Federal Direct Loans for Undergraduate Students
¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder participates in the Federal William D. Ford Direct Loan program (known as Direct or Stafford Loans). The lender is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. There are two types of Federal Direct Loans available for undergraduate students:
- Subsidized loans are need-based and do not have interest accruing while you are in school or in deferment.
- Unsubsidized loans may or may not be based on financial need and interest accrues while you are in school or in deferment.
Loan Features
- Loan origination fee for both loans is 1.057%.
- Repayment begins 6 months after you graduate, drop below half time, or withdraw. Learn more about managing repayment of your student loans.
- Students graduating in December will have their Direct Loans prorated for fall. View prorated loan amounts for a graduating undergraduate student.
- Loans must be processed by our office by the last day the student is enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.Ìý
Fixed Interest Rates
| Date of First Disbursement | Subsidized | Unsubsidized |
|---|---|---|
| 7/1/25 to 6/30/26 | 6.39% | 6.39% |
| 7/1/24 to 6/30/25 | 6.53% | 6.53% |
| 7/1/23 to 6/30/24 | 5.49% | 5.49% |
Loan Limits
| Ìý | Annual loan limit |
|---|---|
| First-Year Students | $5,500 (Maximum of $3,500 can be subsidized) |
| Sophomore | $6,500 (Maximum of $4,500 can be subsidized) |
| Junior or Senior | $7,500 (Maximum of $5,500 can be subsidized) |
| Ìý | Annual loan limit |
|---|---|
| Independent First-Year Students | $9,500 (Maximum of $3,500 can be subsidized) |
| Independent Sophomore | $10,500 (Maximum of $4,500 can be subsidized) |
| Independent Junior or Senior | $12,500 (Maximum of $5,500 can be subsidized) |
| Lifetime Loan Limits | |
|---|---|
| Dependent student | $31,000 (up to $23,000 may be subsidized) |
| Independent student | $57,500 (up to $23,000 may be subsidized) |
Ìý
Looking for information about Federal Direct Loans for graduate students? Review Direct Loans for graduates.
How to Apply
- Complete
- Accept the loan online (view instructions)
- Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling online at
Note: Loans must be processed by our office by the last day the student is enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.
- Complete
- Accept the loan online (view instructions)
Note: Loans must be processed by our office by the last day the student is enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.
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