Federal Loans to Graduate Students

Regarding Federal Loan Options for Graduate Students

Federal student loans are an important resource to help students pay for college. These loans, offered by the federal government, typically offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans.

Unlike grants or work-study, a loan is money that must be repaid – you are legally obligated to repay your loans (even if you do not complete your program), so we encourage you to fully read and understand the terms and conditions of each loan type before accepting a loan.

The minimum requirements for consideration of any federal loan are a complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), admission into a degree-seeking program, at least half-time enrollment and cannot be in default on a Federal educational loan or owe a repayment of Federal Title IV aid. 

An important note regarding student loan funding:

At Colorado State University, we encourage you to make informed decisions when taking out a student loan, and to only borrow the amount of funds needed to successfully complete your education.

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  1. First complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – the federal government’s application to determine financial aid eligibility for most types of financial aid.
    1. Students who are not eligible for FAFSA due to not being a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen may be able to complete the CASFA application instead if they qualify for Colorado ASSET.
    2. Use federal tax return information to complete the FAFSA.  
    3. List Colorado State University – Fort Collins on your application to submit your financial aid application to CSU. Our school code is 001350.
  2. Then, complete an application for the Graduate PLUS Loan.
    1. This step requires a credit check; you cannot have adverse credit history.
    2. You will also have to complete PLUS Loan Credit Counseling.
    3. If you do have adverse credit history, you can seek an endorser to support your denied loan application, or you can appeal the denied credit decision through studentaid.gov.
  3. Once your FAFSA has been reviewed and your financial aid has been awarded, you can accept your loan(s) on RAMweb.
    • Watch the short video tutorial below to learn about the steps required to accept student loans on your student RAMweb account.
  4. Sign a Direct PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN).
    • This is a legal document where you promise to repay your loan and agree to the terms. Complete your MPN here.

Colorado State University participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans). PLUS Loans are funded by the Department of Education. Students must meet eligibility criteria to receive the Graduate PLUS loan.

What do I need to know about the Graduate PLUS Loan?

  • You must be a graduate or professional student.
  • Requires a credit check; you cannot have adverse credit history.
  • Interest accrues while you are in school or in deferment.
  • Repayment begins 6 months after you graduate, drop below half time, or withdraw.
  • Direct PLUS loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.
  • Annual Limit:
    • Cost of Attendance minus all other aid – visit the our page for more information on how CSU calculates Cost of Attendance.
What do I need to do to receive loan funding? 
 
  • Be admitted to a degree-seeking program.
    • Apply for admissions to Colorado State University at admissions.colostate.edu.
    • If you have been awarded a degree from Colorado State University, you must be admitted to a new degree-seeking program to continue receiving aid.
    • Admission to a new degree program may change the type of aid you are eligible to receive.
  • Apply for financial aid and complete all requirements.
    • See the above drop-down titled “How Do I Apply” for directions on how to apply for financial aid.
    • Once your financial aid application has been submitted, continue to check your student RAMweb account for any documentation or information that may be required to complete your financial aid packaging process.
  • Enroll at least half-time each semester.
    • For graduate students, 5 credits is half-time enrollment.
    • Enrolling in fewer than 5 credit hours (0 to 4 credit hours) will mean that you are not eligible for federal Graduate PLUS loan funding.
    • Audit and test-out or placement credits do not count toward enrollment requirements.
    • Enrollment in courses that do not apply to your program of study may not count toward your enrollment status for financial aid.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
 
 

Origination Fees Associated with Graduate PLUS Student Loans

Date of First Disbursement
Origination Fee % for Graduate PLUS Student Loans

On or after 10/1/19 and before 10/1/2020

4.236%

 

On or after 10/1/2020 and before 10/1/2025

4.228%

 

 

Interest Rates for Graduate PLUS Student Loans

Date of First Disbursement
Graduate PLUS Student Loan Interest Rates

Between 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024

8.05%

 

Between 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025

9.08%

 

Origination Fees Associated with Graduate Unsubsidized Student Loans

Colorado State University participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan program (Direct Loans). Direct Loans are funded by the Department of Education to you, the student.

What are the details for Unsubsidized Loans?

  • Unsubsidized loans are not need-based and are available to undergraduate and graduate students. Interest is accruing while you are in school.


What are the basics that I need to know about federal student loans?

  • Repayment begins 6 months after you graduate, drop below half time, or withdraw.
What do I need to do to receive loan funding? 
 
