To be eligible for Federal Direct Loans you must :

• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;
• be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds;
• maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school;
• sign statements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) stating that  you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant and you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes; and show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law. 

A Federal Direct Loan based on financial need for which the federal government pays the interest that accrues while the borrower is in an in-school, grace, or deferment status. For Direct Subsidized Loans first disbursed between July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2014, the borrower will be responsible for paying any interest that accrues during the grace period. If the interest is not paid during the grace period, the interest will be added to the loan's principle balance.

A Federal Direct Loan for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status. Interest on unsubsidized loans accrues from the date of disbursement and continues through the life of the loan.

Direct Parent PLUS Loans are available to credit-worthy parents of dependent students who enroll at least half time (six credit hours per semester) and are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards with Lone Star College (LSC).  

To apply for a Parent PLUS Loan, student must first submit the FAFSA for the appropriate aid year through www.studentaid.gov and include Lone Star College's school code.  Then the parent must visit www.studentaid.gov and access the Apply for a PLUS Loan page.  The parent’s credit history will be checked by the U.S. Department of Education when the parent applies for the loan to determine eligibility.  

If approved, the maximum amount of a PLUS loan will be determined by the total cost of attendance minus any other financial aid awards.  The parent is responsible for repaying the loan to the Department of Education, plus any interest.  Parent borrowers may be required to complete PLUS Loan entrance counseling.  

If a parent is denied the Parent PLUS Loan, the dependent student can borrow additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds.  To receive the additional Unsubsidized funds, the student or parent should submit the denial letter provided by the Department of Education to the Financial Aid Office. 

A private loan is a student or parent loan from a bank, credit union, private company, a nonprofit or state-affiliated lender to pay for educational costs.  If a student does not qualify for federally funded loans, such as Federal Direct Subsidized or Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans, private loans may be an option.  Private loans are credit-based, and most require that the borrower or co-borrower have established credit history to qualify.

Learn More About Private Loans