Each year, millions of college students borrow money to help bridge the gap between college costs and available income, savings, and grants. Experts all agree that, for those who need to borrow to pay for college, federal student loans are the safest and most affordable option. Unfortunately, some colleges choose not to participate in the federal student loan program, "preventing their students from qualifying for this important source of financial aid." This is the Project on Student Debt's third issue brief on community college federal loan participation. Its first brief analyzed loan participation in the 2004-05 academic year and the difference in rates of access by race and ethnicity. Its second brief also documented the problematic use of private student loans among community college students in 2007-08. This brief highlights notable changes in participation--in Chicago, North Carolina, and California in particular. (Contains 21 footnotes.)