Stafford Loans
Subsidized Stafford Loan:
Subsidized Stafford Loans are for undergraduate, graduate and professional degree students. You must have financial need. You must be enrolled as at least a *half-time student to be eligible. The U.S. Department of Education will pay (subsidize) the interest that accrues on subsidized Stafford Loans during periods of *half-time enrollment, grace-period and periods of deferment. Once the loan goes into repayment, the borrower (student) is responsible for the payment of the loan’s principal and interest.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan:
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are for undergraduate, graduate and professional degree students. Financial need is not a requirement to obtain an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must be enrolled as at least a *half-time student to be eligible. The borrower (student) is responsible for the interest on the loan while in college and during grace and deferment periods. Once the loan goes into repayment the borrower (student) is responsible for the payment of the loan’s principal and interest.
Note:
full-time is defined as 12 or more credit hours each semester of attendance
*half-time is defined as 6-8 credit hours each semester of attendance.
Loan Eligibility:
When the Financial Aid Office determines your eligibility for financial aid, consideration is given to your estimated costs for tuition, fees, books and supplies as well as living expenses and transportation. This is called the cost of attendance. The following is an average cost of attendance for a full-time, Colorado resident:
| Living with parents or relatives | Living independently | |
| Tuition and Fees | $2,357 | $2,357 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,749 | $1.749 |
| Living Expenses and Transportation | $9,843 | $13,176 |
| Total | $13,949 | $17,282 |
Please note: in Colorado the value for all allowable cost of attendance components, except for tuition and fees, is annually determined by the Colorado Department on Higher Education. Individual expenses will vary based on your choice of lifestyle and living arrangements. Loan eligibility is determined by using the student's cost of attendance minus estimated family contribution (EFC), minus their total award package. The EFC calculation is derived from the FAFSA.
Additional Unsubsidized Loan
Dependent students may request an additional $2,000 in an unsubsidized loan above the federal loan that they have already been offered. Independent students may request an additional $6,000. Fill out the Loan Request Form to request the additional loan.
Loan Limits
Award Amounts - Effective July 1, 2008
Stafford Loan limits depend on year in school and dependency status
| Classification/Year | Base Amount Subsidized Loan | Unsubsidized Loan Amount | Total |
| Dependent Students | |||
| Freshman | $3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
| Sophomore | $4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 |
| Independent Students AND Students whose parents are unable to obtain a Plus Loan | |||
| Freshman | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| Sophomore | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
Dependent students may borrow up to a $31,000* maximum as an undergraduate (not more than $23,000 subsidized)
Independent students may borrow up to a $57,500* maximum as undergraduates (not more than $23,000 subsidized)
*New limit(s) in effect July 1, 2008.
Federal Direct Stafford Loan Process
Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN) Instructions
Step 1: Complete the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Form indicating the amount of loan requested
All pages of this form must be completed, signed and returned to the Financial Aid Office.
You can fax the form to 719-846-5420 (Trinidad Campus), 719-589-7005 (Alamosa Campus) or mail to:
TSJC, Financial Aid Office,
Trinidad Campus
600 Prospect St.
Trinidad, CO 81082
TSJC, Financial Aid Office
Alamosa Campus
1011 Main Street
Alamosa, CO 81101
Step 2: Go to https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action
- Sign in using your FAFSA PIN number
- Visit the PIN website if you are a new user or have forgotten your PIN number:
Step 3: COMPLETE ENTRANCE COUNSELING
- Click on Complete Entrance Counseling
- Click on Counseling Type (first option)
- Click Continue
- Follow all steps to completion.
Step 4: SIGN A NEW MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE (MPN)
- Complete MPN (Master Promissory Note)
- Select 'Subsidized/Unsubsidized'
- Follow all steps to completion
Note: Borrowers who signed a MPN in the previous year do not need to complete a new MPN
Electronic confirmation will be received within 24 - 48 hours for each of these sessions
Step 5: Complete EducationCents (Optional)
- Go to http://:www.educationcents.org/
- Register Now
- Select Paying for College
- Follow all steps to completion
- Select Credit
- Follow all steps to completion
Disbursement of Your Stafford Loan
Your loan will be disbursed in at least two installments. No installment will be greater than half the amount of your loan. If you are a first-year undergraduate student and a first time borrower, your first disbursement cannot be made until 30 days after the first day of your enrollment period.
Director of Financial Aid
Wilma Atencio
at (719) 846-5555 or 1-800-621-TSJC ext. 5555
Administrative Assistant
Leslie Hollingsworth
at (719) 846-5553 or 1-800-621-TSJC ext. 5553
Valley Campus Director
Rosalie Ortega
at (719) 589-7000 or 1-800-411-8382
Disclaimer
The Financial Aid Office has taken great care in providing the most recent information. Contents are subject to change without notice because of changing federal, state or institutional policies. All financial aid awards are contingent upon availability of funds and the student’s final eligibility determination.
Stafford Loans