By completing a financial aid application, you will be considered for
the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program. There are two types of Federal
Direct Stafford Loans. The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, and the
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
Federal Subsidized Direct Loan: Your eligibility for the Direct
Subsidized is based on your financial need and your undergraduate
academic level. Repayment is deferred until six months after you
graduate or cease to be enrolled at least half-time, and the government
pays the interest while you are enrolled in school. Subsidized Federal
Direct Loan maximums vary according to academic level and dependency
status. In addition, there are lifetime loan limits.
Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan: Your eligibility for the
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not based on financial need. You may
borrow the cost of education minus all other financial aid you receive,
up to the Direct Loan maximum for your academic level. The interest on
the Unsubsidized Direct Loan accrues from the date of disbursement. You
have two choices for paying interest: you may pay it while you are
enrolled full time, or it can accrue and become part of the principal
that you will owe. You begin making payments six months after you
graduate or cease to be enrolled at least half time.
»Loan Requirements
If you are a first-time Federal Direct Stafford Loan borrower, you must complete an
electronic Master Promissory Note (eMPN) and complete
electronic Loan Entrance Counseling before you can receive funds.
»Interest Rates
Federal Subsidized Direct Loan: Effective 7/1/2012, the interest
rate on subsidized loans first disbursed to undergraduate students
between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013 will be fixed at 3.4%. Rates
subject to change based on Federal Budget approvals.
Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan: The Unsubsidized Direct Loan is currently fixed at 6.8% for undergraduates students.
»Origination Fee
There is a 1.0% origination fee; this amount is deducted from your loan before you receive the funds.
»Dependency Status
Dependency is not based on age of the student, but on a series of questions that the student answers on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Dependent students must provide both student and parent information on the FAFSA.
»Loan Maximums
Maximum Federal Direct Stafford Loan amounts available vary according to academic level and dependency status. Please see the tables below for more information.
Dependent Undergraduate Students
| Freshman | $3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
|---|
| Sophomore | $4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 |
|---|
Independent Undergraduate Students
| Freshman | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
|---|
| Sophomore | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
|---|
»Lifetime (Aggregate) Loan Limits
There is a maximum lifetime limit that a student can borrow in Direct federal student loans. This is called the Aggregate Loan Limit. Once a student reaches these loan limits, he/she cannot borrow Direct federal student loans until the loans are paid down. See chart below for the undergraduate lifetime limits.
| $57,500 for undergraduates - No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
»Requesting Additional Loans
An INDEPENDENT student may request additional loan funds by filling out the
Additional Loan Request form. If you request more than your eligibility allows, the loan will be certified to your maximum eligibility.
»Loan Repayment
The Direct Loan Program offers loan repayment plans designed
to meet the needs of borrowers. Direct Loans are funded by the U.S.
Department of Education through your school and are managed by a loan servicer,
under the supervision of the Department. The Direct Loan Program allows you to
choose your repayment plan and to switch your plan if your needs change.
To find out more about repayment options before receiving a
Direct Loan, borrowers may contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center
at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). If you currently have a Direct Loan and
would like the exact payment amount on your loan, you can find it out by
contacting your loan servicer.
Parent Direct PLUS Loan borrowers may only choose from several repayment options, but may also choose the income contingent repayment plan or the
income-based repayment plan.
Visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS®) to view information about all of the
federal student loans you have received and to find contact information for the
loan servicer or lender for your loans.
»Direct Stafford Loan Exit Counseling
If you borrowed a Direct Stafford Loan and are graduating or leaving FVTC, you are required to complete the
Direct Loan Exit Counseling Session. During the exit counseling session, you will review your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.
»Federal Direct PLUS Loan (Parent Loan)
The PLUS Loan is a federal loan program for parents of dependent undergraduate students. Generally, parents are eligible if they have a good credit history, are not in default on a federal student loan, and meet the other eligibility requirements outlined in the loan application. Parents may borrow up to the amount of the cost of education minus other financial aid received, including any other educational loans. The interest rate is fixed at 7.9%. In addition, the borrower is charged an origination fee of 4%; this amount is deducted from the loan before disbursement.
Your PLUS loan enters repayment once your loan is fully disbursed (paid out). The parent borrower may contact the loan servicer to request deferment while your child is enrolled at least half-time for an additional six months after your child ceases to enrolled at least half-time.
If your loan is deferred, interest will accrue on the loan during the deferment. You may choose to pay the accrued interest or allow the interest to capitalize when the deferment period ends. Your loan servicer will notify you when your first payment is due.
To ensure that your PLUS loan is processed in a timely manner, you will
need to complete the PLUS Loan Request, the Online PLUS Loan
Application, and the Master Promissory Note (MPN) as follows:
»Private Loans
Private loans are non-federal educational loans. These loans are typically offered by private lenders to assist with educational and living expenses not covered by other financial aid. In general, you may borrow up to the cost of education minus all other financial aid you receive.
Your eligibility for a private loan is determined by the difference between your total Cost of Attendance (COA) and any other financial aid.
For many students and parents, private loans represent an important resource to help finance educational expenses. Private loans can help fill the gap between need-based financial aid and your total educational costs.