The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law and goes into effect July 1, 2026. This legislation changes how students and their families obtain federal financial aid. See more information on these changes.
Overview of the Federal Direct Loan Program
If all federal eligibility requirements are met and a FAFSA is completed, students—and in some cases, their parents—will be considered for the Federal Direct Loan Program. There are three types of Federal Direct Loans:
Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
These loans are available to undergraduate students and are awarded based on financial need. Loan maximums vary depending on academic level and dependency status. The federal government pays the interest on these loans while the student is enrolled at least half-time.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
These loans are available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students and are not based on financial need. Loan maximums vary depending on academic level and dependency status. Interest begins accruing on the date of disbursement.
Federal Direct PLUS Loans
These credit-based loans are available to parents of dependent undergraduate students (Parent PLUS) and to graduate and professional students (Grad PLUS). Visit the the Federal Direct PLUS Loans page for more information.
Interest Rates & Origination Fee
Loan Requirements
Annual Student Loan Limits
Lifetime Student Loan Limits
Receiving Federal Loan Funds
Canceling Federal Loan Funds
Loan Reporting