Federal student loan alternatives
If cash, grants and scholarships have been exhausted, a student can borrow from lending institutions to finance their education. The main loans provided for education finance are Federal Perkins loans, Stafford loans, Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loans, Grad PLUS loans, and Private Student Loans.
Federal Perkins Loans
The Federal Perkins loan is a low interest (~5%) loan available to both undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. The Perkins loan is made through the school’s financial aid office. The government lends the funds to the school, but the student must repay the school. Unlike typical private loans, there is no origination fee with the loan. The student is only responsible for paying the interest and principal. Undergraduate students can borrow up to $5,500 per year (maximum $27,500 total) and graduate students can borrow up to $8,000 per year (maximum $60,000 including funds borrowed as an undergraduate student). The amount provided to each student varies by need and funding level at the school. The student must be enrolled at least as a half-time student. Once the student falls below this criteria (graduation, leaves school), he / she has nine months (“grace period”) before the repayment period begins. Please consult the Department of Education website or more details regarding these loans and the repayment guidelines.
Stafford Loans
In addition to the Perkins Loans, the Department of Education administers the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program (Direct Loan) more generally known as Stafford Loans. Funds from the Direct Loans typically come directly from the federal government, while FFEL loans typically come from banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. The amount available depends on whether the loan is subsidized or unsubsidized.