Federal Direct Loans and the Two-Step Loan Process
Are you enrolled in credit classes? This page outlines the federal loan process for you.
(If you are taking CE or workforce training courses, follow the Financial Aid Checklist for Continuing Education instead.)
Welcome to the two-step Dallas College loans process. If you are a financial aid applicant, you will be offered a Federal Direct Loan, whether you want a loan or not.
This process ultimately puts more information and control in your hands, but it does involve a few steps you need to learn about. Here are an overview and some questions and answers to help you.
If you have more questions, you can always contact Financial Aid for assistance.
How the Two-Step Loan Process Works
Step 1:All eligible credit students are offered a Federal Direct Loan (FDL) award. You can choose to accept, decline or adjust this offered loan.
Step 2: You must accept the terms and conditions of your FA Award Letter on Workday if you wish to receive other funding — like a Pell Grant — whether you decide to accept, decline or adjust this offered loan.
The Direct Loan Process — Questions and Answers
- No, you do not have to accept your loan. You can choose to accept it, decline it or accept a lower amount.
- If you do not take action, the loan may still be included in your financial aid offer. Reviewing your loan ensures your financial aid is accurate and helps prevent delays.
If you decline your loan, it will not be processed, and you will not have to repay it.
All awards, including the offered loan, are provided to assist you financially. If you don’t review and decline the loan, it will stay in your financial aid package. This can affect your eligibility for other funding (like state grants or Federal Work Study). Contact Financial Aid for more information.
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Log in to Workday.
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Go to the Financial Aid section.
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Select Accept/Decline Awards.
Eligible students are automatically awarded student loans. If you are not awarded a loan, it may mean that your file is incomplete or you have exhausted your federal student loan limit. Contact the Financial Aid Office to review your unique situation.
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Be sure you have accepted the terms and conditions of your award package. Go to Workday and under the Financial Aid section, click Accept/Decline Awards to accept the terms and conditions of your award package.
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Be sure you have completed Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note.
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Review the Loan Eligibility Requirements.
Under federal regulations, active confirmation is required to receive a Federal Direct Loan. By performing this step, you are actively validating your desire to accept, decline or adjust the offered loan amount.
Contact the Financial Aid Office to request loan reinstatement. Your financial literacy coach will submit a request in Workday to add an action item for you to complete the Financial Aid Cancellation and Adjustment Form.
Visit your Financial Aid Office to reinstate the terms and conditions of your award letter package.
- The minimum dollar amount for a loan is $200.
- Loan limits for the award year and those borrowed in total over the student’s educational career cannot be exceeded.
- Every student has an educational budget for financial aid. According to Department of Education guidelines, a student cannot be given a loan amount over that educational budget.
- The maximum dollar amount awarded for a loan is dependent upon a student’s eligibility and educational budget or Cost of Attendance (COA) as well as the total loans borrowed during the student’s educational career.
- COA is adjusted for each student at the academic certification/lock date based on the student’s enrollment level on that date. Before that date, loans are awarded based on half-time enrollment (even if you register for a full load of classes). Go to DallasCollege.edu/Loans to learn more about why Direct Loans are based on half-time enrollment.