What Are Federal Student Loans
There are several different types of federal student loans. The keyword in federal student loans is the word “loan.” This means that you will pay this money for college back, unlike scholarships or grants that do not have to be returned. The United States government backs federal student loans. The way students must apply for federal student loans is by filling out the universal application for federal aid that the government makes available each year, also known as the FAFSA.
Upon submission of the FAFSA, students will make themselves eligible for primarily three types of federal education loans. The firs is the stafford loan, as these loans have relatively low disbursement amounts, and low interest rates. The Stafford Loans come in either subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized Stafford Loans do not accrue interest if the student while the student is attending college. The qualifier for this type of student loan is that the student must have filled out the FAFSA and have shown financial hardship. Stafford loans are not based upon credit, and you can therefore get these types of student loans without a cosigner.
There are still other types of federal student loans that you should be aware of, including the Perkins loan, and the PLUS loan. Each of these loans has different criteria to follow in order to become eligible. The Perkins Loans are very limited and can only be obtained from the school you are attending. They have a very low limit so funding from other sources may be needed. Their advantage is that they do have a fixed and low interest rate. PLUS Loans are federal student loans with the parent of the undergraduate in mind. Most parents do fund a portion of a student’s fees, so PLUS Loans have a higher borrowing limit and fixed interest. The Graduate Plus loans are meant to work in conjunction with the Stafford loans. These loans are meant for the Graduate or Professional student that is working towards their master’s, or doctorate degree. They have higher borrowing limits and a fixed interest rate.
