Interest Rate for Direct Loan
(https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates#what-interest)
Interest is paid to a lender as a cost of borrowing money. Interest is calculated as a percentage of the unpaid principal amount. Unlike other forms of debt, such as credit cards and mortgages, Direct Loans are daily interest loans, which means that interest accrues (accumulates) daily. Depending on whether your loans are subsidized or unsubsidized, you may or may not be responsible for paying the interest that accrues during all periods.
The interest rate varies depending on the loan type and (for most types of federal student loans) the first disbursement date of the loan.
Table 2 below provides interest rates for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2019, and before July 1, 2020.
Table 2 - Interest Rates for Direct Loans First Disbursed on or After July 1, 2019, and Before July 1, 2020
| Loan Type |
Borrower Type |
Fixed Interest Rate |
| Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans |
Undergraduate |
4.53% |
| Direct Unsubsidized Loans |
Graduate or Professional |
6.08% |
| Direct PLUS Loans |
Parents and Graduate or Professional Students |
7.08% |
All interest rates shown in the chart above are fixed rates that will not change for the life of the loan. View the interest rates on federal student loans first disbursed before July 1, 2019.
Maximum Annual and Aggregate Loan Limits Chart
| Annual Limits for Sub/Unsubsidized Loans |
Dependent Undergraduates (excluding dependent students whose parents cannot get PLUS)
Note: All undergraduate annual loan amounts are subject to proration. |
|
Subsidized Loan |
Unsubsidized Loan |
Total |
| First Year |
$3,500 |
$2,000 |
$5,500 |
| Second Year |
$4,500 |
$2,000 |
$6,500 |
| Third Year and Beyond |
$5,500 |
$2,000 |
$7,500 |
| Independent Undergraduates and Dependent Students whose parents can’t get PLUS |
|
Subsidized Loan |
Unsubsidized Loan |
Total |
| First Year |
$3,500 |
$6,000 |
$9,500 |
| Second Year |
$4,500 |
$6,000 |
$10,500 |
| Third Year and Beyond |
$5,500 |
$7,000 |
$12,500 |
| Aggregate Limits for Sub/Unsubsidized Loans |
|
Subsidized |
Total (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) |
| Dependent Undergraduates (excluding those whose parents cannot borrow PLUS) |
$23,000 |
$31,000 |
| Independent Undergrads and Dependent Students whose parents can’t get PLUS |
$23,000 |
$57,500 |
| Graduate and Professional Students |
|
$138,500 |
Managing Loans
Students can learn more about managing their loans through https://studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans.