| financial aid: Student Loans
Student loans are low interest loans that students may borrow to help them meet their educational expenses. Student loans must be repaid, unlike grants or scholarships. Students begin making payments on student loans six months after graduating, stopping attendance, or beginning to attend less than half-time. Students are encouraged to borrow only what they need to meet their educational expenses.
Student loans are Federal loans made to students by the U.S. Department of Education through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans). Eligibility for Direct Loans is determined by the college and the U.S. Department of Education from the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Did you receive a Direct Loan Offer?
Tidewater Community College includes Direct Loan Offers as part of its financial aid package if a student's cost of attendance demonstrates a possible need. These are offers only and students are not required to take the loan. Students who DO need the Direct Loan MUST complete the application process outlined below, otherwise there will be no Direct Loan funds for the student.
Tidewater Community College does not award Direct Loans for students until the student makes a formal request by completing the application process. Students should complete the application process as soon as possible so that Direct Loan funds can be posted by the tuition deadline to avoid students paying personally.
Direct Loan Resources
Students: Are you ready to apply for a Direct Loan?
Step One: Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2011-12 academic year and receive their results from the U.S. Department of Education.
Step Two: Students must receive their official Financial Aid Award Notice from TCC and view their awards in the student information system (SIS) to verify that the awarding process is complete. Students who submit a Direct Loan Request before receiving their official Financial Aid Award Notice may be denied.
Step Three: Students may begin the application process at the highlighted link below. Students will be required to log into the Direct Loan web site using personal information and their Department of Education assigned PIN (same as FAFSA PIN).
1. Once logged into the Direct Loan web site, students will select Complete Entrance Counseling and follow the instructions.
2. Once Entrance Counseling has been completed, students will select Complete Master Promissory Note (MPN) and follow the instructions.
3. After both Entrance Counseling and the MPN have been completed, students will return to the highlighted link below to complete the Student Direct Loan Request.
If any one step (Entrance Counseling, MPN, or Direct Loan Request) has not been completed, the student loan request cannot be processed.
Important: Students should not submit more than one Direct Loan Request if they do not see their Direct Loan Award posted in SIS. Students should only submit a second (or more) request if they feel that they need to borrow additional funds after submitting their initial request.
Students will be notified if their Direct Loan Requests are denied. Also, during peak processing, students should anticipate a reasonable processing time and not submit a second request but rather contact their campus financial aid office if they are concerned.
Students (Click Here) to Begin Direct Loan Application Process
Parents: Do you need to apply for a Direct PLUS Loan (parent loan) to help with your child's educational expenses?
Step One: Parents who need to borrow a Direct PLUS Loan to help pay for their child's educational expenses may begin the process by clicking on the highlighted link below. Parents must log into the Direct Loan web site using their Department of Education assigned PIN and complete the Direct PLUS request (pre-approval) process. PLUS loan eligibility is subject to credit worthiness.
Step Two: Parents must then return to the highlighted link below to complete the TCC Parent Direct Loan Request.
If any one step (Direct PLUS Pre-Approval Request and TCC Parent Direct Loan Request) has not been completed, the PLUS Loan cannot be processed.
Parents (Click Here) to Begin Direct Loan Application Process
If you have questions or need assistance, please visit any of the four campus financial aid offices or call the TCC Information Center at 822-1122.
| TCC Financial Aid Contact Information |
Chesapeake Campus |
|
Portsmouth Campus |
| 1428 Cedar Road |
 |
120 Campus Drive |
| Chesapeake, VA 23322 |
Portsmouth, VA 23701 |
| Cynthia Hunter ~ CHunter@tcc.edu |
Theresa Ruffing ~ TRuffing@tcc.edu |
| Phone ~ 757 - 822 - 5145 |
Phone ~ 757 - 822 - 2215 |
Norfolk Campus |
|
Virginia Beach Campus |
| 300 Granby St. |
|
1700 College Crescent |
| Norfolk, VA 23510 |
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 |
| Christine Damrose-Mahlmann ~ CMahlmann@tcc.edu |
M Simmons ~ VBFinAid@tcc.edu |
| Phone ~ 757 - 822 - 1236 |
Phone ~ 757 - 822 - 7292 |
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