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• Quick Facts

  • Direct student loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized, are provided by the Federal Government.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen to qualify
  • These loans can be either need-based or non-need-based.
  • Federal Direct Student Loans have low interest rates and do not require a credit check or collateral. Unlike grants, loans must be repaid with interest.
  • The interest rate depends on when the loan was first disbursed.
  • Request deadline for 2026-2027
    • Fall term only: Friday, November 27, 2026
    • Spring term only: Friday, May 7, 2027
    • Summer term only: Thursday, July 13, 2027
    • Fall and Spring terms: Friday, May 7, 2027
    • Fall, Spring, and Summer terms: Thursday, July 13, 2027
    • Spring and Summer terms: Thursday, July 13, 2027
  • Eligible for annual renewal

  To apply for a Federal Direct Student Loan, complete and submit each of the following:

  4. Submit Loan Request via  

• More Information About Federal Direct Student Loans

  • All Direct Loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized. Under the subsidized loans, the government pays the interest while the student is in school. With unsubsidized loans, students pay all the interest.
  • Repayment for these loans begins six months after a student leaves school or drops below half-time enrollment.
  • There is a required loan origination fee for Direct Loans. This fee is subtracted proportionately from each loan disbursement. The Direct Loan origination fee for loans first disbursed before October 1, 2022 is 1.057 percent and on or after October 1, 2022 is 1.057 percent.
  • Direct loans provide a variety of deferment options and extended .
  • Loan recipients must be enrolled in at least six degree-applicable units and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • Starting with the 2026–27 award year, which begins with the Fall 2026, Direct Loan amounts for students who are not full-time for the full academic year must be adjusted. This is called a Schedule of Reduction, or SOR change.
  • Student loan applicants must complete a Direct Loan and requirements.
  • Completion of Exit Loan Counseling is required of student borrowers that graduate, transfer, withdraw, or attend less than half-time.
  • More information about the .

• What to Consider Before Taking Out Loans

  The Financial Aid Office understands that students often need to borrow money to help with school related expenses. Typically, a student who takes out a loan is making a good investment in their future. However, many students enter into debt without a clear picture of how it will affect them in the long run. 91���� is dedicated to student success and encourages students to borrow wisely.

  Before applying for student loans, we encourage students to consider part-time employment as a way to help pay for their expenses. Please visit 91���� Career Services to explore job opportunities both on and off campus. We also encourage students to actively search for scholarships. A little bit of effort in this area has the potential to save students hundreds or even thousands of dollars in student loan debt.

  To plan accordingly, it is important to understand how much it costs to live and go to school. Review financial coaching to get a better understanding of expenses. Please note that students living away from their parents may experience higher costs due to housing and transportation.

  We also recommend that students keep their loan borrowing below $25,000 during their time at a community college. It is in the student's best interest to borrow responsibly. Students applying will be asked to provide a thorough and accurate budget reflecting income and expenses for the current academic year.

• Direct Loan Application Process

  You must meet the following requirement to be considered for a student loan:

  • Submission of a valid for the appropriate academic year
  • Submission of required financial aid documents and financial aid file completion
  • Enroll in a minimum of six-degree applicable units, loan disbursements are subject to pro-ration based on enrollment level starting fall 2026 
  • Adhere to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy with a status of Satisfactory, Warning, or Probation

  Students enrolled for the 2026-2027 academic year can apply for a student loan by completing the steps below.

  To apply, complete the following steps:

  1. Submit a (for fall 2026, spring 2027, and/or summer 2027 ) and make sure to include 91����'s school code (001191).
  2. Complete an undergraduate. If you have completed an MPN in the last ten years for a Direct Student Loan you may skip this step.
  3. Complete .
  4. Log into and submit all documents requested on the Financial Aid Checklist.
  5. Submit your loan request online by following these steps: log into InSite, select the Financial Aid Tile, select Financial Aid Status/Checklist, click Financial Aid from the toolbar menu, and select Request a New Loan. 
     Note: Amount requested may not represent amount you are eligible to receive. Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing.
  6. Select how to receive your funds by selecting My FA Disbursements from the Financial Aid tile menu.

  After completing this process:

  • You will receive an confirmation email after your loan request is submitted. Student loan requests may take four to six weeks to process based on whether or not all the requirements above have been completed.
  • If you are offered student loan(s), your will be notified via email that your loan request has been Accepted. Your loan(s) will appear under My Awards on InSite and you will be required to actively accept your awards from your award letter in order for the loan funding to be released.
  • If you would like to request a change to loan amount offered please submit your request in writing to financialaid@dvc.edu. Loan request change will take an additional two weeks to process from the time you submit the change request. You will be notified via email if you loan change will be rejected or accepted. Please note that requests to increase your loan amount beyond what has been offered may require additional follow-up from the Financial Aid Office to determine if the request can be accommodated.

