Student Loans

The Federal Direct Loan Program provides eligible students and parents with Subsidized, Unsubsidized, or Parent PLUS loans from the U.S. Department of Education.

To receive any of these loan options at the Alamo Colleges District, a loan request must be submitted following the steps outlined below.

Requesting Loans

Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Required Steps

Complete the Federal Direct Loan Request through ACES.
Complete the required Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note on studentaid.gov.

Eligibility

Student must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours that count towards their degree plan.
Student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Student must complete any incomplete financial aid requirements including verification.
Student must have financial need as determined by the FAFSA (Subsidized loan eligibility only).
Student's loans may not exceed the yearly or lifetime loan limits.

Federal Parent PLUS Loans

Required Steps

The student's parent must complete the Parent PLUS Loan Application on studentaid.gov.
The student's parent must complete the Master Promissory Note on studentaid.gov

Eligibility

Student must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours that count towards their degree plan.
Student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Student must complete any incomplete financial aid requirements including verification
Student must be classified as Dependent as determined by the FAFSA
Parent applying must be biological, adoptive, or a stepparent.
Parent applying must have good credit history, with no defaulted student or PLUS loans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Inceptia and how does it help me manage my student loans?

Through Alamo Colleges latest partnership with Inceptia, a nonprofit organization, you’ll have access to one-on-one counseling and resources to help you understand your loan repayment options and stay on track with your student loans.

Learn More

How do I view a summary of all student loans I have received?

Keep track of your federal student loan history and loan servicers by logging in to the studentaid.gov website and clicking on "My Aid".

Parents that have a Parent PLUS loan will log in to their own account to view the history of their loan.

View Loan History

What are the annual student loan limits?

Loan limits for the year vary based on your grade level and if you are classified as dependent or independent.

Student Level	Dependent Loan Limits			Independent Loan Limits
	Subsidized	Unsubsidized	Total	Subsidized	Unsubsidized	Total
1st Year (0-29 credits)	$3,500	$2,000	$5,500	$3,500	$6,000	$9,500
2nd Year (30-59 credits)	$4,500	$2,000	$6,500	$4,500	$6,000	$10,500
3rd Year (60-89 credits, Bachelors only)	$5,500	$2,000	$7,500	$5,500	$7,000	$12,500
4th Year (90+ credits, Bachelors only)	$5,500	$2,000	$7,500	$5,500	$7,000	$12,500

What are the interest rates for Federal Direct Loans?

The interest rate for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans are published on studentaid.gov.

Students are not responsible for paying the interest accrued on a Subsidized loan as it is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
Students are responsible for paying the interest accrued on a Unsubsidized loan at the time of repayment.

The interest rate for Parent PLUS loans are published on studentaid.gov.

Parents are responsible for paying the interest accrued on a Parent Plus loan at the time of repayment.

Will my loan request protect my classes from being dropped?

No, submission of a loan request is not guaranteed to be approved or processed in time for funds to be received by the payment deadline.

What if my parent applying for a PLUS loan has negative credit?

For parents whose credit check is denied on the Parent PLUS Loan Application, there are other options for the loan to be approved either through an endorser or through an appeal on studentaid.gov.

Alternatively, students may be eligible to borrow additional Unsubsidized loans with the submission of a Co-signer Statement form if the parents credit check is denied.

What are alternative loans?

Alternative student loans are loans funded by a private lending institution of the students choosing.

It is highly advised that you do not seek out alternative loan options unless you have already reached the full Federal Direct Loan limits.

Each private lender will have their own set of eligibility criteria (including good credit history), interest rates, and repayment requirements.
Once the student has completed the lending institutions initial steps, the lender will request eligibility certification from the Alamo Colleges District. Please plan ahead as this process will take several weeks to complete.
Alternative loans are primarily used when federal aid and scholarships do not cover a student's Cost of Attendance (COA).

Important Notice: Student Loan Changes

Beginning Fall 2026, the U.S. Department of Education will require colleges to prorate federal student loan amounts based on enrollment level, similar to how grant aid is awarded. Please consider how your enrollment level may impact your student loan eligibility according to these new rules:

Students will no longer receive the full annual loan limit unless enrolled full-time (12 hours).
If you are enrolled less than full-time (less than 12 hours), your loan eligibility will be proportionally reduced based on your credit hours.
You must be enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) to receive federal student loans.