Federal Direct Loan Eligibility Policy
Students who request Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized & Unsubsidized) at Cypress College must meet the eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements established by the Financial Aid Office.
Students must meet all of the following requirements:
- Have a completed financial aid file
- Meet Cypress College SAP requirements
- Not be in default on any prior student loans
- Enroll in at least 6 units that meet major and/or general education requirements toward your current degree. (Excessive units for remedial courses, prerequisite courses for programs that have special admissions requirements, and excessive PE courses may not be eligible for loan funding.)
If the student meets the criteria above, they will be eligible to attend a loan workshop session to initiate the loan request process. Details on loan workshops are available on our website as well as in the Financial Aid Office.
All loan borrowers are strongly encouraged to create a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan. Please schedule an appointment with a counselor in order to make a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan. Please call the counseling office at (714) 484-7015 or visit the office to schedule a counseling appointment.
Cypress College recommends a lifetime borrowing limit of $12,000 (dependent students) or $20,000 (independent students) for community college. Student loan debt from a two-year institution in excess of this amount reduces your available resources and impacts your ability to complete your undergraduate education at higher-cost four-year institutions upon transferring.
In accord with Federal law, the U.S. Department of Education authorizes Cypress College to refuse to award a
Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loan on an individual student basis as long as a written explanation is
provided as cited in 34 CFR 685.301(a)(8).
BE ADVISED!
Cypress College Financial Aid strictly enforces the loan policy.
The Department of Education establishes the undergraduate aggregate loan limit as $31,000 for dependent students and $57,500 for independent students pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Your personal credit worthiness and financial future matters!