Graduate Loans
Colleges determine eligibility for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan before determining any remaining eligibility for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. Therefore, students should wait until their Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program eligibility has been determined before applying for the Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan.
Before obtaining an alternative loan, graduate students should compare the terms of the loan with loan assistance available through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program. Most private loan programs are not competitive with the Federal Direct Loan Program and are intended to provide supplemental educational financing.