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Federal Direct Loan

EXPLORE MORE OF UMGC

Contact Financial Aid

Email: finaid@umgc.edu
Phone: 800-888-8682
Live phone support is available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET.

Urgent Requests:
Jay Tinsley, Assistant Vice President of Counseling, Financial Aid
Phone: 844-399-8682
Email: AsktheFADirector@umgc.edu

Learn about the Federal Direct Loan program, including information on subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

Federal Direct Student Loan Program

University of Maryland Global Campus participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan program, which offers long-term, low interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education. This is the largest federal aid program and the one you’re most likely to find in your aid offer.

Federal Direct Loans

The Direct Stafford program allows eligible students to borrow funds directly from the Federal Government. Students must be enrolled at least half-time each term to be eligible. Direct Stafford Loans can be awarded as subsidized, unsubsidized, or both based on financial need and level of study.

  • Subsidized Direct Loans are offered to undergraduate students based on financial need. Interest on the loan is subsidized by the Federal Government during the student’s enrollment and grace period. 
  • Unsubsidized Direct Loans are non-need-based loans offered to undergraduate and graduate students. Accrued interest is the responsibility of the student during enrollment and grace period.
  • PLUS Direct Loans are available to parents of dependent undergraduate students or Graduate/professional students. While subsidized and unsubsidized direct loans have annual and aggregate limits, creditworthy borrowers may borrow a PLUS for up to the student’s cost of attendance minus estimated financial assistance. Prospective PLUS borrowers must complete the online PLUS Application at www.studentAid.gov. If the applicant is not approved for a PLUS due to adverse credit, they can obtain a creditworthy endorser (excluding the student for parent borrowers) to receive the loan. If approved, the borrower must complete a Direct PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN), also at www.studentAid.gov.

Half-time status at University of Maryland Global Campus is defined differently depending on your program:

  • Standard Undergraduate (6 credits)
  • Standard Graduate (6 credits)
  • Specialty Graduate (3 credits)
  • Doctoral (3 credits)

Students can accept, modify, or decline the federal student loan offer. If loans are not accepted, they will be cancelled 30 days after being offered or after the start of the term, whichever is later.

Annual and Aggregate Loan Maximums

Direct Loan Annual Limits

The amount you can borrow annually depends on your grade level, as determined by your earned units.

Grade Level Earned Credits Dependent Undergraduate Student Independent Students
Freshman 0–29 $5,500—a maximum of $3,500 can be subsidized $9,500—a maximum of $3,500 can be subsidized
Sophomore 30–59 $6,500—a maximum of $4,500 can be subsidized $10,500—a maximum of $4,500 can be subsidized
Junior 60–89 $7,500—a maximum of $5,500 can be subsidized $12,500—a maximum of $5,500 can be subsidized
Senior 90+ $7,500—a maximum of $5,500 can be subsidized $12,500—a maximum of $5,500 can be subsidized
Graduate N/A N/A $20,500 unsubsidized
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limit N/A $31,000—no more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans $57,500 for undergraduates—no more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans
$138,500 for graduate or professional students—no more than $65,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans (the graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study)

You are independent if you meet at least one of the following conditions:

  • Are 24 years of age of older;

  • Enrolled in a masters or doctorate program;

  • Legally married at the time you sign your FAFSA application;

  • Have children or other dependents who receive more than half of their support from you now and through June 30 of the year in which you receive financial aid;

  • Have legal dependents other than a spouse or children who receive more than half their support from you;

  • Are a foster child, or ward of the court after the age of 13;

  • Are a legally emancipated minor with documentation of the court judgment (emancipated minor is a formal legal status that must be declared in a court of law. Simply moving out of your parents’ household does not count. A judge must legally declare you emancipated. The court order must still be in effect when you file your FAFSA);

  • Are in legal guardianship as determined by a court;

  • Are homeless (Homeless is defined as lacking fixed, regular, adequate housing. This includes living in shelters, hotels, cars, etc.);

  • Are a veteran of the Armed Forces;

  • Are currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces for other than training purposes.

The Cost of Borrowing

As of October 1, 2020, the loan origination fee percentages for Direct Loan borrowers are as follows:

  • 1.057% for Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized loans
  • 4.228% for Direct PLUS loans (for both parent borrowers and graduate/professions student borrowers)

This fee, with proceeds to the U.S. Department of Education, will be deducted from each disbursement before it is credited to your university account.

The Interest Rate

Loan type Borrower type Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2021 and before July 1, 2022 Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2022 and before July 1, 2023
Direct Subsidized Loans Undergraduate 3.73% 4.99%
Direct Unsubsidized Loans Undergraduate 3.73% 4.99%
Direct Unsubsidized Loans Graduate or Professional 5.28% 6.54%
Direct PLUS Loan Parent and Graduate or Professional 6.28% 7.54%

All interest rates shown in the chart above are fixed rates that will not change for the life of the loan. Visit studentaid.gov for more information on Federal Direct student loan interest rates.

Entrance Loan Counseling

When you are a new borrower of a Federal Direct Student Loan at UMGC, you must complete an entrance loan counseling session so that you will know your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. The online session will take you about 20 minutes to complete. You will only need to complete this information once.

Promissory Note

Borrowing from the Direct Loan program requires the completion of an Electronic Master Promissory Note. While attending UMGC you can use the E-MPN for multiple loans over one or more academic years. You will only need to complete this information once.

What is a Master Promissory Note?

Exit Loan Counseling

UMGC student borrowers who have taken out subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loans, Grad PLUS loans, and/or Federal Consolidated loans must complete an online exit counseling session when they graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment. Exit counseling helps borrowers understand their repayment plan options and their rights and responsibilities in the loan repayment process.

Log in with your Federal PIN or FSA ID to start the exit counseling process and then select "Complete Counseling" and "Exit Counseling."

Note: Exit counseling is not the same as the Financial Awareness Counseling (FAC) tool, which can be found on the same website. Using the FAC will not fulfill your exit counseling requirement, nor will taking a demo counseling session.

For further assistance, please consult the Direct Loan Exit Counseling Guide.

Repayment

You will begin to repay your loan at the end of a six-month grace period that begins when you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment (6 credits). Learn more about loan repayment.

Student Loan Ombudsman

If you are interested in contacting the Student Loan Ombudsman, please see the information below.

Telephone: 877-557-2575
Fax: 606-396-4821
FSA Ombudsman Group
P.O. Box 1843
Monticello, KY 42633

For Washington State residents seeking information and resources about student loan repayment or seeking to submit a complaint relating to your student loans or student loan servicer, please visit the Washington Student Achievement Council's Student Loan Advocacy page or contact the Student Loan Advocate.

Other Federal Loans

Federal Perkins Loan
Review information on the need-based Federal Perkins Loan program.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
Learn about using Federal loans for graduate studies.
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
Explore a loan for your dependent child's education.

Contact Us

Our helpful admissions advisors can help you choose an academic program to fit your career goals, estimate your transfer credits, and develop a plan for your education costs that fits your budget. If you’re a current UMGC student, please visit the Help Center.

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