Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Federal student and parent loans are issued through the Federal Direct Loan program from the U.S. Department of Education. 

The subsidized and unsubsidized are low-interest loans for students to help pay for the cost of higher education after high school. You’ll have a single point of contact and online access to your Direct Loan account information. There are several repayment options to choose from once you are in repayment.

You are not required to accept the loan and we will not process the loan unless you accept it. Loans are available to both dependent and independent students,

Remember, student loans must be repaid. Borrow what you need to fill the gap between grants or scholarships and the cost to attend school.

Note: All Credential are required to enrolled in 6 units for the loan to disburse.

Eligibility Requirements

  1. Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other supporting documents, if required.
  2. You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree, certificate or professional program.
  3. Your enrollment status must be at least half-time, (the equivalent of 6 units).
  4. Must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen (permanent resident) of the United States.

Subsidized Loan

  1. Student must have financial need - as determined by your FAFSA application
  2. Federal government pays interest on your behalf until you enter your grace period - the time you are no longer enrolled on at least a half-time basis
  3. Repayment begins at the end of the 6 months grace period

Important Note: Effective July 1, 2013, eligibility for the interest subsidy has a 150% time limitation for "new borrowers" of Subsidized Stafford Loans.

A "new borrower" is defined as a person who has never borrowed a Stafford loan OR a person with a $0 existing balance as of July 1, 2013.

If this limit applies to you, you may not receive Direct Subsidized Loans for more than 150 percent of the published length of your current program. You can find the published length of your program in the school's catalog.

Unsubsidized Loan

  1. Not need based
  2. Maximums based on grade level and dependency status
  3. Federal government does not pay interest
  4. Interest is variable
  5. No obligation to make payments while enrolled at least half-time
  6. Interest accrues and capitalized during periods of enrollment in school and/or in deferment

Interest Rates and Loan Fees

Interest rates are adjusted by Congress annually, with a new rate taking effect each July 1st. Although the interest rate for new loans may change each July 1, the rate received will be fixed for the life of the loan.

In addition to the interest rate, Direct Loans charges an origination fee on all Stafford loans, which is deducted from your loan funds at the time of disbursement.

Please check the student aid websiteOpens in new window for interest rates and loan fees for current and past years.

How to Accept and Decline Loans

  1. Log into your CSUF Portal
  2. Click on Titan Online
  3. Click on Student Homepage
  4. Click on Financial Aid tile and ensure you are in the correct aid year (top left)
  5. Click on Accept/Decline tab on the left side under Awards
  6. Click on the pencil icon to edit Award Decision
  7. Click on the drop-down menu for the loan under Award Decision column then select Accept or Decline
    1. To accept a smaller loan amount, check the Reduce box then enter the new loan amount in the Accepted column
  8. Review then click on Submit button to finalize your loan decision
  9. Complete both the Loan Entrance CounselingOpens in new window and the Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)Opens in new window on Federal Student Aid

Please note: typically, accepted loan amount will be split in half: you will receive half for fall term and the other half will be reserved for spring term.  For example, if you accept a loan amount of $2,000 - you will receive $1,000 for fall term and $1,000 for spring term.  

HOW MUCH CAN I BORROW

There are limits on the amount in loans that you may be eligible to receive as a credential (annual loan limits) and the total amounts you may borrow for your undergraduate credential program of study (aggregate loan limits).  The actual loan amount you are eligible to receive each academic year may be less than the annual loan limit. These limits vary depending on your grade level and your dependency status.

ACADEMIC YEAR LOAN MAXIMUMS
  Dependent Students* Independent Students*

Academic Year

Subsidized  Unsubsidized   Combined Subsidized Unsubsidized Combined

Teaching Credential

 $5,500 N/A $5,500 $5,500 $7,000 $12,500
Aggregate Limits

Aggregate Limits

Subsidized Only Subsidized and
Unsubsidized Combined
Undergraduate - Dependent  $23,000 $31,000
Undergraduate - Independent  $23,000 $57,500

Federal Loan Servicers

You may find your loan servicer by logging into the Federal Student Aid websiteOpens in new window using your federal ID and password. If you forgot your ID or password, you may indicate so on the site, and you will be directed to enter your email to re-set and gain access to your information. If you have any general questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Financial AidOpens in new window .