Federal Loans
Any student who is interested in taking out loans must be registered for at least 6 credits. Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans have to be paid back beginning 6 months after you complete your program, stop attending, or drop below 6 credits.
New Federal Loan Proration Rules
Recent federal legislation has changed how federal student loan eligibility is determined. Previously, students enrolled in at least 6 credits could generally borrow up to their full annual federal loan eligibility.
Beginning in 2026-2027, federal student loans are prorated based on both your enrollment level and your annual enrollment pattern (often referred to as the Schedule of Reduction). This means that students enrolled less than full time may qualify for a lower loan amount than in previous years.
Your financial aid award in ARIES reflects your full-time loan eligibility. If your enrollment changes or you would like to request additional loan funding based on your eligibility, you can log into ARIES, go to Financial Aid Home, and select Request a New Loan. Our office will review your request in accordance with the new federal regulations.
Loan Acceptance
If You Want Your Loan
If you choose to accept your federal student loan, you must complete all required federal loan requirements before your loan can be disbursed. Depending on your situation, these requirements may include:
- Completing a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
- Completing Entrance Counseling
- Completing any additional required loan training, including a modular training, if applicable
- Once those are completed, please email SFS@stcc.edu that you have completed the loan requirements and that you would like your loan accepted as is.
Please note that these requirements vary depending on whether you are a first-time borrower or have previously received federal student loans.
If You Want Your Loan, But a Different Amount than is Offered
Fewer loans
If you want to take out fewer loans than are offered, please complete your Master Promissory Note, Entrance Counseling, and any required modular training, and email SFS with the revised amount you would like.
Additional Loans
If you would like more loans than are offered, please complete the Loan Request Form on ARIES. Please know that this may include Unsubsidized loans.
If You Want Your Loan, But Don’t See Any on Your Offer Letter
Depending on your situation, you may still be entitled to loans. Please email SFS@stcc.edu and a counselor will review your account and follow up with you.
Additional Requirements for First-Time Borrowers
To help protect students from financial aid fraud and identity theft, students borrowing federal loans for the first time will be required to visit campus and present a valid government-issued photo ID before their loan can be processed.
If this requirement applies to you, our office will provide additional information about how to complete this step.
Denying Your Loan
If you do not want your loan, you can log into ARIES and deny the award. Nothing will pay out, and no loan funding will apply to your account.