Loan Borrowing

Students are the borrower of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans (FDL). The lender is the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Visit Student Loans for information including definitions, interest rates and loan limits.

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  How to Apply:

  1. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the Priority FAFSA File Date.
  2. Review Financial Aid Status via myLCC and complete any requested requirements by the Priority Document Submit Date.
  3. View financial aid awards and Accept/Decline student loans via myLCC.
  4. If a first time borrower at LCC, complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN).
  5. Refer to Student Finance for how to receive financial aid refunds and the requirement for signing up every semester for an installment payment plan.
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  Important Information:

  • Students must be actively enrolled at least half-time enrollment, six (6) financial aid eligible credits, during the semester the student receives FDL. This includes being enrolled in six (6) credits during summer semester even though the College's definition for half-time is only three (3) credits.
  • Students must meet all Basic Eligibility Requirements, including meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • If the student has earned fewer than 30 credits (including transfer credits) and has never borrowed a federal loan, federal regulations require that the first loan disbursement be delayed until the 31st day of the first semester funds are borrowed.
  • If the FDL is for one semester only, federal regulations require loans to be disbursed in two equal payments with the second disbursement not being prior to the mid-point of the semester. View anticipated disbursement dates via myLCC.
  • Students may borrow up to the maximum amount of loan eligibility as determined by dependency status and the amount of credits earned (including transfer credits).
  • After graduation, or dropping below half-time attendance, complete Exit Counseling.
  • The DOE has many servicers who students will interact with during the course of receiving and repaying loans. For students to determine which servicer(s) their loans have been assigned, access the National Student Loan Database (NSLDS). At NSLDS, all FDLs received are viewable.
  • For additional information regarding repayment, please visit LCC's partner, Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC).
  • If you borrow a loan, the loan information will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and schools determined to be authorized users of the data system.

  Annual Loan Limits

  The actual loan amount a student is eligible to receive each academic year is determined based on FAFSA results, a student's Cost of Attendance (COA), and overall financial aid package. However, there are limits on the amount of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans a student may be eligible to receive each year (annual loan limits). The actual loan amount a student may be eligible to receive each academic year may be less than the annual loan limit. These limits vary based on semesters of eligible attendance, dependency status, the amount of credits earned (including transfer credits) and COA.

  Federal Undergraduate Aggregate Loan Limit

  The Federal Undergraduate Aggregate Loan Limit is the maximum amount a borrower can have in overall outstanding student loan debt. At the independent, undergraduate level, the total amount a student may borrow is $57,500. No more than $23,000 of that amount may be in Federal Subsidized Loans. At the dependent, undergraduate level, the total amount a student may borrow is $31,000. No more than $23,000 of that amount may be in Federal Subsidized Loans. Students can view their loan history by selecting Financial Aid Review from the Sational Student Loan Data System and logging in with their FSA ID. If the total loan amount a student receives over the course of their education reaches the aggregate loan limit, they are not eligible to receive additional loans.

  Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Limit

  There is a limit on the maximum period of time (measured in academic years) that students can receive Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. First-time borrowers taking out Federal Direct Subsidized Loans on or after July 1, 2013 are subject to the 150% Direct Subsidized Loan Limit federal regulation, which limits the amount of time a student is eligible to borrow Federal Direct Subsidized Loans to 150% of their published program length.

  For example, a student enrolled in a two-year associate degree program may only receive Federal Direct Subsidized Loans for a maximum period of three years (150% of two years = three years). Additionally, if a student has reached this limit, interest may start accruing on prior Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. The maximum eligibility period is based on the published length of the student's program of study. This means that the maximum eligibility period can change if a student changes programs. Also, if a student receives Federal Direct Subsidized Loans for one program and changes to another program, the Federal Direct Subsidized Loans received for the earlier program will generally count against the new maximum eligibility period.

  Enrollment level is also used to calculate the 150% Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Limit. For example, receiving a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan with full-time enrollment for a full academic year is considered one year of eligibility, whereas receiving a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan with half-time enrollment for a full academic year is considered half a year of eligibility. For more information regarding this eligibility limit, please visit Great Lake's article: Do You Know About the Federal Subsidized Student Loan Limit?

The parent of a dependent student is the borrower of a Federal Direct PLUS Loan (PLUS Loan). PLUS Loans are based on the parent's credit. The lender for a PLUS Loan is the US Department of Education (DOE). Visit PLUS Loan for information including interest rates, the credit-check process and loan limits.

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  How to Apply:

  1. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the Priority FAFSA File Date.
  2. Review Financial Aid Status via myLCC and complete any requested requirements by the Priority Document Submit Date.
  3. To borrow a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, the parent borrower and student must submit the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Application.
  4. The parent borrower must sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) (be sure to choose Parent PLUS for the type of MPN to be signed)
  5. Refer to Student Finance for how to receive financial aid refunds and the requirement for signing up every semester for an installment payment plan.
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  Important Information:

  • The DOE makes the decision regarding a parent's creditworthiness for the PLUS Loan.
  • Students whose parent has been denied a Federal Direct PLUS Loan based on credit may qualify for additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. To request the additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds, complete the Loan Form.
  • Parents denied based on credit may choose to get an Endorser (co-signer) or appeal the credit decision. To begin the endorser or appeal process, call (517) 483-1200, select option 2, and ask for a loan specialist.
  • Students must be actively enrolled at least half-time enrollment, six (6) financial aid eligible credits, during the semester the student receives FDL. This includes being enrolled in six (6) credits during summer semester even though the College's definition for half-time is only three (3) credits.
  • If the PLUS Loan is for one semester only, federal regulations require loans to be disbursed in two equal payments with the second disbursement not being prior to the mid-point of the semester. View anticipated disbursement dates via myLCC.
  • The DOE has many servicers who student and parent borrowers will interact with during the course of receiving and repaying loans. For borrowers to determine which servicer their loans have been assigned, access the National Student Loan Database (NSLDS). At NSLDS, all FDLs received are viewable.
  • For additional information regarding repayment, please visit LCC's partner, Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC).
  • If your parent borrows a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, the loan information will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and schools determined to be authorized users of the data system.

Private (Alternative) Loans are credit-based student loans offered by private lenders. They are available to students who need funds in addition to their federal aid to meet educational expenses or for those students not eligible for federal aid. The link below to the FASTChoice loan tool provides a list of Private/Alternative lenders our students have worked with in the past, but is by no means exclusive and students are advised to use any bank/credit union/lender that best suits their needs. LCC does not recommend or endorse any particular Private/Alternative loan companies nor guarantee that students will be eligible. The FASTChoice loan webpage is merely a tool to use in comparing various loan options. Visit Private (Alternative) Educational Loans for additional information.

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  How to Apply:

  1. Review a lender through FASTChoice, an Internet search, or by inquiring at the banking institution of your choice.
  2. Apply for the loan through the lender you have selected.
  3. Submit the Private (Alternative) Loan Self-Certification Form to LCC.
  4. Monitor Student Requirements via myLCC and LCC email.
  5. Once notified via myLCC, sign the Private (Alternative) Loan check at Student Finance.
  6. Refer to Student Finance for how to receive financial aid refunds and the requirement for signing up every semester for an installment payment plan.
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  Important Information:

  When choosing a lender, students should be mindful of the following:

  1. Variable vs. Fixed Interest Rates
  2. Delayed Repayment (in-school deferment) vs. Immediate Repayment
  3. Application, Processing, and Disbursement Fees
  4. Flexible Repayment Options
  5. Repayment Incentives
  6. Consolidation Options
  7. Utilize all Federal Loans first before borrowing from a Private/Alternative Lender