  • There are limits in the amount of student loans you may borrow based on your dependency status, number of units completed, cost of attendance, unmet need, , and the Schedule of Reduction for students that enroll less than full-time. Please note that community college students are subject to first year and second year undergraduate borrowing limits.

  • Please note that the Financial Aid Office has the authority to reduce or deny any loan request on a case-by-case basis.

• Exit Counseling

  91���� requires all federal student loan borrowers to complete exit loan counseling if they are not enrolled at least half-time. Student loan exit counseling can be completed by logging into your account.

  Exit counseling provides borrowers with important information about:

  • monthly repayment amounts,
  • repayment plan options,
  • terms and conditions forbearance and deferment,
  • terms and conditions for forgiveness or cancellation,
  • consequences for delinquency and default,
  • options and consequences of loan consolidation,
  • strategies for managing student debt,
  • other information.

Federal Student Loan Reductions for Less-than-Full-time Students

Starting with the 2026-2027 academic year, federal regulations require schools to calculate your annual student loan eligibility using the percentage of full-time units you are expected to complete during the academic year.

• How Your Enrollment Affects Your Federal Direct Loan

  Beginning in Fall 2026 your loan eligibility is directly tied to how many units you take. What this means:

  • Less than full-time enrollment equals smaller loan amounts.
  • Institutions must apply a “Schedule of Reductions” to all Direct Student Loans based on your enrollment over a single academic year (fall, spring, summer).
  • Institutions must re-assess your Schedule of Reductions at the time of each Direct Loan disbursement during a single academic year (fall, spring, summer).
  • The Federal Title IV academic year is defined as 24 units for undergraduates.

  These changes apply to all Direct Student Loan borrowers. There are no exceptions.

• What You Need to Know

  • Half-time enrollment is still required to receive Direct Loans.
  • Enrolling less than full-time means your Direct Loans will be reduced so you may need to plan to cover some costs with other sources.
  • Enrollment changes now matter more than ever.
    • Enrollment changes include dropped and withdrawn courses that happen after the Direct Loan is disbursed.
    • Dropped or withdrawn courses in fall means you may receive a smaller loan in the spring.

  Decisions to drop classes or withdraw should be made after careful consultation with an academic counselor and financial aid staff.

• Enrollment Intensity Matters

  The number of units you enroll and complete is important. While students must be enrolled at least half-time to receive a Federal Direct Loan, the number of units you take and complete over the academic year will determine the amount you are eligible to receive.

• How Annual Loan Eligibility is Calculated

  Your annual Direct Loan eligibility is adjusted based on the percentage of those units in which you are enrolled. The federal academic year definition for undergraduate students is 24 units (12 units each semester).

  • 24 of 24 total academic year units - 100% of full-time academic year is eligible for 100% of annual loan eligibility*
  • 21 of 24 total academic year units - 88% of full-time academic year is eligible for 88% of annual loan eligibility*
  • 18 of 24 total academic year units - 75% of full-time academic year is eligible for 75% of annual loan eligibility*
  • 12 of 24 total academic year units - 50% of full-time academic year is eligible for 50% of annual loan eligibility*

  *Subject to all other federal eligibility requirements, including Cost of Attendance, Student Aid Index (SAI), other financial assistance, and federal aggregate loan limits.

FAQ on Federal Student Loan Reductions for Less-than-Full-time Students

• What changed beginning in Fall 2026 with Direct Student Loan eligibility?

  Beginning with the Fall 2026 semester, federal law requires schools to reduce Direct Student Loan eligibility based on a student's enrollment over the academic year. Students who enroll less than full-time will generally receive a smaller annual Direct Loan amount than students enrolled full-time.

• Why are Direct Loan amounts being reduced?

  The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) requires all institutions participating in the Federal Direct Loan Program to apply a federally established Schedule of Reductions (SOR). The reduction is based on the number of credit hours (units) you are enrolled in during the academic year.

• Does this apply to all students?

  Yes. The Schedule of Reductions applies to all Federal Direct Student Loan borrowers. There are no exceptions based on income, class level, or academic program. Students must still meet all other federal eligibility requirements to receive Direct Loans.

• Does this affect Parent PLUS Loans?

  No. The Schedule of Reductions only applies to Federal Direct Student Loans (Subsidize/Unsubsidized & Grad PLUS Loans). Parent PLUS loans are not reduced under the Schedule of Reductions, although they remain subject to other federal eligibility requirements such as Cost of Attendance.

• What is considered full-time enrollment?

  Full-time enrollment is 12 or more units.

• Can I still receive a Direct Loan if I’m enrolled half-time?

  Yes. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to receive a Federal Direct Loan. Students enrolled less than half-time are not eligible for Direct Loans.

