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Please note: The Financial Aid Office wants students to consider seriously borrowing what they absolutely need. Excessive borrowing can burden a student’s credit report and make it difficult to secure additional credit after college. .  

Federal Direct Loans include the following types of loans:

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loans

  Available to eligible student borrowers. You must enroll in at least six credits.  These are need-based and you must complete a FAFSA to determine your eligibility. Interest and principal are subsidized by the government until the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Repayment begins six months after the student graduates, withdraws or stops attending school at least half-time.

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

  Available to eligible student borrowers. You must enroll in at least  six credits. These loans are not need-based; however, you must still complete a FAFSA. Interest accrues during in-school period. Interest and principal may be deferred until the student ceases to be enrolled. Interest is NOT paid by the government. The borrower is responsible for all interest payments. Repayment begins six months after the student graduates, withdraws or stops attending school at least half-time.

Maximum Annual Loan Limits

Loan Proration

• Effective with the 2026-2027 academic year, your federal student loan eligibility may be reduced according to your enrollment status. This reduction is called loan proration.
• Full-time enrollment is 12 credits per semester, or 24 credits per academic year. Students who are enrolled full-time are eligible for the maximum annual loan limits listed in the chart above.
• Students who are enrolled at least half-time but less than full-time may be subject to loan proration.
• Your actual loan disbursement amounts are based on your enrollment at the time each disbursement is processed. If your enrollment changes, your loan amounts may be adjusted.
• If you withdraw from classes after your loans have been disbursed, the funds may be returned to the government. You may have a balance due to the college as a result. Please speak to Student Central before withdrawing from a class to see how your financial aid may be impacted.
• Remember that you cannot borrow the full annual loan amount for ONE semester.

Directions for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans

1. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the current academic year at , and you must have a complete financial aid File.
   
   
2. Complete your Loan Entrance Counseling at
   • Log in using your FSA ID
   • Click on Complete Loan Counseling (Entrance, Financial Awareness, Exit)
   • Click Start next to Entrance Counseling
   • Add 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to the list of schools to notify on the left side of the screen
   • Select I am completing entrance counseling to receive Direct Loans as an undergraduate student
   • Follow the on screen instructions to complete counseling
     
     
3. Complete your Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
   • Click on Complete Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note)
   • Click Start next to MPN for Subsidized Unsubsidized Loans
   • Add 51³Ô¹ÏÍø under School Information
   • Follow the on screen instructions to complete the MPN
   • Provide two references at two separate U.S. addresses. 

4. Complete and submit a form.

Loan requests are generally processed within three business days. Loans are scheduled to disburse after NA grades are reported for each semester. Please check your Self-Service account and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø email for updates.

Direct PLUS Loans

Direct PLUS Loans are for the parents of dependent students. Interest is charged during all periods. Effective with the 2026-2027 academic year, the maximum annual loan limit for new parent borrowers is $20,000 per student. To be eligible for a PLUS loan, a parent borrower must be applying for the loan to pay the postsecondary educational costs for an eligible dependent undergraduate student who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at least half time at a participating school. Each PLUS loan borrower must certify, as part of the PLUS Application and Master Promissory Note (PLUS MPN) filed with the school or lender, a statement of educational purpose.

Parent borrowers also must be determined creditworthy to be eligible for a PLUS loan.

*If a PLUS loan is denied based on the Parent’s credit history, the student is eligible to receive an additional Unsubsidized loan.

Directions:

If you have any question(s), please do not hesitate to contact us at 617-228-2370 or email us at studentcentral@bhcc.edu.