The Direct Loan Program makes long-term loans available to students at all levels of study, and to parents on behalf of dependent students. The federal government subsidizes interest during defined periods for undergraduate students who show need under the federal need analysis methodology, but only for a limited amount of time based on the length of the student’s program. Various repayment plans are available, as well as deferments, cancellations, and discharges.
Related terms: Loan Counseling; Cohort Default Rate (CDR)
A Case Study of Undergraduate Debt, Repayment Plans, and Postbaccalaureate Decision-Making Among Black Students at HBCUs
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
A Primer on Higher Education, Student Aid, and the Federal Budget Process
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Another Lesson on Caution in IDR Analysis: Using the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances to Examine Income-Driven Repayment and Financial Outcomes
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Borrowers Discuss the Challenges of Student Loan Repayment
(The Pew Charitable Trusts)
Changes in HBCU Financial Aid and Student Enrollment After the Tightening of PLUS Credit Standards
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
College Student Debt and Anticipated Repayment Difficulty
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Comparison of Sub and Unsub for Undergrads, 2020-21
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
Debt Profiles of Model Students: The Projected Debt of Highly Productive Students and Its Economic Impact
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Direct Loans AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&As
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
Direct Loans Self-Study Guide
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
Do Promise Programs Reduce Student Loans? Evidence from Tennessee Promise
(The Journal of Higher Education)
Does the House Always Win? An Analysis of Barriers to Wealth Building and College Borrowing
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Education Tax Credits: A Different Trajectory for Federal Funding of Higher Education and Remediation for Effectual Policymaking
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Exploring IDR: A Comparison of Financial Situations and Behaviors Between Those in Traditional Student Loan Repayment and Those in Income-Driven Repayment
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Getting it Right: Design Principles for Student Loan Servicing Reform
(Third Way)
Graduate and Professional Reference Sheet, 2021-22
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
Higher Education: Can Debt Beat Savings?
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
National Student Aid Profile: Overview of 2021 Federal Programs
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
Parent Borrowing and College Completion
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
PLUS Borrowing in Texas: Repayment Expectations, Experience, and Hindsight by Minority-Serving Institution Status
(Trellis Company)
Policymakers Should Consider Impact of Growing Student Loan Balances on Borrowers and Taxpayers
(The Pew Charitable Trusts)
Social Dimensions of Student Debt: A Data Mining Analysis
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Student Aid Reference Sheet - 2021-22
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
Student Loan System Presents Repayment Challenges
(The Pew Charitable Trusts)
Student Loans and Health-related Financial Hardship
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Student Loans, Financial Stress, and College Student Retention
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
The Influence of Stafford Loan Debt Load on Persistence Among Historically Underserved Populations at a Hispanic Serving Institution
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program: A Case Study of the Use of Forgivable Loans in Recruiting Future STEM Teachers
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Understanding Loan Use and Debt Burden Among Low-income and Minority Students at a Large Urban Community College
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
Unforced Errors: How One Simple Fix Could Improve Student Loan Repayment
(Third Way)
Who do College Students Turn to for Financial Aid and Student Loan Advice, and is it Advice Worth Following?
(Journal of Student Financial Aid)
2021-22 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 5, March 2022
Student Aid Reference Sheet, 2021-22
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
2021-22 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 5, March 2022
Student Aid Reference Sheet, 2021-22
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
See top list entry for Student Eligibility
See top list entry for Professional Judgment
See top list entries for Cash Management and Disbursement
See top list entry for Loan Counseling
See top list entry for Loan Counseling
See also Cash Management
Electronic Announcement, 12/21/21 (DL-21-06)
Electronic Announcement, 2/5/21 (DL-21-01)
Electronic Announcement, 11/23/21 (GENERAL-21-79)
Electronic Announcement, 12/18/20
Electronic Announcement, 11/18/20
Electronic Announcement, 12/17/19
Electronic Announcement, 11/19/19
Electronic Announcement, 12/21/17
See also Repayment plans
Americans Support Federal Action To Make Student Loan Repayment Easier
(The Pew Charitable Trusts)