The 2024-2025 FAFSA is now available. Learn more at Future Student and Current Students.
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There is a lot to know about federal aid. It is awarded based on the annual FAFSA application that is published every year on October 1. There are yearly limits, lifetime maximums, enrollment minimums, course completion requirements, and Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria for eligibility. We encourage students to read the basic overview below and utilize the resources on our other pages to better understand how federal aid works.
Please review our Work-Study Page for more detailed information
Subsidized Federal Ford Direct Student Loan
Unsubsidized Federal Ford Direct Student Loan
Parent PLUS Federal Loan
*For applicants who are denied on the credit check but subsequently qualify for a Direct Parent PLUS loan by documenting extenuating circumstances or obtaining an endorser must complete the PLUS Counseling and a new Master Promissory Note at studentaid.gov.
**If a Parent PLUS Loan has been credit denied for this year, the student may submit a Student Loan Revision form to request an increase in the Ford Direct unsubsidized student loan.
***Although the Parent PLUS Loans do not have yearly or aggregate maximums, they are only available to the credit approved parents of students who are undergraduate and considered dependent for FAFSA purposes. If a student is turning 24 or will otherwise be considered independent for a given aid year, the Parent PLUS Loan option would not be available. Please review the FSA website for further information on dependency status.
Graduate PLUS Federal Loan
*For applicants who are denied on the credit check but subsequently for a Direct Graduate PLUS loan by documenting extenuating circumstances or by obtaining an endorser, the applicant must complete the PLUS Credit Counseling and a new Master Promissory Note at studentaid.gov.
* If a Parent PLUS Loan has been credit denied for this year, the student may submit a Student Loan Revision form to request an increase in the Ford Direct unsubsidized student loan. The maximum increase is $4,000 for freshman or sophomore and $5,000 for a junior or senior.
** If attending less than a standard academic year (3 terms), the student will be offered less than the yearly limit. However, a student can request an increase up to the yearly limit (if otherwise eligible) using a Student Loan Revision form.
* If a Parent PLUS loan has been credit denied for this year, the student may submit a Student Loan Revision form to request an increase in the Ford Direct unsubsidized student loan. In this case the aggregate maximum increases to $57,500.
** The credit hour maximum timeframe (MTF) is an additional limitation beyond the federal aggregate aid maximums. More information about the MTF may be found on the Satisfactory Academic Progress section of our website.
*** The Subsidized Federal Direct Ford Loan is need-based with the government paying the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled. A limit on the amount of time that a student is allowed to borrow subsidized loan funds, which may be tied to their program length. Students that exceed 150% of their program length will no longer be eligible to receive subsidized loan funds, regardless of any extensions granted based on the Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal process through the Office of Financial.
* The credit hour maximum timeframe (MTF) is an additional limitation beyond the federal aggregate aid maximums. More information about the MTF may be found on the Satisfactory Academic Progress section of our website.
** The Subsidized Federal Direct Ford Loan is need-based with the government paying the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled. A limit on the amount of time that a student is allowed to borrow subsidized loan funds, which may be tied to their program length. Students that exceed 150% of their program length will no longer be eligible to receive subsidized loan funds, regardless of any extensions granted based on the Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal process through the Office of Financial Aid.
* The credit hour maximum timeframe (MTF) is an additional limitation beyond the federal aggregate aid maximums. More information about the MTF may be found on the Satisfactory Academic Progress section of our website.