Direct Loan Process
Please visit the Direct Loan Information page for detailed information on requesting a loan, eligibility requirements, frequently asked questions, and withdrawal policies. New borrowers have additional steps to be completed.
Loan Application Due Dates:
- June 1 – DTS Direct Loan Request form due for Academic Year (Fall, Spring, Summer)
- November 1 – DTS Direct Loan Request form due for new borrowers for Spring and Summer
- April 1 – DTS Direct Loan Request form due for new borrowers for Summer
- (keep this bullet the same)
- Loans will be disbursed the 2nd week of classes in the Fall and Spring Semesters and during the midpoint of the Summer Semester.
5-Step Process to Request a Loan
Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may apply online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please use the provided link to access the site directly. You should not have to pay anything to submit the application. The school code for DTS is G03562.
A Student Aid Report (SAR) is generated upon completion of the FAFSA. Be sure to make all the necessary corrections (as applicable, according to the comments section of your SAR). DTS will receive a copy of your SAR electronically if you have submitted our school code. Your loan cannot be processed until all specified corrections are made. The DTS Financial Aid Office strongly encourages applicants to select the option to allow the FAFSA to retrieve your IRS data. Doing so will save you time by eliminating the need for DTS to request additional tax forms from you at a later date if selected for verification.
The form is only available online. No paper applications will be accepted.
Complete an Electronic Master Promissory Note (eMPN): The form is available online at https://studentaid.gov/mpn/. Once completed, an eMPN is valid for up to ten years.
If this is your first time borrowing at DTS, you must complete an Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/. This needs to be completed, even if you have borrowed loans at a different school. Entrance Counseling only needs to be done one time while you are using loans at DTS.
DTS prefers that all borrowers of Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans complete the Informed Borrowing Confirmation process once each award year before their new loan will disburse. This is to help borrowers understand their loans and how they affect their financial future. To complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement, go to Federal Student Aid: Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement and click the “Log In to Start” button by “I am a Graduate or Professional Student.” You will need your FSA ID to log in.
After all required items have been submitted (complete, with no required corrections), your loan will be ready for DTS certification, the process of determining your eligibility for funds. Please allow 4–6 weeks for processing. You will be notified by email when your Direct Loan has been certified. You will also be notified by email when the funds arrive at DTS. Contact Financial Aid with questions: financialaid@dts.edu or 214-887-5087.
Changes to Loans (July 1, 2026)
Last updated on July 1, 2026
- New Borrowing Limits: Annual and lifetime (aggregate) caps on Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans will be implemented, limiting borrowing to $20,500 per year for most graduate students and a new $100,000 aggregate borrowing limit for graduate loans (includes all loans previously made for graduate programs – does not include undergraduate loan amounts). The maximum lifetime amount in Title IV a student may borrow will be $257,500 (without regard to amounts repaid, forgiven, canceled or otherwise discharged).
- Legacy Borrowers: DTS students who received a Direct Loan for their current program of student on or before June 30, 2026, can access unsubsidized loans under the previous annual limit of $20,500 and aggregate limit of $138,500 (this includes undergraduate and graduate loans) until their expected time to credential based on published length of program or for 3 additional years, whichever is less. Any changes in a program or break in continuous enrollment may cause a loss of “legacy” status. Withdrawal from courses or taking a leave of absence could disqualify you from the legacy provision and cause new restrictions to be put in place on your borrowing upon return.
- Schedule of Reduction: The annual loan amount is reduced in proportion to enrollment status. If you enroll less than full-time, your loan eligibility will be reduced proportionally. This applies to both new and legacy borrowers. Part-time enrollment now automatically reduces your maximum federal loan eligibility for the year in proportion to the number of credits you are registered for. For example, a master’s student that is registered for 6 hours in both the Fall and Spring semesters would only be eligible for 67% of the annual limit. This part-time student would be eligible for $13,735 for the Academic year instead of the maximum $20,500.
At this time, Department of Education hasn’t published all official guidelines for implementing the changes. Our office will continue to watch as updates are released, so we can better understand this change and service our students and post changes here.
Please email financialaid@dts.edu should you have any questions.
