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Stafford Loans:  The Number One Students' Choice for College

A Federal Stafford loan is a variable-interest loan that allows you to borrow money from eligible private lenders.

  • The interest rate on new Stafford Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006 is 6.8% fixed for the life of the loan.
  • Variable interest on Stafford Loans will never exceed 8.25%.
  • Stafford Loans have a 1% default (guarantee) fee and a 2% origination fee, but NMSL pays both on behalf of its borrowers.
  • Easy Pay program - .25 % interest rate reduction for electronic bank payment.
  • Pot of Gold program - 5% Principal reduction after 48 monthly on-time payments.
  • Not based on credit.
  • Repayment begins 6 months after graduating, leaving school, or dropping below half-time status
  • Up to 10 years to repay.
  • Flexible repayment options available.
  • $50.00 minimum payment per month.

There are two types of Stafford loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized.

A Subsidized Stafford loan is available to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need. Subsidized means the interest is paid for you by the federal government while you are in school, during a grace period or during a deferment.

An Unsubsidized Stafford loan is available to undergraduate and graduate students who do not qualify for other financial aid or for students who qualify for partial financial aid, but require additional funds. You are responsible for paying the interest monthly, quarterly, or it will be capitalized (added to the total loan amount).

Federal Stafford Loan Limits
Effective for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008

Academic Year

Dependent Students
whose parents are eligible
for a PLUS loan

Independent Students and
Dependent Students
whose parents
cannot borrow a PLUS loan
 

Subsidized
Loan Amount

Unsubsidized Loan
Amount Effective
July 1, 2008

   Total

Subsidized Loan Amount

Unsubsidized Loan   Amount Effective   July 1, 2008

Total

First Year

$3,500

$2,000

$5,500

$3,500

$6,000

$9,500

Second Year

$4,500

$2,000

$6,500

$4,500

$6,000

$10,500

Third & Remaining Years

$5,500

$2,000

$7,500

$5,500

$7,000

$12,500

Graduate/Professional

----

----

---

$8,500

----

$12,000

             
Aggregate Limits            
Dependent Undergraduate

----

----

$31,000

----

----

----

Independent Undergraduate

----

----

----

----

----

$57,000

Graduate/Professional

----

----

----

$65,500

----

$138,500

Students taking coursework for state teaching accreditation have $7,000 annual loan limit.

Annual PLUS (parent loans for undergraduate students) Loan Limits

The total PLUS Loan amount borrowed by one or more parents (including non-custodial parent) may not exceed the student’s estimated cost of attendance minus other financial aid awarded for the period of enrollment.

Annual PLUS Loan Limits for Graduate Students

Graduate and professional degree students are now eligible to borrow PLUS loans. The amount borrowed may not exceed the student’s estimated cost of attendance minus other financial aid awarded for the period of enrollment.

They also must have applied for their annual loan maximum eligibility under the Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program before applying for a Graduate/Professional PLUS loan.

Examples:

A dependent freshman whose parents has access to PLUS borrowing (whether or not the parent is actually willing to borrow) could previously have borrowed $3,500 in a subsidized loan. If the student did not have need for the full $3,500, the student could have borrowed a subsidized loan for the amount of demonstrated need and the difference between that amount and the $3,500 base limit in an unsubsidized loan. Under the new law, that student will be able to borrow a total of $5,500, no more than $3,500 of which may be subsidized.

A dependent freshman whose parents are unable to borrow PLUS could previously have borrowed a total of $7,500, no more than $3,500 of which could be subsidized. Under the new limits, that student can borrow a total of $9,500, no more than $3,500 of which can be subsidized (that is, the base limit of $3,500 plus the new additional unsubsidized limit of $6,000). The amount a student can actually borrow may not exceed cost of attendance minus other assistance (or, for subsidized loans, other assistance plus EFC). The same limits apply to a freshman who is an independent student.


 

Additional Loan Programs

 

 
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