Activate Student and/or Parent Loans
Information for activating subsidized and/or unsubsidized federal direct student loans
Eligibility
To be eligible for Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
- Be enrolled half-time (6 credits for undergraduates and 5 for graduates).
- Meet the minimum requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Not be in default on previous federal loans.
How to apply
First-time borrowers need to complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov. In most cases, you will only need to complete these items once during your college career.
Your Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans will appear as a credit on your student bill after you complete these requirements.
- Complete your loan counseling requirement by logging onto studentaid.gov and open "Complete Loan Entrance Counseling"
- Sign an MPN* by logging onto studentaid.gov and open "Complete a Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note /MPN)"
*If you have technical difficulty signing the MPN, please contact the U.S. Department of Education's Student Loan Support Center at 800-557-7394.
Comparison of direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans
| Direct Subsidized Loan | Direct Unsubsidized Loan |
|---|---|
Based on financial need | Not based on financial need |
The federal government pays the interest on the loan while you are enrolled in school at least half-time. | Interest begins accumulating as soon as funds are disbursed until the loan is paid in full. |
| Accrued interest will be added to the balance of the loan. (You are not required to pay the interest while you are in school, but we recommend that you do, if possible.) |
Interest rates
Due to the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, Direct Loans interest rates will be tied to the financial market. Under the new interest rate structure, rates will be determined each June for new loans and will be fixed for the life of the loan. The rates are calculated using a 10-year Treasury Note Index plus an add-on amount for each loan program and include interest rate caps.
The following fixed interest rates are for Direct Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023, and before June 30, 2024 .
| Direct Loan Type | Fixed Interest Rate |
|---|---|
Direct Subsidized Loan for undergraduate students | 5.05% |
Direct Unsubsidized Loan for undergraduate students | 5.05% |
Direct Unsubsidized Loan for graduate students | 7.05% |
Origination fees
The loan origination fee is a fee charged by your lender upon entering into a loan agreement to cover the cost of processing the loan. This agreement will be made when you sign the Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov. The fee will be taken out of the gross amount of your loan when the funds are disbursed to the school.
Net vs. gross amount of loan
Your Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan will appear on the financial aid portal and billing statement; however, the loan amounts will differ.
The loan amount on the Financial Aid Portal is the gross amount.
The billing statement will reflect the net amount after the loan origination fees have been deducted.
Once you have accepted your loan, the funds will automatically disburse to your student account after classes begin.
Example 1
- You are awarded a $2,750 Direct Subsidized Loan for one semester:
- $2,750 is your gross loan amount.
- $2,721 is your net loan amount that will disburse to your student account (gross amount minus the origination fee).
Example 2
- You are awarded a $1,000 Direct Unsubsidized Loan for one semester:
- $1,000 is your gross loan amount.
- $990 is your net loan amount that will disburse to your student account (gross amount minus the origination fee).
How do I get my parent loan?
Your parent needs to complete a Parent Loan Application. This PLUS application is completed online at https://studentaid.gov/.