HJC students are eligible to participate in the Federal Direct Student Loan programs.
How much should you borrow
Each student meets privately with a Financial Aid Advisor to complete personal reference information and review how much that student is eligible to borrow. At that time, the student is encouraged to borrow only what is needed because each dollar borrowed is a loan against future earnings.
Direct loan requirements
Students must be attending at least half-time (8 quarter hours) in order to receive student loan funds. All loans are subject to an origination fee, charged by the Department of Education, of up to 2%. Students receive a loan disclosure statement showing the net amount of each loan disbursement.
Thirty-day delay
All first-time borrowers at HJC are subject to a thirty-day delay on their first disbursement of student loan funds.
Student loan servicers
Student loan servicers are organizations contracted by the Department of Education to process the details and paperwork involved in student loan transactions. Most documents students receive concerning their loans will come from these servicers, so it is important to learn which servicer is handling your loans.
Subsidized and unsubsidized direct loans
Subsidized Direct Loans are need-based and do not accrue interest while you are enrolled in school on an at least half-time (8 quarter hours) basis. Unsubsidized Direct Loans are not need-based and the interest begins accruing on the date the funds are disbursed. Students receive a quarterly interest statement from the loan servicer, but are not required to make interest payments. If students do not pay the interest each quarter, that interest is added to the amount of principal that the student has borrowed. Current interest rates can be found at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates.
Federal direct loan repayment
Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans go into repayment, whether the student graduates or withdraws, six months after the student ceases to be an at least half-time student. There are multiple repayment plan options available to assist students in managing their student loans successfully. These options can be reviewed in detail by contacting the Huntington Junior College Financial Aid Office or at https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans.
Sample loan repayment schedules
Examples of loan payments based on amounts borrowed, and how much students need to earn in order to repay loans can be found on the Loan Calculator at https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/
Parent loans for undergraduate students
Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loans) require the parent to complete a Master Promissory Note and are subject to credit approval. Specific details, including interest and repayment requirements for PLUS Loans can be found at https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/.
Codes of conduct
Disbursement of federal and state financial aid funds to students will occur once the Office of Financial Aid has determined eligibility for funds and authorized the application of payments to student accounts. Financial Aid payments will be applied to charges such as tuition and fees. The difference between the amount owed to the school and the amount of financial aid awarded will be calculated. If funds are due to the student (a stipend), checks will be printed and mailed to the address on file for each student within 10 business days of receipt of funds from the US Department of Education. Disbursement of funds occurs each quarter after the add/drop period ends. Students may check their portal at www.myhjc.com.
The following requirements apply to all employees and board members of HJC. HJC’s code of conduct prohibits employees and board members from:
- Refusing to certify or delaying the certification of an education loan based on a borrower's choice of lender.
- Assigning a first-time borrower to a particular private education loan lender through the student's financial aid award or another means.
- Packaging a private education loan in a student's financial aid award, except when the student is ineligible for other financial aid, has exhausted his or her federal student aid eligibility, has not filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or refuses to apply for a federal student loan.
- Accepting impermissible gifts, goods, or services from a lender, lender servicer, or guarantor. The institution may accept default prevention, financial literacy, or student aid-related educational services or materials, or other items of a nominal value.
- Accepting philanthropic contributions from a lender, lender servicer, or guarantor that are related to the educational loans provided by the entity that is making the contribution.
- Serving on or otherwise participating as a member of an advisory council for a lender, lender affiliate, or lender servicer.
- Accepting from a lender or its affiliate any fee, payment, or other financial benefit as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide education loan-related services to or on behalf of the lender.
- Accepting fees or other benefits in exchange for endorsing a lender or the lender's loan products.
- Requesting or accepting an offer of funds for private education loans from a lender, in exchange for our promise to provide the lender with placement on a preferred lender list, or a certain number of volume of private education loans.
- This institution is committed to providing the information and resources necessary to help every student achieve educational success. To accomplish this goal the financial aid staff will consider each student's individual needs.