William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan for Undergraduate Students

Eligibility criteria

  1. Enrolled at least half-time
  2. Not in default on another student loan
  3. U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  4. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

Amounts and selection process

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan limits are calculated in combination with any amounts borrowed under the Subsidized Stafford Loan. Annual combined amounts cannot exceed the following:

Annual combined loan amounts 
(subsidized + unsubsidized)
Undergraduate dependent student, first year $5,500
Undergraduate dependent student, second year $6,500
Undergraduate dependent student, third year $7,500
Undergraduate dependent student, fourth year $7,500
Undergraduate independent student, first year $9,500
Undergraduate independent student, second year $10,500
Undergraduate independent student, third year $12,500
Undergraduate independent student, fourth year $12,500
Aggregate loan amounts
(subsidized + unsubsidized over 4 years)
Undergraduate dependent $31,000
Undergraduate independent $57,500

Terms

For the 2023-24 academic year, the interest rate will be a fixed rate of 5.50 percent. Interest accrues while the student is in school. Students may choose to make quarterly interest payments or have the interest deferred and capitalized before repayment. A net 1.057 percent processing fee is deducted from the loan proceeds when the funds are disbursed. 

Repayment begins six months after the last date of half-time enrollment.

Application process

  1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  2. Eligible students will be notified to accept the Stafford Loan on CheckMarq
  3. Federal regulations require first time borrowers to complete entrance counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before disbursement of funds

Renewal process

Award is renewed only if all necessary forms are filed each year and the student continues to meet eligibility requirements. Students may not be required to complete entrance counseling and MPN if these requirements were previously completed.