Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Federal Direct Loans (formerly called “Federal Stafford Loans”) are federally guaranteed loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program for students who are enrolled at least half-time in an aid-eligible program. Federal Direct Loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized and currently have a fixed interest rate. You can receive both subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loans during the same enrollment period, depending on your eligibility.
- A Subsidized Direct Loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. Interest does not accrue while you are enrolled at least half-time and during other specified deferment periods. Repayment begins six months after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time.
- An Unsubsidized Direct Loan is not awarded on the basis of need. The principal will be deferred until six months after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time. You will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You can either make the interest payment or defer it while you are in school. If you do not make interest payments while in school, the interest will be capitalized (added to the principal balance of the loan) every six months.
Annual Loan Limits
The actual loan amount is based on individual eligibility. Your total financial aid package, which may consist of grants, scholarships, and loans, may not exceed the total cost of your education.
|
Year In College
|
Base Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Amounts for
independent students
&
dependent students
|
Additional Unsubsidized Loan Amounts for
independent students
&
dependent students whose parents were denied a Direct PLUS Loan
|
Academic Year Limit
|
|
Freshman
|
$3,500 +$2,000
|
$4,000
|
$9,500
|
|
Sophomore
|
$4,500 + $2,000
|
$4,000
|
$10,500
|
|
Junior & Senior
|
$5,500 + $2,000
|
$5,000
|
$12,500
|
|
Teacher Certification
|
$5,500 + $2,000
|
$5,000
|
$12,500
|
|
Graduate
|
$0
|
$20,500
|
$20,500
|
Aggregate Loan Limits
|
Dependency Status
|
Aggregate Limit
|
|
Undergraduate education (dependent students)
|
$31,500 (No more than $23,000 of
which can be subsidized)
|
|
Undergraduate education (independent students)
|
$57,500 (No more than $23,000 of
which can be subsidized)
|
|
Graduate education (independent students)
|
$138,500 (No more than $65,500 of
which can be subsidized)
|
Interest Rates
Fees
Federal Direct Loans are subject to origination fee. Fees are deducted from the loan proceeds at the time funds are disbursed.
View the current loan origination fees.
Master Promissory Note (MPN)
If you have been awarded a Federal Direct Loan as part of your financial aid package, you will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). You may complete the MPN online through the direct loan website. This will only need to be completed once to cover eligibility for both the subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and it is valid for ten years.
Entrance & Exit Counseling
If you are borrowing for the first time at Immaculata University, you must complete a loan entrance counseling in addition to the MPN before your Federal Direct Loan may be disbursed. You can complete loan entrance counseling online through the direct loan website. Immaculata University is automatically notified upon completion.
Upon graduating, withdrawing, or dropping below half-time status from Immaculata University, you must complete a loan exit counseling. You can complete loan exit counseling online through the direct loan website. Immaculata University is automatically notified upon completion.
Deferment
Repayment for the Federal Direct Loan Program is deferred while you are enrolled at least half-time. A six-month grace period is allowed after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time before repayment begins.
Repayment & Loan Servicing
There are five federal direct loan servicers. The Department of Education determines your servicer at the time your promissory note is completed and the loan is disbursed. If you have a Direct Loan, previous to the 2010-2011 academic year through the Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP), your loan would be serviced by the lender you chose when you signed your MPN. Students and parents can look up their complete loan history, including the servicer for each loan, at https://studentaid.gov. Login using your FSA ID.
Loan Servicer Contact Information
Please visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers for a current list of loan servicers and contact information.
Consolidation
Loan consolidation is an option available to federal loan borrowers through the Direct Consolidation Loan Program. To discover if this option is beneficial to you, please visit https://studentaid.gov/app/launchConsolidation.action or contact the Direct Loan Consolidation Center by telephone at 800-557-7392.