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Federal Direct Loans and the Two-Step Loan Process

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 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 eConnect 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 the loan. You can choose to decline or adjust the offered loan amount.
  • If you want to accept the offered loan, go to eConnect and under the Financial Aid section, click the Financial Aid Checklist. Click myAwards and choose the accept option.

We will not process the offered loan, and you will not have to repay the loan.

All awards, including the offered loan, are provided to assist you financially. If you don’t review the loan and decline it or request a lower amount, these dollars are fixed in your educational budget for financial aid. That means other funding (like state grants or Federal Work Study) may not be available to you. Contact Financial Aid for more information.

  1. Go to eConnect.
  2. Under the Financial Aid section, click the Financial Aid Checklist.
  3. Click myAwards and choose the decline option.

  1. Go to eConnect.
  2. Under the Financial Aid section, click the Financial Aid Checklist.
  3. Click myAwards and input the desired dollar amount. You cannot input a dollar amount that will exceed your maximum eligibility. Your request will be reviewed within three business days (72 hours).

  • Go to eConnect and under the Financial Aid section, click the Financial Aid Checklist and then click the Request a New Loan link. Input the desired dollar amount. You cannot input a dollar amount that will exceed your maximum eligibility. Your request will be reviewed within three business days (72 hours). We will notify you if your request was approved or rejected.
  • If approved, go to eConnect and under the Financial Aid section, click the Financial Aid Checklist. Click myAwards, then review to accept, decline or adjust the approved dollar amount.
  • If rejected, you may visit your Financial Aid Office for more information.

Because of new federal regulations, active confirmation is now 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.

  • Go to eConnect and under the Financial Aid section, click the Financial Aid Checklist and then click the Request a New Loan link. Input the desired dollar amount. You cannot input a dollar amount that will exceed your maximum eligibility. Your request will be reviewed within three business days (72 hours).
  • If approved, go to eConnect and under the Financial Aid section, click the Financial Aid Checklist. Click myAwards, then review to accept, decline or adjust the approved dollar amount.
  • If rejected, you may visit your Financial Aid Office for more information.

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). See the Direct Loans home page at dcccd.edu/Loans to learn more about why Direct Loans are based on half-time enrollment.