Apply for Loans

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loans: The federal government pays the interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time in school and during certain deferment periods. The borrower is not responsible for that interest during those times.  Contact your loan servicer for your status on your loans.  You can look up your loan servicer on Studentaid.gov.
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Interest begins accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed (taken out). The borrower is responsible for all interests that accrue, including while in school, during grace periods, and during deferment.  Contact your loan servicer for your status on your loans.  You can look up your loan servicer on Studentaid.gov.
• Federal Direct PLUS Loan (Parent Loan):  Glendale Community College will not participate in the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program effective the 2026–2027 Award Year. As a community college, GCC's cost of attendance is generally lower than that of four-year institutions. As a result, financial aid at GCC typically consists of grants (such as the CA College Promise Grant), scholarships, Federal Work-Study, and Direct Student Loans. Parents seeking additional financing options should contact the GCC Financial Aid Office for guidance and available alternatives.

Actual loan eligibility is determined by federal regulations, enrollment status, dependency status, cost of attendance, and other financial aid received. Subsidized loans for first-year students are limited to $3,500 per academic year; second-year students are limited to $4,500 per academic year.  Independent students may have additional unsubsidized loan eligibility up to $6000, depending upon grade level.  Dependent students may have additional unsubsidized loan eligibility up to $2000.  Grade level determination is based upon your current academic record, i.e., number of units completed, transferred in and accepted toward your current and eligible program of study.  The minimum Federal Direct Loan request amount is $500.00.  Requests for less than this amount will not be processed.

• Complete the FAFSA application for the year
• Submit all the required documentation for the free monies
• Wait to be awarded all free monies (i.e. grants, waivers, scholarships…) (Monitor your GCC email and MyGCC account)
• Be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program (click to see Eligible Programs), and be enrolled in those approved classes.
• Be enrolled in 6 or more units (half-time status) at the time of disbursement. If you are on a Financial Aid Contract, only units from the courses on your contract will count toward your eligibility.  Waitlisted and audited classes do not count.
• Lastly, after all the above criteria is met, contact the financial aid office (email or “Request a Call back”) to inquire about the Federal Direct Loan Program.

The following documents will be required for submission through Student Forms:

1. Loan Request Form
2. Submit IN PERSON your Valid Driver’s License or other valid government issued ID
3. A screenshot of your current federal loan indebtedness from StudentAid.gov. regardless if you have a previous loan balance or not (see Entrance/Exit Loan Instructions below)
4. Submit a counselor-approved full comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP) in an eligible degree or certificate program and be enrolled in those classes (counseling appointment information: Academic Counseling)
   
   

(Expired ID’s and incomplete/incorrect forms will be rejected and may delay the process.)

All first-time borrowers interested in federal loans will be required to complete the on-line entrance counseling once.  All borrowers are encouraged to read ALL the information provided on our website, emails, links of resources to get the most up to date information regarding loan terms and conditions.   Failure on the student's part to demonstrate a satisfactory level of knowledge about the programs can result in denial of a federal loan.  The on-line entrance counseling is located on studentaid.gov.

Entrance Loan Counseling covers the following topics:

• Federal student loan types and borrowing limits
• Borrower rights and responsibilities
• Understanding interest, loan costs, and repayment obligations
• Budgeting and responsible borrowing
• Managing student loan debt
• Repayment plans and options
• Consequences of delinquency and default
• Resources available to help borrowers successfully manage their loans

Continuing borrowers who have previously completed Entrance Loan Counseling and received federal student loans at GCC or another institution are not required to complete Entrance Loan Counseling on StudentAid.gov again.  If you have already completed this requirement, please notify the Financial Aid Office.

After successful submission of all loan application materials, all students are reviewed for loan eligibility.  All students who are eligible, or ineligible for loans, or are denied loan eligibility will be notified by writing (mail or email).

Counseling for first year students

Loans for first-year students are the exception, not the norm.  First-year students need to carefully review their educational objective prior to applying for a loan.  After receiving AND reading the entrance counseling material, first year students are advised to meet/contact the Assistant Director of Financial Aid/Loan Coordinator (or her designee) if additional assistance and information is needed.

In accordance with the Higher Education Act (as amended), the Financial Aid Office has the legal authority to refuse to certify an otherwise eligible borrower's loan application or reduce loan eligibility.

Such a decision, along with the reason for denial, will be provided to the student in writing, by mail or email.

Loan applications will be reviewed for the following:

• Academic standing - Applicants must have a clear educational objective, demonstrate a record of academic progress toward that objective and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. Students who are on Academic Dismissal, Term Dismissal and/or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Dismissal are not eligible for federal loans.
  
  
• Lack of satisfactory progress - The student must be making satisfactory academic progress.  If a student is on academic or financial aid warning the loan application may be denied.  Students on academic or financial aid dismissal (SAP Dismissal) are not eligible for loans.
  
  
• Unwillingness to repay - The Financial Aid Office retains the right to deny loans to any applicant who has indicated they are unable or unwilling to repay debts or loans by their statements or by having been delinquent on other debts.

