When you apply for financial aid, loans may be offered as part of your financial aid package. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan program is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is the lender. You may accept, accept in part, or deny offered loans.
Direct Subsidized Loans vs. Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Direct Subsidized loan - A loan for which the government pays the interest while you are in school, during grace periods, and during any deferment periods.
Direct Unsubsidized loan - A loan for which you are responsible for paying all of the interest that accrues from the date of the first disbursement until the loan is paid in full.
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct PLUS Loans may be available to eligible parents and graduate or professional students. A Direct PLUS Loan is commonly referred to as a parent PLUS Loan when made to a parent, or as a grad PLUS Loan when made to a graduate or professional student. Parents must not have an adverse credit history. A credit check will be conducted. If a parent is denied the loan during the credit check, additional federal loan eligibility may be made available in the student's name.
The maximum PLUS Loan amount you can receive is the cost of attendance (determined by the school) minus any other financial aid received.