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Tuition and Financial Aid

Federal Direct Loans and Work Study Programs


Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans


Subsidized Loans
Subsidized Stafford loan award amounts are based on the student's demonstrated financial need. The federal government pays the student's interest charges while the student is enrolled at least half time as well as during the six-month grace period following enrollment. Repayment and interest begin six months after the borrower graduates or ceases to be at least a half-time student and extends over the 10-25 year repayment period, depending on the repayment program the student chooses. The interest rate is fixed at 6.8 percent, and the maximum annual limit is $8,500*.

*There is a .5% net fee (1% origination fee less an upfront rebate of .5% that assumes 12 on-time payments when you go into repayment) deducted from each disbursement of a Stafford loan.

Unsubsidized Loans
The Unsubsidized Stafford loan is awarded to students regardless of financial need. The in-school interest is not paid by the federal government and begins to accrue after the loan is fully disbursed. The student may choose to have the payment of the interest deferred during enrollment and later capitalized (added to the principal) at the time repayment begins. Repayment begins six months after the borrower graduates or ceases to be at least a half-time student and extends over a 10-25 year repayment period, depending on the repayment program the student chooses. The interest rate is fixed at 6.8 percent, and the annual limit is $12,000*.

*There is a .5% net fee (1% orgination fee less an upfront rebate of .5% that assumes 12 on-time payments when you go into repayment) deducted from each disbursement of a Stafford Loan.

Click here to complete your Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note using your FAFSA P.I.N.


Federal Direct PLUS Loans for Graduate/Professional Students

Under this program, credit worthy students may borrow from this federal guaranteed, non need-based loan program. The student can borrow the entire cost of education minus any financial aid the student receives**. The in-school interest is not paid by the federal government and begins to accrue after the loan is fully disbursed. The student may choose to have the payment of the interest deferred during enrollment and later capitalized (added to the principal) at the time repayment begins. Repayment begins six months after the student graduates or ceases to be at least a half-time student and extends over a 10-25 year repayment period, depending on the repayment program the student chooses. The loan has a fixed interest rate at 7.9 percent.

**There is a 2.5% net fee (4% origination fee less an upfront rebate of 1.5% that assumes 12 on-time payments when you go into repayment) deducted from each disbursement of a PLUS loan.

Click here to download the Federal Direct Loan Disbursement Request Form.

Click here to complete the Grad PLUS Promissory Note using your FAFSA P.I.N.

Visit Managing Your Debt for more information on repaying your loans.


Entrance Counseling

All first-time borrowers of Stafford and/or Grad PLUS loans must complete entrance counseling before Federal loans can be disbursed. Click here to complete Entrance Counseling for both Stafford and Grad PLUS using your FAFSA P.I.N.


Federal Perkins Loan

The federal Perkins loan program is a limited, revolving source of loan funds offered through the school. Funds for this program are from prior recipients repaying their loans. These low interest loans are intended to help needy students pay for education. Perkins loans carry a fixed 5 percent interest rate for the life of the loan and are subsidized, which means you don't accrue interest on the loan until you enter repayment. Repayment begins nine months after you graduate or drop below half-time enrollment status and there is a ten-year repayment period.


Federal Work Study Program

Students awarded work study as part of their financial aid package are limited to a 20 hour work week during the semester. Awards are based on a reasonable projected amount that the student might earn over the course of the semester in an on-campus job. Work study is offered to those students who demonstrate financial need and provides a source of supplemental income thus reducing the amount of loan that needs to be borrowed. First year JD students are not eligible for work study on the recommendation of the ABA.