Applying For Federal Loans

You must request a loan from HCC. The HCC Financial Aid Office we will not automatically award a loan to you. You may apply for a Federal Stafford loan AFTER the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been completed and all follow-up paperwork has been submitted to the Financial Aid Office and Admissions Office.

Note: Students must be enrolled at least six (6) credit hours each semester to apply for and receive a Stafford loan.

Note: HCC participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Your lender will be the U.S. Department of Education for all loans processed in the 2010-11 year and beyond.  

HCC Stafford loan applicants are required to complete the following 4 steps to receive a loan at HCC.  The FAFSA must be completed and all follow-up paperwork submitted to HCC BEFORE you can complete these steps.  

Step 1:  Complete Online Entrance Counseling
Click on the image below to complete this requirement

Step 2: Complete Your Electronic Master Promissory Note (eMPN)
Fill out your eMPN online at: www.studentloans.gov  

Step 3: Complete Federal Stafford Loan Request Form
Complete and submit the Federal Stafford Loan Request Form to the Financial Aid Office.

Step 4: Sign up and Attend Loan Entrance Workshop
Sign up to attend a loan workshop in the Financial Aid Office or by calling 252-538-4334.  Sessions are held at the beginning of each semester. An HCC ID is required for entrance to the meeting.  

Asking For Additional Loan Funds

If you already have applied for a loan in a given semester but need additional funds AND have remaining eligibility, complete and submit: STAFFORD LOAN INCREASE REQUEST FORM and BUDGET WORKSHEET.

These forms can be mailed, faxed or brought to the Financial Aid Office in room 337.

Graduating or leaving HCC?

All students who receive a student loan at HCC, MUST complete Exit Counseling when they drop below half time, leave the college due to withdrawal or graduate. Click on the link below to complete the requirement online.

If you received a Stafford loan after July 1, 2009, click on the link below to complete the requirement online.

Stafford Exit Counseling (after July 1, 2009) From this screen, choose "Exit Counseling". 

If your loans were disbursed prior to July 1, 2009 please visit the Financial Aid Office to complete Exit Counseling.

Consolidating Loans
When you graduate or leave HCC, you may want to look into consolidating your student loans so you will have one single payment, rather than several payments for different loans or payment to different lenders. For more information on loan consolidation, click on the image below.

Loan Questions

If you have questions about your Direct Loan Promissory Note, please contact Direct Loan Applicant Services at 1-800-557-7394.

If you have any questions about your current or previous loan (your responsibilities, regulations, payment options, complaints, etc.) you may contact the Department of Education's Loan Ombudsman at 1-877-557-2575 or through this link: Loan Ombudsman

To find out who services your student loans (your lender), and how to contact the servicer, call the Department of Education customer service line at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

To find out your Federal Stafford Loan balance and/or total debt go to: