Federal Direct Student Loan Program
UIS participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program, in which borrowers obtain loan funds directly from the U.S. Department of Education.
For the Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note or Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling, visit the StudentAid.gov website.
Interest Rates and Origination Fees
| First Disbursed | Subsidized | Undergraduate Unsubsidized | Graduate Unsubsidized | PLUS |
| Interest Rates Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 | 4.99% | 4.99% | 6.54% | 7.54% |
| Origination Fees Between October 1, 2022 and before October 1, 2023 | 1.057% | 1.057% | 1.057% | 4.228% |
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
A Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is awarded to undergraduate students to meet financial need after other resources are subtracted or to the annual maximum loan limit, whichever is lower. It is the U.S. Department of Education’s major form of self-help aid and is available through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
Apply for a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
To apply for a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, you must complete the FAFSA®. To be eligible, you must be enrolled for at least six hours per semester. If you are eligible for a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, it will be included on your Financial Aid Electronic Offer Notification.
Accept/Reduce/Decline a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
You can accept or decline a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan on your electronic offer notification by selecting “Accept” or “Decline” in the drop-down box on the Offer Notification Accept/Decline Offers page. You can reduce your loan by selecting “Accept” in the drop-down box and entering a lower loan amount in the “Partial Accept” field. If you wish to request loan changes, you should use the “Request Changes” on the E-Notification Information Request page of your electronic offer notification.
A Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling are required for Federal Direct Loans before the loan funds will be disbursed. In most cases, you will only be required to complete one MPN and complete one entrance counseling session during your college career.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
A Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is available for both undergraduate and graduate student and is not based on your financial need. It is available to you through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, if your Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is greater than your financial aid and you have not reached your annual maximum loan limit through the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan. You are charged interest on this loan from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If the interest is allowed to accumulate, the interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan and increase the amount to be repaid. The origination fee for the Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans is 1.059% for loans disbursed on or after October 1, 2019 and before October 1, 2020.
Apply for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
To apply for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you must complete the FAFSA®. To be eligible, you must be enrolled for at least six hours per semester. If you are eligible for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, it will be included on your Financial Aid Electronic Offer Notification.
Accept/Reduce/Decline a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
You can accept or decline a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan on your electronic offer notification by selecting “Accept” or “Decline” in the dropdown box on the Offer Notification Accept/Decline Offers page. You can reduce your loan by selecting “Accept” in the dropdown box and entering a lower loan amount in the “Partial Accept” field. If you wish to request loan changes, you should use the “Request Changes” on the E-Notification Information Request page of your electronic offer notification.
A Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling are required for Federal Direct Loans before the loan funds will be disbursed. In most cases, you will only be required to complete one MPN and complete one entrance counseling session during your college career.
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans
Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (Federal Direct Parent PLUS) are federal loans that parents with good credit histories may borrow to help pay the educational expenses of an undergraduate student enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester.
A parent may borrow up to the total of the Estimated Cost of Attendance less resources and all other financial aid received by the student. Interest is charged on the loan from the time the loan funds are disbursed until it is paid in full.
Apply
Starting for Fall of 2020 UIS will no longer require a paper PLUS application form be completed and turned into the Office of Financial Assistance. Instead, parent and graduate borrowers will complete the PLUS Loan application online at studentloans.gov.
If a Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan is the only financial aid you desire, the student must still complete the FAFSA®. Then, complete the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan application online at studentaid.gov. If the parent borrower does not have an active Master Promissory Note (MPN) on file, he/she must complete one online.
Parent Eligibility
Parent borrowers must not have an adverse credit history. Parents must submit to a credit check by the United States Department of Education to be eligible for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan. You authorize the credit check when you sign the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Request Application. If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a Parent PLUS loan through one of these two options:
With either option 1 or option 2, you also must complete credit counseling for parent PLUS loan borrowers. For further guidance please contact the Student Loan Support Center at 1-800-557-7394 or email them at studentloansupport@ed.gov.
Students whose parents are denied a PLUS loan may be eligible for additional Unsubsidized Loan funds.
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Processing / Receipt of Funds
The Direct Loan Processor will notify the parent borrower and the UIS Office of Financial Assistance of the result of the credit check. The borrower cannot be 90 days or more delinquent on the repayment of any debt or the subject of a default determination, bankruptcy discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment or write-off of a Title IV debt during the last five years. If credit is approved, loan funds will be disbursed. The funds will be applied to tuition, fees, and other university charges.
Refunds
If the Federal Direct Parent PLUS disbursement generates a refund after University charges are paid, the refunded amount will go to the parent.
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans
Grad PLUS Loans are federal loans that graduate and professional students are eligible to borrow under the Direct Graduate PLUS loan program, pending a credit check approval by the U. S. Department of Education. To be eligible for a Graduate PLUS loan, students must be enrolled at least 5 hours during the fall and spring semesters; at least 3 hours during the summer semester. The maximum a student can borrow is the cost of attendance less any other financial aid. Repayment begins 6 months after you graduate, leave school, or fall below half-time enrollment.
Apply for a Grad PLUS Loan
To apply for a Grad PLUS loan you must complete the FAFSA®. Additionally, you will need to complete the Online Graduate PLUS application, sign a Grad PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN), and complete Entrance Counseling. The Entrance Counseling requirement for a Grad PLUS Loan is different from that of a Direct Stafford Loan (subsidized/unsubsidized) but may be completed at the same time by completing the Combination – Stafford and PLUS loan option.
Eligibility
The graduate/professional student borrower must not have an adverse credit history. To be eligible for a Grad PLUS Loan, you must submit to a credit check by the U.S. Department of Education. You authorize the credit check when you agree to the Financial Aid Electronic Offer Notification Terms and Conditions. If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a grad PLUS loan through one of these two options:
- Obtaining an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the grad PLUS loan if you do not repay it. Log in to apply.
- Documenting to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances relating to your adverse credit history. Log in to apply.
With either option 1 or option 2, you also must complete credit counseling for PLUS loan borrowers. For further guidance please contact the Student Loan Support Center at 1-800-557-7394 or email them at studentloansupport@ed.gov.
Grad PLUS Loan Processing / Receipt of Funds
The Direct Loan Processor will notify you and UIS Office of Financial Assistance of the result of the credit check. You cannot be 90 days or more delinquent on the repayment of any debt or the subject of a default determination, bankruptcy discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment, or write-off of a Title IV debt during the last five years. If credit is approved, loan funds will be disbursed. The funds will be applied to tuition, fees, and other university charges.
Refunds
If a Grad PLUS disbursement generates a refund, the refunded amount will be deposited into your bank account. Authorizing direct deposit of refunds gives you the quickest access to your funds.
Exit Loan Counseling
Students who withdraw from the university, graduate, or drop below half-time enrollment and have borrowed federal student loans must complete Student Loan Exit Counseling. This is a federal requirement. Failure to complete exit loan counseling may place a hold on the student account, preventing the student from registering for classes and obtaining a transcript.