Loans

Available to students who show financial need based on their FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on this loan while you are enrolled in at least 6 credits (half-time) and meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). 

Available to students enrolled in at least 6 credits (half-time) regardless of financial need and meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Interest starts accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed and continues until the loan is fully paid off.

Available to parents of dependent undergraduate students enrolled in at least 6 credits (half-time) and meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Eligibility is based on a credit check by the U.S. Department of Education, and the parent is responsible for paying back the loan.

• If a parent is denied a PLUS Loan due to credit history, the student may qualify for additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds.
• Parents can borrow up to $20,000 per year per dependent student, with a maximum lifetime limit of $65,000 per student (total across all parents). 
• After the student completes the FAFSA, the parent can submit a Direct PLUS Loan request.
• A parent may be required to complete PLUS Loan counseling if there is adverse credit history.

Private student loans are offered by banks, credit unions, or other private lenders rather than the government and available to students enrolled in at least 6 credits (half-time) and meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Approval and interest rates depend on your credit score.

• We strongly recommend exploring Federal Direct Loans first, as they offer lower interest rates, flexible repayment options, and stronger consumer protections.
• ACC does not endorse or recommend specific private lenders. Students must research and select lenders on their own.
• Students using loans for Continuing Education (CE) classes, may only receive a loan for the cost of tuition and fees. 
• After completing the FAFSA, apply directly through your chosen private lender. 
• Private loan disclosures required under Section 128(e) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(e)) will be provided by your lender.

Below are the fixed interest rates for Federal Direct Loans first disbursed between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027:

Entrance Counseling helps you understand your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. You must complete this before your loan funds can be released.

1. Go to studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/ and log in with your FSA ID.
2. Select “I am an Undergraduate Student.”
3. Add Austin Community College under school name to estimate your costs.
4. Complete all tutorial sections and answer the questions.
5. Submit and confirm. You will see a success message: “You have successfully completed entrance counseling.”

The Master Promissory Note is the legal agreement where you promise to repay your student loan, interest, and fees. One MPN can cover multiple loans for up to 10 years. Complete this in a single 20-minute session before funds are released.

1. Go to studentaid.gov/mpn.
2. Select “I am an Undergraduate Student” and log in with your FSA ID.
3. Complete and sign the form. You will receive a confirmation email from the U.S. Department of Education when finished.

Exit Counseling prepares you to manage loan repayments after you finish school. You must complete this step whenever you graduate, drop below half-time enrollment (fewer than 6 credits), withdraw, or transfer to another college.

1. Go to studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/.
2. Log in with your FSA ID and follow the prompts to complete the session.

• You must be enrolled at least 6 credit hours (half-time).
• You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• You are not in default on any past student loans or owe a grant repayment.

Your federal loan offer will be calculated based on how many credit hours you are enrolled in.

• Full-time (12 or more credits): You will receive the maximum loan amount. 
• Below 12 credits (6 – 11 credits): Your loan amount will be reduced depending on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in (example below).
• Less than half-time (fewer than 6 credits): You are not eligible for federal student loans.

Example: Loan amounts by enrollment level (per semester)

If you drop below the enrollment level used to calculate your loan, it won’t change what you already received, but it can reduce how much you’re eligible for in future semesters within the same school year. We strongly recommend speaking with the Financial Aid Office before making any enrollment changes.

Example: A student receives $1,750 in the fall based on full-time enrollment (12 credit hours), then drops to half-time (6 credit hours) after disbursement. Because their annual eligibility is based on their enrollment across both semesters, dropping in the fall reduces the loan amount for spring.

Loan funds are applied directly to your ACC student account balance to cover tuition, fees, and eligible expenses first. If your loan amount is greater than your account balance, the remaining funds will be refunded to you.

View the disbursement schedule for release dates each semester.

The federal government sets annual and lifetime limits on how much you can borrow in federal student loans.

• To check your total federal student loan balance and find your loan servicer details, log in to StudentAid.gov. Your loan servicer is the company that handles your billing and repayment options.
• Note: StudentAid.gov only tracks federal loans. It does not list private loans from commercial banks.

Once your loan funds have been disbursed for the current term, ACC will not adjust or change that disbursement if you add or drop classes later in that same term.

However, enrollment changes can still affect pending loan disbursements for future terms within the same award year.

Before taking out a loan, it is smart to plan for how you will repay it after finishing school. Visit the Student Aid Repayment Simulator to estimate your future monthly payments and explore repayment plans that fit your budget.

When it is time to repay your student loans, you have some flexible plan options, including income-driven repayment plans that adjust your monthly payment based on your earnings. Contact your designated federal loan servicer or visit StudentAid.gov/repay to manage your repayment plan, set up auto-pay, or explore loan forgiveness options.

See additional repayment resources on this page. 

• Median Federal Loan Debt at ACC: $10,499
• Average Monthly Payment: $111 (based on the standard 10-year repayment plan)

The Cohort Default Rate measures the percentage of student borrowers who enter repayment and default (fail to make payments) within three years. Lower default rates indicate that students are successfully managing their loan debt after leaving school.