  • Be admitted to a degree-seeking program.
    • Apply for admissions to Colorado State University at admissions.colostate.edu.
    • If you have been awarded a degree from Colorado State University, you must be admitted to a new degree-seeking program to continue receiving aid.
    • Admission to a new degree program may change the type of aid you are eligible to receive.
  • Apply for financial aid and complete all requirements.
    • See the above drop-down titled “How Do I Apply” for directions on how to apply for financial aid.
    • Once your financial aid application has been submitted, continue to check your student RAMweb account for any documentation or information that may be required to complete your financial aid packaging process.
  • Enroll at least half-time each semester.
    • For graduate students, 5 credits is half-time enrollment.
    • Enrolling in fewer than 5 credit hours (0 to 4 credit hours) will mean that you are not eligible for federal Graduate PLUS loan funding.
    • Audit and test-out or placement credits do not count toward enrollment requirements.
    • Enrollment in courses that do not apply to your program of study may not count toward your enrollment status for financial aid.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
Date of First Disbursement
Origination Fee % for Graduate Unsubsidized Student Loans

On or after 10/1/19 and before 10/1/2020

1.059%
 

On or after 10/1/2020 and before 10/1/2025

1.057%

 

Interest Rates for Graduate Unsubsidized Student Loans

Date of First Disbursement
Graduate Unsubsidized Student Loan Interest Rates

Between 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024

7.05%
 

Between 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025

8.08%


The Health Professions Student Loan (HPL) is a subsidized, low-interest loan available to students enrolled in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with financial need. Funds are provided from the Department of Health and Human Services and from payments collected from prior students repaying their HPL.

What do I need to know about the Health Professions Loan?

  • There are no loan origination fees.
  • The loan does not accrue interest while enrolled.
  • Repayment begins 12 months after you graduate, drop below full-time, or withdraw.
  • While the loan is in repayment the interest rate is a fixed 5.0 percent.
  • Colorado State University is your lender for this loan, once your loan enters repayment, you will make payments back to CSU.
  • Funding is limited; the amounts may vary from year to year.
  • If awarded a HPL and would like to accept it in a nonelectronic form, please contact The Office of Financial Aid. 
  • You must be enrolled at least half-time each semester.
    • For graduate students, 5 credits is half-time enrollment.
    • Enrolling in fewer than 5 credit hours (0 to 4 credit hours) will mean that you are not eligible for federal Graduate PLUS loan funding.
    • Audit and test-out or placement credits do not count toward enrollment requirements.
    • Enrollment in courses that do not apply to your program of study may not count toward your enrollment status for financial aid.
  • To qualify, you must provide parental information on your FAFSA.
      • Parental information is used only to determine if you qualify for a Health Professions Loan, not in calculating your eligibility for other financial aid.

What are some highlights of the Health Professions Loan?

 

Where can I learn more about the terms and conditions of the Health Professions Loan?

    • Information regarding deferment options, the rights and responsibilities, and the terms and conditions of the Health Professions Student Loans can be found on the Business and Financial Services page.

Where do I accept my Health Professions Loan funding? 

    • To accept your Health Profession Loan (HPL), log in to RAMweb and navigate to your financial aid offer.
      • You must first consent to electronic disclosures (this is done one time, only), and then view and accept the application disclosure, the approval disclosure, and the self-certification form.
    • You can accept your loan(s) on RAMweb, where you can review and complete these items after your Health Professions Student Loan funding has been offered.
      • Watch the short video tutorial, below this section, to learn about the steps required to accept student loans on your student RAMweb account.
    • Once accepted, you’ll also need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN), which is a legal document where you agree to repay the loan and understand the terms. 
    • The MPN must be completed before the loan can be disbursed. Submit the original MPN (no photocopies or faxes) to:
      • Colorado State University
      • The Office of Financial Aid
      • 1st Floor Centennial Hall
      • 1065 Campus Delivery
      • Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1065 

Provisions and Repayment Options for the Health Professions Loan:

Fixed Interest Rate
5%

Eligible for Loan Consolidation?

Yes 

Initial Grace Period?

One year

Maximum Repayment Period?

10 years

* Minimum Payment Installment?

* $15 per month

Equal Installments?

Yes 

* Minimum Repayment Installment amount is based on the principal amount of loan.
Loan has to be repaid within 10 years which may require a higher minimum repayment installment than listed above.

Yearly Loan Limits for Graduate Students

 

Academic Year
Dependent Students
Independent Students
(and dependent undergraduate students whose parents are unable to obtain a PLUS Loan)

Graduate Student

Not Applicable

$20,500 (unsubsidized only)

Veterinary Medicine: 1st – 3rd year

__

$40,500 (unsubsidized only)

 

Veterinary Medicine: 4th year

__

$47,167 (unsubsidized only)

 

Lifetime Loan Limits for Graduate Students

 

Lifetime Loan Limits

Dependent Students
Independent Students
(and dependent undergraduate students whose parents are unable to obtain a PLUS Loan)

Graduate Aggregate Loan Limits

__

$138,500 (includes undergraduate loans)

 

Veterinary Medicine Aggregate Loan Limits

__

$224,000 (includes undergraduate and graduate loans)

 

You may cancel all or a portion of your loan by submitting a borrower loan cancellation form. The request must be submitted before the loan has paid to your student’s CSU account, or within 14 days from the date of disbursement.

Cancellation or reduction to your loan may result in a balance being owed to the University. Failure to pay a balance owed by the due date could result in late fees and/or prevent future enrollment. 

If you would like to cancel or reduce a loan that hasn’t paid out yet, navigate to your financial aid awards page and click on the “request changes to your student loans” option. From there you can submit a cancellation request and specify the amount of loan you’d like to cancel.

If the loan has already paid out, you may cancel all or a portion of your loan by submitting a borrower loan cancellation form. The request must be submitted within 14 days from the date of disbursement.

Please follow the following link to submit the Borrower Loan Cancellation Form. 

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