[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/faid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/102\/2023\/02\/qc_zoom_bg_14.jpg” background_position=”bottom_center” custom_margin=”||29px|||” custom_padding=”||334px|||” top_divider_height=”115px” bottom_divider_color=”#E71939″ bottom_divider_height=”136px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”3px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”315.2px” custom_margin=”0px|auto|5px|auto||” custom_padding=”10px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_font=”|800||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”44px” header_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”21.6px” custom_margin=”||-5px|||” custom_padding=”9px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” min_height=”21.6px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”9px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Federal Direct Loans are low-interest loans provided by the U.S. Department of Education to help students and families pay for college. Loan funds are borrowed, they must be repaid after you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Federal Direct Loan Program includes three types of loans: Subsidized Loans, Unsubsidized Loans, and PLUS Loans, each with different eligibility requirements and benefits designed to help cover the cost of attending college.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-60px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#000000″ open_toggle_background_color=”#EFEFEF” closed_toggle_background_color=”#E71939″ toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_color=”#000000″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”20px” admin_label=”Types of Loans” _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” toggle_text_color=”#FFFFFF” toggle_level=”h1″ toggle_font=”|700||on|||||” toggle_font_size=”20px” closed_toggle_font=”|700||on|||||” closed_toggle_font_size=”20px” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.6em” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” db_closeable=”on” db_initial_state=”all_closed” border_color_all=”#000000″ box_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Subsidized Loans” open=”on” toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Federal Subsidized Loans<\/span><\/strong> are available to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need based on information from the FAFSA. <\/span>The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on your loan while you are enrolled at least half-time, during your six-month grace period after leaving school, and during eligible periods of deferment.<\/span><\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> For Direct Subsidized Loans first disbursed between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2014, the borrower was responsible for interest that accrued during the six-month grace period. Any unpaid interest may have been added to the loan\u2019s principal balance.<\/p>\n See Federal Student Aid<\/a> for current interest rates and fees.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Unsubsidized Loans” toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Direct Unsubsidized Loans<\/span><\/strong> are available to undergraduate and graduate students, and you do not need to demonstrate financial need to qualify. Unsubsidized Loans allow you to borrow additional funds beyond any Direct Subsidized Loan for which you may be eligible.<\/span><\/p>\n You are responsible for paying the interest on an Unsubsidized Loan from the time the loan is disbursed, including while you are enrolled in school and during grace, deferment, and forbearance periods. If you choose not to pay the interest as it accrues, the unpaid interest may be capitalized and added to your principal balance.<\/span><\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).<\/p>\n See Federal Student Aid<\/a> for current interest rates and fees.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”PLUS Loan” toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.6em” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n Parent PLUS Loans<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Starting July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS Loans will have new annual and lifetime caps for new borrowers, which allow parents (combined) to borrow up to the full cost of attendance with no lifetime cap:<\/p>\n These limits apply per dependent student. If a family has multiple dependent students enrolled in college, each student is subject to their own separate $65,000 borrowing cap. The limit applies collectively to all parent borrowers for that student<\/strong> and is not a separate limit for each parent.<\/p>\n A few other things to know:<\/strong><\/p>\n Please note:<\/strong> If your parent received at least one Parent PLUS disbursement before July 1, 2026 while you were enrolled in your current program, they may qualify for legacy provisions. See the Legacy Provisions section below for details.<\/p>\n Graduate PLUS Loans<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Starting July 1, 2026, Graduate PLUS Loans are no longer available to new borrowers as. You may still qualify under the legacy provision* if both of the following are true:<\/p>\n Eligibility lasts up to three academic years or until you complete the program, whichever comes first. Changing programs, withdrawing, or a lapse in enrollment ends legacy eligibility.<\/span><\/p>\n Requesting a PLUS Loan <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n To request a PLUS Loan application, contact the Direct Loans Team at directloans@qc.cuny.edu.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Starting July 1, 2026, new annual and lifetime borrowing caps are being introduced, Graduate PLUS Loans are being eliminated for new borrowers, and loan amounts will be adjusted based on enrollment. Find more information about the One Big Beautiful Act <\/span>here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”rgba(192,192,192,0.42)” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-25px||-25px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_font=”|800||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”35px” header_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”21.6px” custom_margin=”||-4px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”rgba(239,239,239,0.58)” custom_margin=”18px||18px||true|false” custom_padding=”27px|32px|15px|32px|false|true” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”rgba(192,192,192,0.32)” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The amount of federal student loans you may receive depends on your grade level, enrollment status, and remaining federal loan eligibility. Beginning with the 26-27 academic year, federal loan amounts are prorated for students enrolled less than full-time.<\/p>\n This means that if you are enrolled in fewer than 12 credits, the amount you may borrow can be reduced based on your enrollment level. Your loan eligibility may also change if your enrollment changes after your loan is processed or disbursed at any point during the academic year.<\/span><\/p>\n For federal aid purposes, enrollment status is defined as follows:<\/p>\n The chart below outlines the maximum annual and total loan amounts you may be eligible to borrow if you are enrolled full-time for the academic year.<\/span><\/strong> Your actual eligibility may be lower based on your enrollment, financial aid, remaining federal loan eligibility, and other eligibility requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n The annual borrowing limit is the maximum amount you may be eligible to receive during the academic year, including Summer, Fall, and Spring.<\/p>\n \n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”259.9px” custom_margin=”-25px|auto||auto|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Dependent” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” header_3_font=”|||on|||||” header_3_letter_spacing=”0.4px” custom_margin=”|1px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n (Annual limit is combination of Subsidized and\/or Unsubsidized)<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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federal Loan borrowing limits<\/h1>\n
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Dependent Students<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n