• What happens if I drop a class after my loan has already been disbursed?

  Your current loan disbursement generally will not be reduced. However, dropped or withdrawn courses are counted when the college calculates your next Direct Loan disbursement for the same academic year. This means dropping classes in the fall could reduce your spring Direct Loan.

• If I drop classes in the fall, can I regain my loan eligibility?

  Possibly. If you later enroll in enough additional credits during the same academic year to return to full-time annual enrollment, your loan eligibility may be recalculated before the next disbursement. For example, a student who drops three units during the fall but adds three additional units during the spring can return to 24 completed units for the academic year and may receive their full annual Direct Loan eligibility.

• What if I drop a class after my final loan disbursement of the academic year?

  In many cases, no further adjustment is required because there are no remaining Direct Loan disbursements for that academic year. However, if you later receive another Direct Loan disbursement during the same academic year (such as for summer enrollment), the previous enrollment reduction may affect that loan amount.

• Does 91���� assume my spring enrollment?

  Yes. Because students generally register for spring courses after fall loan disbursements are made, 91���� initially assumes your spring enrollment will match your actual fall enrollment. Your loan will be recalculated before the spring disbursement if your actual spring enrollment is different.

• What if I only attend one semester? Am I subject to a different Schedule of Reductions calculation?

  Graduating in Fall: Students graduating in fall and therefore only attend one semester will have separate loan proration completed based on other federal regulations.

  New Spring Students: Students attending only one term are subject to a single term Schedule of Reductions calculation. Federal regulations first determine the portion of the annual loan limit available for that single term and then apply any required reduction based on enrollment.

• Will my Cost of Attendance still affect my loan?

  Yes. In addition to the Schedule of Reductions, your loan amount may still be limited by the following:

  • Cost of Attendance (COA)
  • Student Aid Index (SAI)
  • Other Financial Assistance (OFA)
  • Annual loan limits
  • Aggregate loan limits

  The Schedule of Reductions is only one part of determining your final loan eligibility.

• Why is my spring loan smaller than my fall loan?

  If your enrollment changed after your fall Direct Loan was disbursed, federal regulations require the college to review your enrollment before your next disbursement. For example, if you dropped classes during the fall semester, your spring Direct Loan may be reduced to reflect your updated annual enrollment.

• What if I add classes after my loan has already been disbursed?

  Enrollment is evaluated at the time of each Direct Loan disbursement.  

  The Financial Aid Office will conduct one loan adjustment each semester to review students who have added classes, including late-start classes. If your additional enrollment increases your Direct Loan eligibility, your loan may be adjusted up to your remaining annual loan eligibility.

  Additional enrollment may also be considered when determining future Direct Loan disbursements within the same academic year.

• Do waitlisted classes count toward my enrollment?

  No. Waitlisted courses are not considered enrolled courses and do not count toward your enrollment for Direct Loan eligibility until you are officially registered.

• Does repeating a course affect my Direct Loan eligibility?

  Possibly. Repeated coursework must meet federal financial aid eligibility requirements before it can be included in your enrollment for Direct Loan purposes. If you plan to repeat a course, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to determine whether it will count toward your financial aid enrollment.

• Can I appeal a Schedule of Reduction calculation?

  No. The Schedule of Reductions is required by federal law and must be applied consistently to all eligible Direct Loan borrowers.

• Should I talk to Financial Aid before changing my schedule if I intend to get a Direct Loan?

  Changing your enrollment may affect the following:

  • Your future Direct Loan eligibility
  • Your remaining annual loan eligibility
  • Your eligibility for other financial aid programs
  • Your expected out-of-pocket costs 

  Before dropping, withdrawing from, or adding courses, students are strongly encouraged to speak with an academic counselor and financial aid staff. Together, they can help you understand both the academic and financial impact of changing your enrollment.

• Quick Facts

  • Parent PLUS Loans are provided by the Federal Government.
  • The Parent PLUS Federal Loan must be repaid with interest by the person who took out the loan (the student's biological parent, custodial stepparent or adoptive parent).
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen to qualify
  • These loans can be either need-based, or non-need-based.
  • A credit check is required as part of the application process.
  • Loan interest will accrue while the student is in school. The loan recipient can request deferment of repayment while the student is in school and for up to 6 months after.
  • To apply:
    • Submit the
    • Complete and submit the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Request form
    • Complete

• Parent PLUS Loan Process

  1. The student must submit a valid FAFSA for the appropriate academic year to 91����.
     • Students enrolled for the fall 2026, spring 2027 and/or summer 2027 must complete the . Federal Direct Parent PLUS Request Form cannot be processed without a completed FAFSA on file for the student.
  2. Complete Department of Education Online Requirements.
     • Parent borrowers must complete the .