Financial aid loans can help eligible students cover educational expenses when other sources of financial aid may not be enough. Antelope Valley College offers resources and guidance to help students understand their loan options, eligibility requirements, and responsibilities as a borrower. Explore the information below to learn more about available loan programs and how to apply.
To receive either type of loan, you must be enrolled at least half-time at a school that participates in the Direct Loan Program. Generally, you must also be enrolled in a program that leads to a degree or certificate awarded by the school. Direct Subsidized Loans are available only to undergraduate students who have financial need. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree students. You are not required to show financial need to receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
| Dependent Students | Subsidized Limits | Unsubsidized Limits | Total Direct Loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1: Less than 30 units | $3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
| Year 2: Greater than or Equal to 30 units | $4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 |
| Year 3+: AVC Bachelor's Degree Only | $5,500 | $2,000 | $7,500 |
| Independent Students | Subsidized Limits | Unsubsidized Limits | Total Direct Loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1: Less than 30 units | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| Year 2: Greater than or Equal to 30 units | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
| Year 3+: AVC Bachelor's Degree Only | $5,500 | $7,000 | $12,500 |
The maximum amount of unpaid principal balance minus any capitalized interest that you can have outstanding at any point in time on all of your subsidized and unsubsidized loans for undergraduate, graduate, or professional study.
| Subsidized Limits | Unsubsidized Limits | Total Direct Loan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent Student | $23,000 | $8,000 | $31,000 |
| Independent Student | $23,000 | $34,500 | $57,500 |
The maximum amount you can receive, regardless of any amount paid or discharged, in any combination of subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, and PLUS loans for graduate or professional study
For additional repayment support please connect with our vendor, ECMC: Call (877) 331-3262 Chat Online
The Financial Aid Office is dedicated to helping you manage your student loan debt. We are available to help you develop a successful repayment strategy. Contact us at 661-722-6300 ext. 6337.
If at any time during your student loan repayment you can't make your monthly payment, immediately contact your loan holder to find out about available deferment or forbearance options. If you're not sure who your loan holder is, we can help you find the right contact information.
You can access your loan information by visiting the National Student Loan Data System's (NSLDS) website at https://studentaid.gov.
Explain your situation and get help reviewing your options by contacting your loan holder or our Financial Aid Office at 661-722-6300 ext. 6337. You may be eligible for an alternative repayment schedule that will adjust your monthly payment amount, or a deferment or forbearance that temporarily delays your payments.
If you continually fail to make payments on a student loan, your loan holder reports the delinquency to the guarantor. You'll get letters and phone calls from both the loan holder and guarantor asking you to contact them to help resolve your delinquency.
You may be getting notices if your loan holder or guarantor is unaware you're in school or you've had a change in enrollment status. You should contact your loan holder immediately to notify them of any changes in your enrollment status such as a school transfer, drop below half-time or change in your graduation date.
Deferment is an authorized period of time during which you may postpone monthly principal and/or interest payments. The federal government makes interest payments on subsidized Stafford loans during authorized deferment periods. You're responsible for interest that accrues on PLUS and unsubsidized Stafford loans during any deferment and has the option of making interest payments to avoid capitalization.
If you don't pay the interest that accrues on your loan while you're in school or during a deferment or forbearance, the unpaid interest is added to the principal balance of your loan. Once the unpaid interest is added, it increases the total amount of your loan and the monthly payment.
Forbearance is an authorized period of time during which a loan holder agrees to temporarily postpone payments or reduce your payment amount if you intend to repay the loan but are having temporary financial difficulties. You're still responsible for the accrued interest during forbearance.
Delinquency occurs when your loan payment is past due or late.
Default occurs when your loan is delinquent for 270 days or more. At that point, the guarantor purchases your loan and is responsible for collecting the debt on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.
Loans are considered defaulted when a borrower fails to repay a loan according to the terms agreed upon in the Master Promissory Note (MPN). This usually happens when payment is at least 270 days late. A default can also occur for failure to submit on-time requests for a deferment or cancellation. If a FFELP loan defaults, the guarantor purchases the loan from the loan holder and begins collection.
Defaulting on a federal student loan can result in several consequences, which may include:
The Financial Aid Office is dedicated to helping borrowers repay their student loan debt and reestablish good credit. You can reach a representative by calling 661-722-6300 ext. 6337.
Defaulted loans are reported 60 days from the date of default.
Yes. The money will be applied to the balance of your defaulted loan.
You have several options to get your loan out of default status. You can:
After unsuccessful attempts to contact you about your loan, the school, loan holder or guarantor will contact the relatives and friends whose information you provided when you signed your Master Promissory Note (MPN). To update the contact information you provided, contact your loan holder or our Default Prevention department at 661-722-6300 ext. 6337.
Defaulted student loans aren't eligible for forbearance or deferment.
Consolidation is a loan program that allows borrowers to combine all of their federal education loans into one loan, make a single monthly payment and extend the repayment period (up to 30 years depending on the loan amount). Consolidation loans can make loan repayment more manageable for borrowers with multiple lenders or high loan balances.
Yes, but only after you've made six consecutive, satisfactory payments on your defaulted student loan. You must continue to make on-time; monthly payments to receive aid while the loan is in default and you must not have ineligible loans.
