Direct Loans
You and your parents have no doubt heard all of the talk about the financial crisis and the credit crunch. There has also been much talk about banks and lending agencies cutting off credit.
We want to assure you that you will be able to get your Federal Stafford Student Loan for next year. By having a Federal Direct Student Loan you are borrowing directly from the US Government and not through a lending agency, bank or guarantee agency. The credit crisis will not affect your student loans.
Educational loans are an investment in one’s self for the future. Potential earnings along with the opportunity to choose what career path you will take to earn a living for yourself are incentives for financing a college education.
Loans are acceptable forms of payment, but we encourage practical use of loans for education.
General Loan Requirements
- All students and parents applying for Federal Stafford and PLUS loans must be US citizens or eligible non-citizens.
- All students must be enrolled at least half-time (minimum 6 credit hours per semester) to qualify for Federal Stafford loans or have their parents qualify for Federal PLUS loans.
- Students must attend classes and maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue being eligible for loans.
- If students withdraw from classes before the end of the term, they must still repay their loans.
Subsidized Stafford Loans – Any student who files a FAFSA and who has financial need qualifies for a Federal Stafford Loan. Subsidized Stafford Loans do not accrue interest until the time that the student goes into repayment (usually 6 months after the student permanently leaves college).
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans: If you do not meet the financial need criteria to qualify for a subsidized loan, you can still apply for an unsubsidized loan. You are responsible to pay the interest while you are in school. If you cannot make the interest payments, the interest can be added to your principal balance.
The interest rate is set each year on July 1, and is a fixed rate loan. For 2010-2011 the subsidized rate is 4.5%, the unsubsidized rate is 6.8%.
Loan Limits: Students can only borrow up to the Cost of Attendance for their program of study. Check with the Financial Aid Office to obtain the Cost of Attendance for your program. You can only borrow one loan per academic level. This includes loans at previous institutions.
New students must complete and sign a master promissory note (MPN) and loan entrance counseling interview before any loan proceeds may be disbursed. A signed MPN is valid for a ten year period and enables the student to borrow subsequent loans under the same note. You may access the following link to electronically complete your Direct Loan Master Promissory Note: www.studentloans.gov
Per year loan limits (both subsidized and unsubsidized)
Class Level Dependent Independent
Freshmen $5,500 $ 9,500
(0 -24 credit hours)
Sophomores $6,500 $10,500
(25 – 58 credit hours)
Juniors $7,500 $12,500
(59 – 91 credit hours)
Seniors $7,500 $12,500
(92 + credit hours)
Lifetime Loan Limits:
Dependent undergraduates $31,000
Independent undergraduates $57,500
Parent PLUS Loans – (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Student) This is a federally backed, credit based loan program designed to allow the parent of an undergraduate student borrow funds to assist with the student’s educational expense. The Plus loan is available without regard to the student’s financial need. The parent may borrow up to the student’s cost of attendance minus their aid. Repayment begins 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. However, the loan may be deferred until the time that the student leaves college. There is no penalty for early repayment. The interest rate is currently fixed at 7.9%.
To be eligible for a PLUS loan, your parents must be your natural or adoptive parents or stepparents. Once your parents are deemed credit worthy, they may simply complete a master promissory note (MPN) according to the instructions, then sign and return it to the Financial Aid Office or the MPN may be electronically completed and signed at www.studentloans.gov.
|
