Alert
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates, FAQs and Resources. Properly worn face coverings are required for entry on all PTC campuses. Read More ...
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates, FAQs and Resources. Properly worn face coverings are required for entry on all PTC campuses. Read More ...
Find the academic program that's right for you. Learn more about PTC's schools and departments and available credentials.
Academics »PTC is here to help you get started on the path toward achieving your goals, whether you're headed toward a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution, or straight into the work force.
Admissions »90% of PTC students receive some form of financial aid. We strive to make higher education affordable to everyone.
Cost & Financial Aid »Whether you're looking for help planning your career, or you need some help in your classes, PTC offers a wealth of resources to ensure you have the right tools for success.
College Resources »Want to update your skills, explore a different career path, or learn a new hobby? We have meaningful learning opportunities that you can use right away.
Continuing Ed »PTC's mission is to transform lives and strengthen communities by providing opportunities for intellectual and economic growth.
About »A loan is financial assistance that enables students and parents to borrow money from the federal government or private lenders. These loans must be repaid.
Prior to accepting a student loan, all students (with an emphasis on Service Members) are offered the opportunity to meet with and be counseled by a qualified financial aid advisor who will provide a clear explanation of available financial aid, including all federal, state, and institutional options. Students are urged to contact the financial aid office via email at financialaid@ptc.edu or by phone at 864-941-8365 in order to set up a loan counseling appointment.
On this page:
The Direct Loan program is provided and administered by the Federal government, U.S. Department of Education. Student loan borrowing cannot exceed the cost of attendance, nor may you borrow over the annual and lifetime aggregates that are set for the Direct Loan. The Department of Education assesses an origination fee on each loan upon disbursement. The type of loan you are offered is based upon the results of the FAFSA.
Loan Disclosure
Students or parents of students who enter into an agreement regarding a Title IV federal student loan should be aware that the loan will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by authorized agencies, lenders, and institutions.
FEDERAL DIRECT SUBSIDIZED LOAN
The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is awarded on the basis of need. You will not be charged any interest prior to repayment or during any authorized periods of deferment. The federal government pays the interest on the loan until the time of repayment.
Eligibility
FEDERAL DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You are responsible for any accruing interest during in-school and deferment periods. Interest accruing during those periods may be paid or capitalized as agreed by the borrower and lender.
Eligibility
FEDERAL DIRECT PARENT LOAN FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (PLUS)
The Federal Direct Parent Loan (PLUS) is available to the parents of dependent, undergraduate students. The parent may only borrow up to the Cost of Attendance (excluding any other financial aid). An origination fee of 4.264% is charged upon disbursement. All funds are received electronically and are posted to the student's billing account to pay PTC authorized tuition and fees. Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required.
PLUS loans are the financial responsibility of the parents, not the student.
Eligibility and Requirements:
Interest Rate:
Direct PLUS loans have a fixed interest rate of 7.6%.
To Apply:
Alternative (private) loans are administered and processed by private lending institutions to be used for educational costs. Alternative loans are not part of the Federal student loan programs, and should be used for circumstances where you have exhausted all other options in regards to financing your education.
We highly recommend that you apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to seeking an Alternative loan option with this application. You may be eligible for the Federal Direct loan. Benefits of the Direct loan over an Alternative loan may include lower interest rates and greater repayment options.
You are free to choose any lender for the Alternative loan. The choice of a lender is entirely yours and must be made before your loan(s) will be funded. However, borrowing an Alternative (private) loan is based on credit checks and should only be done after reviewing all of your funding options and contacting different lenders for the best terms. For over the past five years, Piedmont Technical College students borrowed Private (Alternative) Loans through the following lenders:
>SC Student Loan Corporation (PAL)
Note that the interest rates and repayment terms are different for each lender
Points to consider when choosing a lender
NEW LAW-Effective February 14, 2010
As a result of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) of 2009, borrowers will be required to submit a Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification to their lender before funds can be disbursed. Your lender will provide you with this form when you apply for the Private Alternative loan.
Please keep in mind that due to these new requirements, your Private Alternative Loan disbursement may be delayed as required by this new law.
Helpful websites to compare alternative lenders:
http://www.studentlendinganalytics.com/alternative_loan_options.html
http://www.finaid.org/loans/privatestudentloans.phtml
Loan Type | Interest Rate |
---|---|
Undergraduate Unsubsidized Direct Loan | 4.53% |
Undergraduate Subsidized Direct Loan |
4.53% |
FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT
Repayment:
Direct Loan Borrower Servicers:
Visit the Direct Loan Servicing website, where you can:
The National Student Loan Data System records your Federal student loan history disbursement amounts, dates and lenders). This data should be checked, as you would all credit history, for updates and errors.
The Repayment Plans and Calculator provided by the Department of Ed will help to give you a good idea of income needed and discretionary income available at different debt levels.
FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATION
Loan consolidation is the result of combining two or more student loans into a single loan. Federal student loan consolidation combines specific student loans into a single loan.
As long as they are borrowed by the same person, any and all of the following loans can be included into a Federal Consolidation Loan.
*These loans are not offered at Piedmont Technical College but may have been obtained at another institution.
“Alternative” or “outside” loans cannot be consolidated into a Federal Consolidation. As of July 1, 2006, joint spousal consolidation is no longer offered.
You may also consolidate an existing consolidation loan if at least one other FFELP or Direct loan is included into the existing consolidation.
You may consolidate your loans while in the repayment grace period (after you withdraw from school, drop below half-time or graduate), during repayment or deferment. You may not consolidate your loans while you are in school and have not entered into the grace period. It is recommended that you begin your consolidation application at least one month before you wish the consolidation to take effect.
For detailed instructions on loan consolidation, visit www.studentloans.gov.
DIRECT LOAN LIMITS
Annual and lifetime (total debt) limits for subsidized and unsubsidized student loans are mandated by the U.S. Department of Education. The amounts include the outstanding principal balance on the loan(s) and not interest or other charges incurred.
Dependent Undergraduate Students | ||
---|---|---|
Subsidized Loan | Additional Unsubsidized | |
Freshman | $3,500 | $2,000 |
Sophomore | $4,500 | $2,000 |
Maximum Total Debt | $31,000 ($23,000 may be Subsidized) |
Independent Undergraduate Students | ||
---|---|---|
Subsidized Loan |
Additional Unsubsidized |
|
Freshman | $3,500 | $6,000 |
Sophomore | $4,500 | $6,000 |
Maximum Total Debt | $57,500 ($23,000 may be Subsidized) |
All “Maximum Total Debt” amounts (lifetime limits) include both DIRECT and FFELP subsidized and unsubsidized loans.
DIRECT LOAN COUNSELING
Entrance Counseling:
First time borrowers must complete an Entrance Loan Counseling session.
The entrance counseling requirement for the Federal Direct Loan program needs to be completed just once while in attendance at Piedmont Technical College; therefore, students who borrow in subsequent years need not repeat the entrance counseling requirement.
If you have previously completed entrance loan counseling for a Federal Stafford Loan received at PTC, you will not be required to complete it again for the Direct Loan Program. Only new borrowers at PTC are required to complete entrance counseling.
Exit Counseling:
All students who leave Piedmont Technical College, graduate, or drop below half-time status (6 hours) must complete an Exit Loan Counseling session. Students who fail to complete Exit Counseling will have holds placed on all records and will not be allowed to receive transcripts or re-enroll.