Student Loans Available Directly from the Federal Government

by: Michael Saunders
Federal Direct Student Loans are available to assist those vocational, undergraduate, and graduate postsecondary students (or their parents) and allows them to borrow money directly from the Federal government. This is done so that these students or their parents do not have to take out loans through private or other commercial lenders that oftentimes have much higher interest rates or simply will not provide a loan.

There are different variations of a Federal Direct Student Loan available; these are dependent on whether or not the student is eligible for government assistance. Need based programs include the Stafford Loan and the Direct Subsidized Loan; while non-need based programs are the Direct PLUS program, and the Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Federal Direct Student Loans are overseen by the Department of Education. In order to be eligible for Federal Direct Student Loans the student is required to be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen (this means those with a Alien Registration Card or those with a Arrival Departure Record with specific designations).

To qualify for Federal Direct Student Loans the student must be accepted or currently already enrolled in a degree or certificate program. The student has to be at least a half-time basis undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at a postsecondary that participates with Federal Direct Student Loans. Students are not allowed to owe a refund on another a Title IV grant, and cannot currently have a Title IV loan that is defaulted. The student will also have to get a certification of eligibility from their school.
  (continued...)

Student Loans Available Directly from the Federal Government
  Page 2

About The Author The author edits a site featuring Education Grants and another Government Grants site providing info on every grant the federal government offers. Michael Saunders has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Additional Resources

category - Education Grants

Scalable Nanomanufacturing Grants Program
The National Science Foundation has announced the constitution of the Scalable Nanomanufacturing Grants Program wherein it intends to deepen and encourage research and education in the area of scalable nanomanufacturing, including the long-term societal implications of the largescale implementation of nanomanufacturing innovations.

---

Distance Learning College
You might be at a crossroads in your life. You might realize that you need your Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree to land that exciting and high-paying job you have always wanted. You might rea...

---

Pell Grants - Help with Financing Your Education
The Federal Pell Grant Program is overseen by the Department of Education and falls under the Federal Student Aid Information Center. In order to be eligible students must be enrolled in eligible schools that may be public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education.

---

Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Seving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture has recently constituted the Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Seving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program wherein it intends to award funds in an attempt to support education, applied research, and several other related community development programs.

---