will receive an additional email with an attachment explaining their rights and responsibilities as a borrower. When the request is made, a hold will be placed on the student’s account that will stop all registration activity as well as the ability to obtain an academic transcript or diploma until this is completed.
Student who are first-time borrowers of the Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loan should review all Awarding and Disbursement Processes for additional requirements. First-time borrowers with fewer than 30 earned hours will have the first disbursement of their loan delayed until 30 days after the first class day of their first semester.
Federal Direct Loan Disclosure is signed when first-time borrowers complete the Master Promissory Note.
Yearly and lifetime maximum loan amounts are set by the federal government. If you are unsure of your loan burden, you may log in to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) with your FSA ID to review your federal student loan history.
|
Year |
Dependent Student Annual Loan Limit |
Independent Student Annual Loan Limit |
|---|---|---|
|
First-Year Undergraduate (< 30 earned hours) |
$5,500 (no more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans) |
$9,500 (no more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans) |
|
Second-Year Undergraduate (> 30 earned hours) |
$6,500 (no more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans) |
$10,500 (no more than $4,500 of this amount may be subsidized loans) |
For more information on Direct Subsidized Loans, loan amounts, and interest rates, please visit the Federal Student Aid page.
Direct PLUS Loans are loans for parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for educational expenses up to the Cost of Attendance minus all other financial assistance. The parent receiving the loan is responsible for all interest that begins accruing at the time the loan is disbursed.
The applicant must be the student’s biological or adoptive parent or the student’s stepparent. PLUS Loans are not restricted according to financial need and are approved after a credit check is performed during the application process. The Financial Aid Office will determine the amount the student is eligible to receive based on the student’s Cost of Attendance.
The dependent student must be enrolled half-time (six hours) and must be meeting all other eligibility requirements to receive financial aid.
Steps to Apply:
The parent must log into their Federal Student Aid account using their FSA ID and complete the Direct PLUS Loan application and Master Promissory Note. If the parent does not have an FSA ID, they can apply for one on the federal student aids website. The U.S. Department of Education will complete a credit check. The credit decision is good for 180 days.
- If the parent is approved – complete and submit a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Request & Authorization Form. Parents will specify the amount they wish to borrow and who the refund (if any exists) should be sent to. Funds will not be awarded or disbursed until this form is completed and submitted to our office
- If the parent is denied – the student can request up to an additional $4,000 in unsubsidized loan aid for the year. The student must complete and submit a Financial Aid Adjustment Form to the Blinn Financial Aid Office in order to request the additional loan funds. The additional funds will be viewable through the myBLINN portal and disbursed to the student’s account accordingly.
For more information on the Federal Direct PLUS Loan, please visit the Federal Student Aid page.
**Students and parents are strongly encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before exploring the option of private student loans.**
Private loans are not federal loans but are considered part of a student’s financial aid award. These funds are typically borrowed through a bank or other non-educational organization based on the borrower’s credit. Blinn will certify private loan amounts up to the cost of attendance minus all financial aid assistance.
Steps to Apply:
You must complete the financial lender’s loan application and promissory note. Depending on the lender, students may be required to meet our Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and be enrolled half-time (six hours) to receive their funds. Borrowers must adhere to the lender’s loan eligibility criteria, which may vary across lenders.
You will need to provide your lender with a copy of the Private Education Loan Application Self-Certification.
Blinn does not provide or distribute information about nor does it endorse any private education lenders. It is the student’s responsibility to research the various alternatives and apply. Students are strongly advised to consider applying for federal financial aid prior to seeking private sources of assistance.
For more information on federal vs. private student loans, you may visit the federal vs. private loans page.
Student loans can be a powerful tool in reaching your education and career goals. The repayment status of your loans affect your credit rating and could keep you from receiving financial aid. Student Connections is a free and confidential service, working directly with Blinn College to assist our borrowers choose the best repayment options, based on your unique needs.
Learn more about the free services offered by Student Connections or you can speak to a borrower advocate for free at 866-311-9450. To contact the Blinn College Financial Aid Office email finaid@blinn.edu or call 979-830-4144.
To see all of your loan history with the U.S. Department of Education, loan amounts, and contact information for paying back your student loans, please visit Federal Student Aid.