 |
|
||||||
Loan Information for Students and Parents
Whitworth University administers federal Stafford and PLUS loans through the Federal Direct Loan Program. Borrowers complete the necessary processes and Whitworth facilitates the funding directly from the federal government. Below are links to web pages that will provide additional information on the Federal Direct Loan Program.
Click on the loan program below to jump to more information and application processes:
Federal Direct Stafford Loans
These loans are government-insured student loans. Students must file a FAFSA in order for the financial aid staff to determine eligibility. There are two types of Stafford Loans.
- Subsidized Stafford Loans are need-based loans subsidized by the federal government, which ensures that all interest charges during school and periods of deferment are paid by the government. The interest rate on this loan for the 2013-14 academic year will be 6.8%. Students have six months from the day they are no longer enrolled at least half-time (see below) to begin repayment. Interest is not charged while students are in school.
- Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are non-need-based loans that are not subsidized by the federal government. Students are responsible for all interest charges during school and periods of deferment. Students can defer interest payments until they begin repayment. The interest rate on this loan is currently fixed at 6.8 percent. Students have six months from the day they are no longer enrolled at least half-time (see below) to begin repayment on both principal and interest.
It is a federal regulation that institutions disclose to students the average amount a student would borrow on all federal loan programs in their respective program of study. Below is a chart that indicates these average borrowed amounts for students who participated in a federal loan program as compiled for the 2011-12 academic year.
Student Type |
Number of Years Attending |
Average Amount Borrowed on Federal Loan Programs |
Average Monthly Payment – based on the Federal *Standard Repayment Plan over a maximum of 10 years with a 6.8 % interest rate |
Traditional Undergraduate Based on students who graduated in 2011. |
4 |
$23,750 |
$273 |
Evening Accelerated Undergraduate |
2 |
$19,654 |
$226 |
Graduate Studies in Business |
2 |
$28,182 |
$324 |
Graduate Studies in Education |
2 |
$33,537 |
$386 |
MA Theology |
2 |
$23,750 |
$273 |
MIT (Master in Teaching) |
for the program |
$29,553 |
$340 |
*The Standard Repayment Plan is the most aggressive payment plan offered by the Federal Direct Program. There are other repayment plans that are offered and would reduce the monthly payments.
Enrollment status information that has an impact upon loan repayment:
Undergraduate students must be enrolled in six credits or more to be considered half-time.
Graduate students must be enrolled in three credits or more to be considered half-time.
The Stafford exit loan counseling process will be required once a student is no longer enrolled at least half time.
On-line Stafford Loan Processes:
Complete Federal Direct Stafford electronic master promissory note: www.studentloans.gov
Complete Stafford entrance loan counseling process: www.studentloans.gov
- Allow 30 minutes to complete the process.
- Read all text carefully.
- Print your "Borrowers Rights and Responsibilities" for your records.
- Print the "Verification" page that indicates that you have completed and passed the quiz. You may need this page as proof of completing this process. Please retain it in your records.
Complete Stafford exit loan counseling: www.studentloans.gov
You can always view your federal student loan history on National Student Loan Data System for Students (NSLDS) at www.nslds.ed.gov.
For a complete list of federal loan servicers, visit: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/additionalInformation.action
You must be the student's biological or adoptive parent or the student's stepparent, if the biological or adoptive parent has remarried at the time of application. Your child must be a dependent student who is enrolled at least half-time. Federal Parent Loans are loans that do require a credit approval. The loan is currently at 7.9%. Interest is charged at the time of disbursement. The parent can choose to pay the interest or defer it as long as the student remains in school at least half-time. Repayment begins within 60 days from the student ceasing enrollment.
Parents who are interested in borrowing a Federal Parent Loan for the 2013-14 academic year should review the following information:
The online processes required to request and apply for a Federal Parent Loan require a federal PIN. The parent borrower who completes the online request form must be the same parent who completes the electronic PLUS Master Promissory Note. Parents are notified online at the time they make the request if the loan is approved or denied.
Visit www.studentlloans.gov to complete an online request form. The parent must log in to begin the request process. You will be asked to choose the academic year for which you are borrowing. (For students who are attending fall 2013, parent borrowers should select the 2013-14 academic year.)
- Approved borrowers need to complete an electronic PLUS Master Promissory Note available on the same site.
- Denied borrowers will be given options within the request process to pursue an endorser, challenge the credit decision with the processor or offer an additional Unsubsidized Stafford Loan to his/her student.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS program is similar to the Federal Direct Parent Loans. To be considered for a Graduate PLUS Loan, students must first apply with a FAFSA to determine eligibility for the Stafford Loan Program. This loan is not based on financial need; the student must show credit-worthiness, and interest is charged while the student attends school. Principal and interest repayment begins within 60 days from the date that the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time.
To apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan, a student must complete the Federal Direct Graduate Parent Loan Request Form online at www.studentlloans.gov. The student must login into order to access the request process.
If the student is approved for the loan, the student then needs to complete the following two online processes.
- Complete entrance loan counseling for a Graduate PLUS Loan.
Private Education Loans