A student may appeal the denial of their loan in writing to the Director of Financial Aid (or her designee).  Students should include any documentation they deem necessary for their appeal.  A final decision will be communicated to the student in writing, by mail or email.

All first-time borrowers are required to complete the on-line exit counseling at StudentAid.gov, once, by the end of their first academic year (spring/early summer) they borrow a federal student loan.  This requirement is in place because enrollment status may change, and some students may stop attending without formal notice.

The on-line exit counseling will cover information required by federal regulation.  A letter, email, packet and/or instructions on their Student Center, To Do List, instructing students what to do will be sent to all students who have borrowed Federal Direct loan(s) for the current academic year.

The Financial Aid Office may periodically send letters and/or emails to current or previously enrolled students participating in federal loan programs to remind them of their rights and responsibilities as borrowers.  Even if the Financial Aid Office sends reminders, students are still responsible for informing the Department of Education and/or their loan servicer(s) about any changes to their personal information, enrollment status, or school attendance.

Summer student loans are based on a Summer-only Cost of Attendance and are considered a 'trailer' for each award year.  Therefore, if you have used up all your loan eligibility for that aid year, you will not be eligible for a student loan for that Summer. Click this link for all Loan Deadlines.
Once you have submitted the above do the following:

1. Go to studentaid.gov complete a Master Promissory Note* (good for 10 years, unless you change schools)
2. Goto studentaid.gov complete the On-line Entrance Counseling* (see Entrance/Exit Loan Instructions below)
3. Be patient: The loan awards will not be processed until AFTER the financial aid census date for each term to ensure all units are counted when calculating federal loans due to the new regulatory changes (Important Dates & Deadlines). The entire process from the time you submit all your loan documents will take approximately 6-8 WEEKS.  Rejected, and/or incomplete forms will delay this process.  Please be patient.
4. Your loan monies will be sent to you by the Tuition Office, via BankMobile - BankMobile Disbursements
5. Go to studentaid.gov complete the on-line Exit counseling* during the Spring term. (see Entrance/Exit Loan Instructions below)

(*these items will be sent to GCC electronically within 5-7 business days upon submission on studentaid.gov)

Loans are not part of a student's initial financial aid award.  To the extent that a student is eligible and funds are available, every effort is made to meet financial need with the California College Promise Grant (CCPG - formerly known as BOG Enrollment Fee Waiver), Cal Grant, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and Federal Work-Study (FWS) programs.  Students who need additional funds may apply for a Federal Direct loan.  The amount and type you may borrow is based on many factors including year in school, enrollment intensity, dependency status, student budget (cost of attendance), remaining loan eligibility and financial need.

Independent students who borrow the annual maximum in the Federal Direct Subsidized loan program may be eligible to have their remaining need met or may replace their Student Aid Index (SAI) with a Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan.  There are significant differences between the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans.  Click here to read about the differences between the 2 types of Direct Federal Loans.

For many students, borrowing a student loan is their first experience in lending. It is important to understand that when you take out student loans for school, you are signing a contract that you agree to repay the loans. The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legally binding document.

Before you agree to take out student loans, you should understand your rights and responsibility as a student loan borrower.

Borrower Rights

Federal student loan borrowers have a number of options to successfully manage student loan debt. These options include: the right to temporarily stop payments with a deferment or forbearance, the right to reduced payments by switching repayment plans, depending on your financial circumstances and other conditions, and the right to loan cancellation, discharge or forgiveness in certain situations.

Borrower Responsibilities

As a federal student loan borrower, you are responsible for the repayment of your loan. You remain responsible for repaying your loan regardless of whether you graduate from college or feel dissatisfied with the education you received.

You are responsible for knowing when your loan repayment begins, and your required payments. It is important to prepare for repayment as you get ready to graduate or withdraw from school.

You are responsible for notifying your loan servicer of any change to your address. If you move, and do not receive your student loan bills, you are still responsible for making your required payments.

You are also responsible for notifying your loan servicer and school if your name or contact information changes, if you transfer or withdraw from school, after a change in employment, or any change that could impact your loan.

You are responsible for notifying your school’s financial aid office if you stop attending your classes, withdraw, or do not re-enroll as planned. You are also responsible for notifying your financial aid office if your expected graduation date changes.


Terms and Conditions of Loans

Terms and conditions of Federal Student Loans (Stafford and Parent PLUS) are listed on the Master Promissory Note signed by a borrower accepting the loan.

Master Promissory Note (MPN): When completing your Master Promissory Note (MPN) go to: Studentaid.gov; Last day to submit an MPN for loans awarded prior to each term deadline is the last day of each summer term.

Deadlines: The Last day to submit a loan application for each semester is listed on the Financial Aid “Deadlines” page. Deadlines are listed for each semester on the following website: Financial aid Deadlines

Enrollment level: Students must be enrolled in and maintain at least 6 eligible units (or 6+ Financial Aid Contract units) to qualify for and receive a Federal Direct Loan. Enrollment must remain at this level when the loan is disbursed and when the funds are released.

