Loan Comparisons

Subsidized Stafford and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

The U.S. Department of Education administers a variety of programs to help students and their families pay for a post-secondary education. Included in these are both the Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP) and the Perkins Loan Program. The information below compares these loan programs, providing the basic elements of each.

Subsidized Stafford	Unsubsidized Stafford
Need-based, low-interest student loan in which the government pays the interest while the student is in school enrolled at least half-time (6 units). This loan is deferred until the student graduates or drops below half-time, and eligibility is determined by the FAFSA.	Low-interest student loan in which the student is responsible for the interest while the student is in school enrolled at least half-time (6 units). This loan is deferred until the student graduates or drops below half-time.
Amounts: Freshman: $3,500 Sophomores: $4,500 Juniors/Seniors: $5,500	Amounts: Freshman: $3,500 Sophomores: $4,500 Juniors/Seniors: $5,500 Additional: Dependent students: $2,000 Independent students: $6,000 (1st/2nd year) $7,000 (3rd/4th year)
Interest Rate: 3.76% (fixed)	Interest Rate: 3.76% Undergraduate fixed) 5.31% Graduate (fixed)
Grace Period: 6 mos. after graduation or student drops below half-time	Grace Period: 6 mos. after graduation or student drops below half-time
Fee: 1.068% of the total loan amount	Fee: 1.068% of the total loan amount
Renewal: Re-application required each year through FAFSA	Renewal: Re-application required each year through FAFSA
Additional Requirements: Master Promissory Note; Loan Counseling	Additional Requirements: Master Promissory Note; Loan Counseling

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Loan Comparisons