Federal loans, such as the Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, can help pay for your graduate school costs, including tuition, books, and room and board, along with other related expenses. When you take out a federal student loan, you are responsible for repaying the money you borrow, along with interest and fees. Most of the time, federal student loans have lower interest rates, lower fees, and better terms overall, as compared to private loans. 

Keep in mind: Federal aid programs, including loans, are for . If you are an international student, please review the For International Students page.

Federal Direct Loans

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a federal loan, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or
• Meet
• File a using the 911³Ô¹Ï College School Code (G03979) for each aid year that you need aid
• Enroll at least half-time (or the equivalent) during each term that you need federal aid 
• Enroll in a Masters or Doctoral degree program; non-degree and certificate programs do not qualify for federal aid
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Loan Interest and Fees

The interest rate on Federal Direct Loans is fixed, as set by law, and it will remain the same over the life of your loan. These loans accrue interest daily, unlike other forms of debt, and the interest begins to accrue when the money is disbursed to 911³Ô¹Ï College. 

Note:  You are responsible for paying all interest that accrues, even while you're in school. Otherwise, any unpaid interest will be capitalized. To learn more about capitalization, please visit our Managing Your Financial Aid webpage and click on Federal Loan Repayment.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct Graduate PLUS Loans have upfront loan fees that are taken out of each loan disbursement, so the amount that is deposited to your student account will be less than what you originally borrowed. Read more about .

Interest Rates

Loan Fees

*Per federal guidelines, you will not see a change in the loan fees for loans that are disbursed for the first time between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2026. Also, interest and loan fees are subject to change annually as set forth by the U.S. Department of Education.

Federal student loans are subject to a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan amount before the funds are disbursed to your student account. As a result, the amount you borrow and the amount you actually receive will differ slightly.

Use the calculator below to estimate how much you need to borrow and see the amount that will be disbursed after the origination fee is deducted. This can help you determine the loan amount needed to cover your educational expenses while accounting for the fee.

Beginning July 1, 2026, federal student loan limits are affected by a new enrollment requirement. To receive your maximum annual federal loan eligibility, you must be enrolled full-time.

If you enroll less than full-time, your federal loan eligibility will be reduced proportionally based on your enrollment level. This means you may only be eligible for a percentage of the maximum loan amount offered to a full-time student.

Use the Schedule of Reduction calculator below to estimate your federal loan eligibility based on your planned enrollment. The calculator can help you determine how changes in your enrollment may affect the amount you are eligible to borrow.