Students on a financial aid contract: If you had a Term Dismissal appeal approved, you received a list of courses (your contact) for which you can receive financial aid.  When calculating your enrollment (full-time, half-time, etc.) for loan purposes, we only consider the classes from your contract.  For example, if you are enrolled in 12 units for the Fall semester, but only 6 of those units are classes on your contract, you are considered HALF-TIME for loan (and other financial aid) purposes and calculations.  Also, if you are enrolled in 6 units for Fall and only 5 of those units are classes on your contract, you are considered LESS-than-HALF time for loans (and other financial aid purposes) and will not be eligible for any student loans.

GPA and Progress review: All students’ cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and progress are evaluated.  Your CGPA must be 2.0 or higher and your progress must be 67% or higher to apply for a federal loan.  The Financial Aid Office also reviews your CGPA and progress every time we receive a disbursement for your loan.  Thus, if your CGPA and/or progress falls below the minimums previously stated before a disbursement is received, you will not be eligible for that or any subsequent disbursement.

Students who attend only one semester: Loans are prorated for all students attending one semester within an aid year and who are graduating upon completion of that semester/term.

Disbursements: If you have been awarded a fall/spring loan, you’ll receive one disbursement per semester (50% in fall and 50% in spring) except in certain circumstances.  If you are applying for a loan beyond the mid-point of the LOAN PERIOD (i.e., a fall/spring loan’s mid-point would be after the fall semester is completed), your loan could be disbursed in one lump sum.  DO NOT contact the Tuition Office with questions regarding the disbursement of your loan monies.  Once your loan is processed you will be emailed with information regarding the ANTICIPATED loan disbursement dates.  If you have questions regarding the disbursement of your loan monies, you can contact the Financial Aid Office.

Grade level: Your grade level is determined by the total number of completed units, including any evaluated transfer credits posted to your GCC record. Students with 29 or fewer completed units are classified as Grade Level 1 (freshman/first-year), while students with 30 or more completed units are classified as Grade Level 2 (sophomore/second year).

Learn to Budget: Be smart when borrowing.  This applies to all students regardless of their future educational plans.  For those students who plan to transfer to a 4-year college, be aware that your costs will be higher at your next school.  As such, your need to borrow at your next school will increase and your borrowing will be limited.

Remember: Your loans MUST be REPAID.  Even though you may not be making payments on your loan while you are enrolled, you will be expected to start repayment when you graduate, withdraw, or leave school.  Federal loans are part of your credit history and should be treated like any other debt.  Having a large loan debt could affect your ability to obtain future credit, including car loans, mortgages, or credit cards.

The SFA Ombudsman works with borrowers to informally resolve loan disputes and problems.  They help borrowers who are having problems with the following federal loans:

• Federal Family Education loans- subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, FFEL PLUS loans (for parents), and FFEL Consolidation loans,
• Federal Direct loans - subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Student loans, Direct PLUS loans (for parents), and Direct Consolidation loans, and
• Guaranteed Student loans (GSL), SLS loans, and Perkins loans.

The Ombudsman customer service line is (800) 433-3243. Click here for more information: Department of Education Complaints - Student Loan Borrowers Assistance (studentloanborrowerassistance.org)

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 requires institutions of higher education to develop and enforce a code of conduct that prohibits conflicts of interest for financial aid personnel. In compliance with this requirement, Glendale Community College has created the following code of conduct based on the HEOA of 2008:

Other college employees, officers and agents with responsibilities in respect to educational loans must also comply with this policy.

Ban on Revenue-Sharing Arrangements – Glendale Community College shall not enter into any revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender or other vendor working with the Financial Aid Office. The college shall not accept any fee or other material benefit in exchange for recommending a lender to its
students.

Gift Ban – No Glendale Community College officer or employee with financial aid responsibilities shall solicit or accept a gift (e.g., a gift of services, transportation, lodging or meals, provided by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance or reimbursement) having a monetary value of more than a nominal amount from lenders, guarantors or servicers of education loans.

Contracting Arrangements Prohibited – No Glendale Community College officer or employee with financial aid responsibilities shall accept from any lender or lender affiliate any payment or other financial benefit as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a
lender.

Interaction with Borrowers – Glendale Community College shall not automatically assign a particular lender to any borrower and shall not refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the lender or guarantee agency selected.

Prohibition on Offers of Funds for Private Loans – Glendale Community College shall not request or accept from any lender an offer of funds to be used for private education loans in exchange for the college providing the lender with a specified number or volume of loans made or in exchange for
placement on a preferred lender list.

Ban on Staffing Assistance – Glendale Community College shall not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing. Lenders, however, may provide professional development training to financial aid administrators, educational advising materials to borrowers or assistance in state or federally-declared natural disasters.

Advisory Board Assistance – All Glendale Community College employees with financial aid responsibilities shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from a lender or guarantor in return for service on its advisory board. Reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such service, however, is permitted.