Student Loans

Complete an annual student loan acknowledgment each year to accept a new federal student loan.  The goal is to help students understand how loans will affect their financial future.

Who should complete this?
Borrowers accepting a subsidized/unsubsidized loan, a PLUS loan for graduate/professional students or a PLUS loan for parents should complete this acknowledgement.

How long will it take?
Most people complete the acknowledgment in less than 10 minutes.

What do I need?

1. Verified FSA ID
2. For first-time borrowers, you will also need:

• School name
• Degree name
• Field of academic program

What am I acknowledging?
If this is your first time accepting a federal student loan, you are acknowledging that you understand your responsibility to repay your loan.

If you have existing federal student loans, you are acknowledging that you understand how much you owe and how much more you can borrow.

Federal Student Loan Resources:

Financial Aid Web Resources 
Default Fresh Start Initiative
Debt Relief
Fresh Start Fact Sheet

New Student Loan Borrowers:
First-time student loan borrowers are required to complete an Entrance Counseling session as well as the Master Promissory Note prior to borrowing a student loan. The Entrance Counseling session helps students understand their rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. The Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note must be completed before student loan funds can be approved.

Existing Student Loan Borrowers:
Students who have borrowed federal student loans are required to complete an Exit Counseling session upon graduating, dropping below six credits or withdrawing from school. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships also provides comprehensive financial education counseling sessions to help students understand all student loans borrowed and potential repayment options. 

• Up to $3,500 for students (0-29 credits) — first year
• Up to $4,500 for students (30+ credits) — second year
• Up to $5,500 for students (30+ credits) — third year (must be enrolled in a Bachelor degree program)
• Subsidized student loan interest and repayment are deferred while enrolled at least half-time/part-time (six credits)
• The 2026-2027 interest rate is fixed at 6.52% for the Direct Subsidized Loan

• For dependent students, up to $2,000 in addition to the subsidized student loan
• For independent students, up to $6,000 in addition to the subsidized student loan
• Unsubsidized student loan interest accrues while you are enrolled in school
• Repayment is deferred while enrolled at least half-time/part-time (six credits)
• The 2026-2027 interest rate is fixed at 6.52% for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Students whose parents are unwilling to provide FAFSA information may qualify for unsubsidized loans only; contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss eligibility.

• Parents may borrow loans for undergraduate students to assist with the cost of educational expenses.
• Student must be enrolled in at least six credits per semester.
• Pre-OBBBA Limit: The amount of the loan may be up to the cost of attendance, less any financial aid that the student receives.
• New OBBBA Limit: Up to $20,000 annually and up to $65,000 aggregate per dependent student
• Interest rates and amounts are based on approved credit rating and may require a cosigner.
• For the 2026-2027 academic year, the Direct PLUS loan interest rate is fixed at 9.07%.

Disclaimer: For student and parent loan borrowers, any information regarding loans borrowed will be sent to the National Student Loan Data Systems (NSDLS) and may be provided to other servicers.

• The loan must be repaid if student does not serve as a full-time nurse in Ohio for five years.
• Ohio students must be enrolled at least part-time (six credits) and accepted into an approved Ohio pre-licensure nurse education program.
• The loan may be up to $1,650, based on estimated family contribution (EFC) on the FAFSA and enrollment status.
• Find additional information on NEALP on the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.

• Students must complete the FAFSA application.
• Loans are offered by private lenders, with unique criteria and features, based upon the lender.
• Students may be eligible to borrow when enrolled as full-time, half-time or less-than-half-time status in degree, certificate and vocational programs.
• Interest rates may be fixed or variable.
• Learn more about private education loans.

Tri-C no longer participates in the Perkins Loan Program. For student who have previously borrowed the Perkins Loan, contact ECSI for questions and concerns regarding repayment.