Loans

 

Complete the online application at https://studentaid.gov. If you do not complete the online process as instructed, your loan cannot continue to be processed by the Department of Education. You must complete entrance counseling electronically and sign the promissory note for the loan. You will need to apply for financial aid every year.

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is your legal agreement to the terms of the loan; essentially, the note is a promise that you will repay the loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the Department of Education. To sign your promissory note, you’ll need your FSA ID, which you used to electronically sign your FAFSA.

• From the studentaid.gov home page, click on the "Log In" button located in the "Manage My Direct Loans" box. The login page will appear.
• Use of another person's FSA ID constitutes fraud. Use only your own FSA ID information.
• Once logged in, click on the "Complete MPN" option located under the "Master Promissory Note" heading on the left menu bar. The MPN page will appear.
• Select the type of loan you would like to receive.
• Follow the instructions to complete, sign, and submit your MPN.
• Students who are considering accepting federal loans should visit the Federal Student Aid website to learn more about MPNs.

Federal regulations also require that all students who receive a Direct Loan must complete exit counseling prior to graduation or before dropping below half-time attendance. You may not be able to get a copy of your college transcript until you have completed this important step.

Learn more about the FAFSA application process for WCJC.

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According to the current loan limits for Federal Student Loans, students can borrow the following amounts:

Dependent students

Freshman—$3,500 in subsidized loans and $2,000 in unsubsidized loans.

Sophomore—$4,500 in subsidized loans and $2,000 in unsubsidized loans.

Independent students

Freshman—$4,500 in subsidized loans and $5,000 in unsubsidized loans.

Sophomore—$4,500 in subsidized loans and $6,000 in unsubsidized loans.

Loan amounts are dependent on other financial aid awards and the cost of WCJC attendance.

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Fall: June 1

Spring: November 1

Summer: May 1

We welcome and will process your application for financial aid after these dates, but we can't guarantee that your aid will be ready for you prior to the start of a semester if your financial aid is not complete by the preferred dates.

If you apply for financial aid after these dates, please make plans to have some other source of payment ready to start the semester. If you are eligible and receive a financial aid award in excess of your charges for the semester, we'll refund any payment you made to the college to hold your registration.

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Financial aid funds will be applied to your college account after the official enrollment date (Census Date) of each semester. Federal and college funds will be applied at this time only for those students who have completed all requirements for the financial aid process. Disbursement of state awards is dependent on the availability of state funding. If you have more financial aid than your total college charges, the balance will be issued as a refund.

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You should check your student account using the Online Services feature on the WCJC website. Information will not be released via telephone due to privacy laws. Loan funds will be deposited into your student account electronically. Check your Disclosure Statement to determine when funds will be sent to the college. The Business Office will deduct what you owe for tuition, fees, and books and the balance will be mailed to you. You are responsible for maintaining a current, valid address with the Office of Admissions and Registration.

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An "origination fee" is charged for Stafford Loans per the regulations governing the loan programs. The fee may not exceed 3% of the principal amount of the loan. The fee is deducted proportionately from each payment before the loan funds are disbursed to the school by the lender. The fee is paid to the federal government to defray the cost of the loan programs.

Thus, if a lender deducts the 3 percent origination fee from a $2,000 Stafford Loan that is to be paid in two installments, the student will receive payments of $970 and $970. However, the student will be responsible for the full value of the loan, $2,000. A lender may choose to pay all or part of the origination fee on behalf of their students.

The guarantor is also authorized to collect an insurance fee not to exceed 1 percent of the loan. If the guarantor charges an insurance fee for its Stafford and PLUS loans, the lender may pass on the charge to the borrower.

For PLUS loans, the origination fee is always 3 percent and may not be reduced by the lender. The lender may also charge an insurance fee on Stafford and PLUS loans to defray the insurance fee charged by the guarantor; the fee is limited to 1 percent.

To dispute the terms of your loan, contact the lender and/or guarantor in writing. If the issue remains unresolved you should contact the Office of the Ombudsman at fsaombudsmanoffice@ed.gov or 1-877-557-2575.

Certain scholarships require full-time enrollment as a condition of eligibility.

Students must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loans.

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WCJC works with Loan Science, a leader in the federal student loan management industry, to better assist you in making wise repayment choices. We encourage you to take advantage of their dedicated staff of trained loan counselors to assist in answering questions, understanding your payment schedule, or resolving any repayment challenges that may arise. Questions about how to best manage your federal student loans can be answered by contacting Loan Science directly at: 

Phone: 866.311.9450

Email: loansupport@loanscience.com

 Please identify that you are a WCJC student or former student when speaking with Loan Science Staff.

 

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WCJC returns unearned funds received from Federal Student Aid programs to the proper program accounts or lenders in accordance with Federal Title IV Student Aid regulations, as amended, under 34CFR, section 668.22(d) of the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and within the rules of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The student receiving assistance from Federal Title IV programs is required to complete a minimum number of hours for which assistance was received. If the student completely withdraws from school during the semester, or quits attending, but fails to officially withdraw, the student may be required to return the unearned part of funds that were received to help pay educational expenses for the semester.

Information about the correct procedure for officially withdrawing from or dropping classes can be found on the Office of Admissions and Registration webpage.

A student's liability for the return of Federal Title IV funds will be determined according to the following guidelines:

1. If a student completely withdraws from all classes before completing 60% of the semester, a prorated portion of the federal aid received must be returned to the federal aid programs equal to the percentage of the semester remaining.
2. If a student does not officially withdraw from classes but stops attending all classes, a prorated portion of the federal aid received based on the documented last date of attendance must be returned to the federal aid programs.
3. If a student earns failing (“F”) grades in all courses during a semester, the student will be subject to the Return to Title IV guidelines listed in the sections above. A student in this scenario will need to document with the course instructor(s) the last day of attendance, or it will be assumed the student only attended to the 50% point of the semester. This student will be liable for repayment under the Return to Title IV Funds process.
4. Return to Federal Title IV funds will be distributed according to statutory regulations. Worksheets provided by the U.S. Department of Education will be used to determine the amounts and order of return. If a student’s share of the return amount exists, the student will be notified and allowed 45 days from the date of determination to return the funds to the WCJC Business Office for deposit into the federal programs accounts. If the student does not return the amount owed within the 45-day period, the amount of overpayment will remain on the student’s account and a hold will be placed on all student files including access to (all) transcripts and registrations.
5. If a student remains enrolled and attends class beyond the 60% mark of the semester in which aid is received, all federal aid is considered earned and not subject to this policy.

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