{"id":11125,"date":"2022-05-09T12:59:50","date_gmt":"2022-05-09T16:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/149.4.100.129\/faid\/?page_id=11125"},"modified":"2026-04-22T13:59:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T17:59:35","slug":"federal-loans","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/faid\/federal-loans\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal Loans"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/faid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/102\/2023\/02\/qc_zoom_bg_14.jpg” background_position=”bottom_center” custom_margin=”||29px|||” custom_padding=”||334px|||” top_divider_height=”115px” bottom_divider_color=”#E71939″ bottom_divider_height=”136px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”3px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”315.2px” custom_margin=”0px|auto|5px|auto||” custom_padding=”10px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_font=”|800||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”44px” header_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”21.6px” custom_margin=”||-5px|||” custom_padding=”9px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Federal Direct Loans<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” min_height=”21.6px” custom_margin=”-8px||-3px||false|false” custom_padding=”9px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Federal Direct Loans are low-interest loans provided by the U.S. Department of Education to help students and families pay for college. ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ determines your eligibility and loan amount based on the information submitted on your FAFSA and disburses the funds directly to your student account. Loan funds are applied first to tuition and fees, and any remaining balance is refunded to the student. Because these funds are borrowed, they must be repaid after you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Federal Direct Loan Program includes three types of loans: Subsidized Loans, Unsubsidized Loans, and PLUS Loans, each with different eligibility requirements and benefits designed to help cover the cost of attending college.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-10px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#000000″ open_toggle_background_color=”#EFEFEF” closed_toggle_background_color=”#E71939″ toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_color=”#000000″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”20px” admin_label=”Types of Loans” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” toggle_text_color=”#FFFFFF” toggle_level=”h4″ toggle_font=”|700|on||||||” toggle_font_size=”20px” closed_toggle_font=”|700|||||||” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.6em” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” db_closeable=”on” db_initial_state=”all_closed” border_color_all=”#000000″ box_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Subsidized Loans” open=”on” toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Eligibility for this loan is based on the information you provided on your FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on the loan while you are in school at least half-time, for the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a grace period*), and during a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments).<\/p>\n

*Note: If you received a Direct Subsidized loan that was first disbursed on or after July 1, 2012, and before July 1, 2014, you will be responsible for paying any interest that accrues during your grace period. If you choose not to pay the interest that accrues during your grace period, the interest will be added to your principle balance.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information on loans, please visit the Student Aid<\/a> website.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Unsubsidized Loans” toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n

Unsubsidized loans allows you to borrow money in addition<\/em> to any subsidized loan amounts for which you may be eligible. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students; there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need. You are responsible for paying the interest on a Direct Unsubsidized Loan during all periods.<\/p>\n

Graduate students can only apply for an Unsubsidized Loans. The maximum amount of Unsubsidized Loan that a Graduate student can receive per aid year is $20,500.<\/p>\n

Please refer to the Federal Student Aid website<\/a> for the most up\u2011to\u2011date information about interest rates and fees<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Note: If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”PLUS Loan” toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n

This loan allows the parents of dependent undergraduate students to borrow money to help students supplement the amount of financial aid they may be receiving in addition to other grants or loan programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

To receive a Direct PLUS Loan, you must:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be a graduate or professional student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school in a program leading to a graduate or professional degree or certificate, or be the parent (biological, adoptive, or in some cases, stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school, and<\/span> meet the general eligibility requirements<\/a> for federal student aid. If you are borrowing on behalf of your child, your child must also meet these requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

A credit check will be performed during the application process. If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a Direct PLUS Loan through one of these two options:<\/span><\/p>\n

1) Obtaining an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the Direct PLUS Loan if you do not repay it. If you are a parent borrower, the endorser cannot be the child on whose behalf you are borrowing.<\/span><\/p>\n

2) Documenting to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of Education that there are\u00a0extenuating circumstances\u00a0relating to your adverse credit history. With either option 1 or option 2, you also must complete credit counseling for PLUS loan borrowers on the StudentLoans.gov website.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will be required to sign a<\/span> Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN<\/a>), agreeing to the terms of the loan. Graduate or professional students who haven’t previously received a PLUS loan will also be required to complete<\/span> entrance counseling<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can request a Direct PLUS Loan application by contacting our Loan Coordinator, Nandy Sukhai, at<\/span> nandy.sukhai@qc.cuny.edu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Important Updates for 2026-2027:<\/strong><\/p>\n