The smart student will always apply for federal and state grants and college and private or community scholarships before considering a student loan.  Once you've exhausted these alternatives, federal student loans may be an appropriate solution to help with your expenses.   Although you must repay a student loan, it’s considered a form of financial aid because it provides the funds necessary to pay for college expenses.    Click here to learn more about federal student loans, such as annual and lifetime loan limits, fees and interest rates, and repayment terms and conditions.

Who can borrow a loan?

• You - the student - may be able to borrow through the William D. Ford Direct Stafford loan program. For more information and application instructions, please read the Direct Stafford Student Loan FAQ's.
• A parent of a dependent student may borrow a Direct Parent PLUS loan to pay for their child's college expenses not met by other sources of aid. For more information and application instructions, please read the Direct Parent PLUS Loan FAQ's.
• As a final resort, students ineligible for federal aid or who cannot otherwise cover the entire costs of the academic year may choose to pursue private loans. For more information, please read the Private Educational Loan FAQ Sheet and Our Code of Conduct. 

What is NSLDS??
Federal regulations require that information regarding your loan, including loan types and amounts, be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). This loan information will be accessible by federal loan agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system. You can access your NSLDS information with your Department of Education issued PIN.

Helpful Links
Federal Student Aid
Your Federal Student Loans - Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt publication
Direct Loan Borrower Services
NSLDS (National Student Loan Data System)
Loan Consolidation