Types of Loans
- Complete information about loan deferments is provided to borrowers during the entrance and exit interview processes.
- Information on discharge or cancellation of your loans.
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Review your Financial Aid Award letter.
All eligible students are offered a Federal Direct Loan. If you want to reduce or decline your loan entirely, please email the Financial Aid Office at [email protected]. In the subject of the email put: “Cancel/reduce my loan.” In the body of the email, provide your Marywood student ID, first and last name and instructions to reduce or adjust your loan. -
Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Loan Counseling.
The Financial Aid Office will originate your loan electronically with the US Department of Education. If this is your first Direct Loan, you must sign a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) via the web and complete Entrance Loan Counseling at www.studentaid.gov. -
Receive your loan funds.
After you have signed the MPN and you have completed Entrance Loan Counseling, your loan will be scheduled for disbursement. If your loan is for the full academic year, your loan will be disbursed in two equal disbursements – one at the beginning of the fall semester and one at the beginning of the spring semester. Your loan funds will first offset any outstanding charges you owe the university for the semester, and after your charges are paid in full, a refund of any excess loan proceeds will be disbursed to you by check. -
The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the US Department of Education's centralized resource for information about all federal student loans that you have borrowed. You can find information about all of your current and prior student loans, even those you may have borrowed at a prior college or university.
- The parent borrower submits the Parent PLUS Loan Request Process.
- The federal loan processing center will review borrower’s credit history to determine eligibility.
- Once the PLUS loan has been approved, the parent will be instructed to sign a Master Promissory Note.
- The Financial Aid Office will originate the parent PLUS loan.
- Loan proceeds will be used to pay outstanding charges on the student’s billing account in the University Cashier’s Office.
- If there are remaining funds available after the authorized charges are paid, a refund will be made available to the student or parent depending upon the parent’s designation when completing the PLUS application.
- Because a credit decision only lasts for 90 days, parents are encouraged to wait until July 1 immediately preceding the start of each new academic year before making application for a PLUS loan. If the 90 days expire before the loan is disbursed, parents may need to make a new application with a new credit check.
Federal Direct Loans
The Federal Direct Loan is a long-term, low-interest loan that is awarded by the Office of Financial Aid. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. This loan is not based
Repayment of the principal begins 6 months after you cease half-time enrollment, and the average repayment term is 10 years
Interest Rates
Current interest rates on all Federal Direct Loans are fixed.
| Loan Type | Grade Level | First Disbursed Between 7/1/21 and 7/1/22 |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidized Loans | Undergraduate | 3.73% |
| Unsubsidized Loans | Undergraduate Graduate |
3.73% 5.28% |
| PLUS Loans | Parent Graduate |
6.28% 6.28% |
Note: The interest rates for federal student loans are determined by federal law. If there are future changes to federal law that affect federal student loan interest rates, we will update this page to reflect those changes.
Borrower Eligibility
Borrowing Limits
The Direct Loan amount shown on the student’s financial aid award is the Financial Aid Office’s estimate of the student’s eligibility. As a general rule, the following grade-level maximums apply.
| Year in School | Base Amount | Additional Unsubsidized | *Additional Unsubsidized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman 0-29 Credits | $3,500 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Sophomore 30-59 Credits | $4,500 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Junior 60-89 Credits | $5,500 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Senior 90+ Credits | $5,500 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
Repayment
When it comes time to start repaying your student loan(s), you can select a repayment plan that’s right for your financial situation. Generally, you'll have from 10 to 25 years to repay your loan, depending on which repayment plan you choose.
Planning for repayment is essential to your credit health. Detailed information and repayment calculators.
Deferment/Discharge/Cancellation
Under certain conditions, federal regulations allow students to defer loan repayment. The most common deferments are for enrollment on at least a half-time basis, unemployment, and economic hardship. During a deferment, the federal government will pay interest that accrues on any subsidized funds. Interest on unsubsidized loans is the student’s responsibility.
How Do I Apply?
Complete the FAFSA online to apply for financial aid.
PLUS (Parent Loans)
Parents can borrow a PLUS Loan to help pay your education expenses if you are a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program at an eligible school. Interest rates and repayment provisions on PLUS loans can sometimes be more favorable to a borrower than other consumer loans available for educational expenses. Complete the FAFSA prior to applying for the Plus loan online at studentaid.gov.
Parents are required to pass a credit check when they are applying for the PLUS loan. If a parent's application for a PLUS loan is denied based on the borrower's credit history, the student may become eligible for an additional unsubsidized student loan. Freshmen and sophomore students can borrow up to $4,000 in additional unsubsidized loans, while juniors and seniors can borrow up to $5,000 in additional unsubsidized
Application Process
PLUS (Graduate and Professional Degree Students)
The Federal Graduate PLUS Loan is a Federal loan program which allows Graduate and Professional students to borrow a low interest federally backed student loan when Federal Direct Loan eligibility has been exhausted. Like the Parent PLUS Loan, the Graduate PLUS Loan can be used to pay for the total cost of attendance minus any financial aid you've already been awarded. Also like the Parent PLUS Loan, eligibility for the Graduate PLUS Loan is largely dependent on the borrower's credit rating and history. Students should follow the same application process outlined above for parent borrowers, beginning with the Graduate PLUS Loan Request Process . First-time Graduate PLUS borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete Entrance Loan Counseling
Resolving Loan Disputes and Problems
The SFA Ombudsman's Office has been created by the U.S. Department of Education to help student loan borrowers resolve loan disputes and problems.
The Ombudsman Customer Service Line is (877) 557-2575.
Is This the Best Loan for Me?
Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans are generally the best options and should be your first consideration. The maximum interest rates and fees on these loans are set by federal law, so the terms and conditions for these loans are clearly defined and will not change over time. Additional information regarding the differences between federal and private loans.
About Private Loans
Private loans, also known as alternative loans, offer another type of loan. Sometimes students and their families choose to borrow private loans because they may be offered a competitive interest rate and repayment term that they'd prefer over the Federal PLUS Loan options. If you are interested in taking out an alternative loan, please visit www.elmselect.com for a list of lenders commonly used by Marywood students.
Applying For Private Loans
Students will need to apply directly with the lender of their choice. Most students will be required to have someone cosign the loan application. Interest rates for loans are determined by the lender based on the student and cosigners credit-worthiness. If you have any questions about an alternative loan, you may contact the lender directly.
Private Loan Providers
For a list of private lenders and a comparison of the loan terms offered, please visit www.elmselect.com
