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Direct Loan Program Guide

Direct loans are awarded as part of your total award package which may contain other types of aid to help you meet the costs of attending Creighton. Please review the direct loans details below.

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Federal Direct Loans assist eligible undergraduate and grad/professional students in meeting their educational expenses. 

FAFSA is required for consideration for this loan.

Subsidized Loans: These loans have an interest rate that is determined by the first disbursement date of each loan borrowed. Interest on Subsidized loans is paid by the federal government while the student is in school. See the Direct Loan Interest Rate chart.  (Graduate/professional students are not eligible for this loan program.)

Unsubsidized Loans: These loans have an interest rate that is determined by the first disbursement date of each loan borrowed. Interest on Unsubsidized loans is not paid by the federal government and will start to accrue from date of disbursement. Interest will be capitalized at repayment. See the Direct Loan Interest Rate chart.

All Loan disbursements have a federal loan origination fee deducted from each disbursement. See your loan disclosure statement provided by your loan servicer for current rates.

All Loans: Repayment begins 6 months after graduation (or enrollment status drops below half-time.)

Your Financial Aid award letter will specify the amount of subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan funds you are eligible to borrow.

Plus Loan

The Federal Direct PLUS Loan assists eligible parents in meeting educational expenses of their dependent student. 

 

  • A FAFSA is required for consideration for this loan.
  • Credit worthy parents can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid received. 
  • Interest on the PLUS Loan is not paid by the federal government. Loans will start to accrue interest from date of first disbursement.
  • For PLUS loan interest rates, see the Direct Loan Interest Rate chart.
  • All Loan disbursements have a federal origination fee deducted from each disbursement. See your loan disclosure statement provided by your loan servicer for current rates.

  • For PLUS loans made to parents that are first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008, the borrower has the option of beginning repayment on the PLUS loan either 60 days after the loan for that school year is fully disbursed or wait until six months after the dependent student on whose behalf the parent borrowed ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis.
  • When you apply for a Direct PLUS Loan, the U.S. Department of Education will check your credit history. To be eligible for a PLUS Loan, you must not have an adverse credit history. If you are found to have an adverse credit history, you may still borrow a PLUS Loan if you get an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the Direct PLUS Loan if you do not repay the loan. The endorser may not be the student on whose behalf a parent obtains a Direct PLUS Loan.
  • If a parent applies for a PLUS loan and is denied because of negative credit, the Financial Aid office will receive this information. Upon verification of a PLUS Loan denial and if no endorser is obtained, dependent students are eligible for an additional $4,000 - $5,000 unsubsidized loan, depending on grade level. The Financial Aid office will offer the additional unsubsidized loan funds on the student's award letter on the NEST. The student can then either accept or decline the additional loan funds.

Grad Plus

The Federal Direct Grad PLUS loan assists graduate/professional students in meeting their educational expenses.

  • A FAFSA is required for consideration for this loan.
  • Credit worthy graduate and professional students can borrow up to their full cost of attendance, less other financial aid received. 
  • Interest on the Grad PLUS Loan is not paid by the federal government and will start to accrue interest from date of disbursement.
  • For loan interest rate, see the Direct Loan Interest Rate chart.
  • All Loan disbursements have a federal origination fee deducted from each disbursement. See your loan disclosure statement provided by your loan servicer for current rates.

  • While the student is enrolled in school on at least a half-time basis, s/he is eligible for an in-school deferment that allows the student to postpone payments until s/he drops below half-time status.  In most cases, an in-school deferment will automatically be granted based on enrollment data reported to the U.S. Department of Education.  Note: Students who receive an in-school deferment will be notified of the deferment and of their option to cancel the deferment and begin making loan payments. 

Loan Ombudsman

The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman works with federal student loan borrowers to resolve loan disputes or problems from an impartial, independent viewpoint. If you have a problem with a federal student loan, you should contact the holder of the loan and try to resolve the problem. If you can?t resolve the problem, contact the FSA Ombudsman at 1-877-557-2575.

Return of Title IV Funding

This policy explains how the Return of Title IV funding is processed when a recipient of financial aid ceases to be enrolled (100% withdrawal) at Creighton University (CU) prior to the end of a term for which they were enrolled.

Resources and Next Steps

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