ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´

Federal Direct Loan Program

Undergraduate and Graduate

ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ participates in the William D. Ford ÌýProgram. These loans are provided by the federal government and require you to first file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Direct Loan Program provides a simple way to obtain and repay student loans; the U.S. Department of Education is the lender and the loan funds are sent directly to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´.

If you borrowed federal loans at a previous institution, you can combine those loans with the Federal Direct Loans under the Direct Consolidation Loan Program. Your academic year level and dependency status determines the maximum annual amount you may be eligible to borrow; the federal government also monitors loan aggregates for both undergraduate and graduate students.

What Kinds of Direct Loans are Available?

  • Direct Subsidized Loans are loans for students with financial need, as determined by federal regulations. Generally, there is no interest charged while you are in school at least half-time, during your grace period and during deferment periods (certain restrictions apply). In general, you may not receive Direct Subsidized Loans for more than 150% of the published program length of your program.
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans for students that are not based on financial need. Interest is charged during all periods. The interest on your loan accumulates while you are in school. You may choose to either pay the interest or to defer the interest payment, in which case it will be capitalized.

Federal Direct Loan Limits

Current/Legacy Borrowers

Annual Maximum Limit (Federal Direct - Sub & Unsub)Dependent StudentIndependent Student
Year 1 $5,500 (No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans) $9,500 (No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans)
Year 2 $6,500 (No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans) $10,500 (No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans)
Years 3, 4, & 5 $7,500 (No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans) $12,500 (No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans)
Graduate/Professional n/a $20,500 Unsubsidized funding per academic yearÌý
Aggregate LimitsDependent StudentÌýIndependent StudentÌý
Dependent Undergraduate $31,000 (No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans) n/a
Independent Undergraduate n/a $57,500 (No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans)
Graduate n/a $138,500Ìý (No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans)

ÌýNon-Legacy Borrowers

Aggregate LimitsDependent StudentÌýIndependent StudentÌý
Dependent Undergraduate $31,000 (No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans) n/a
Independent Undergraduate n/a $57,500 (No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans)
Graduate n/a $100,000 (includes all Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans received for graduate study)

Lifetime Maximum Loan LimitÌý

$257,500 includes Subsidized loans, Unsubsidized loans and PLUS loans for graduate or professional students regardless of any amount paid or discharged.Ìý

Important Notes:

  • Subsidized Loan eligibility is still based on demonstrated financial need.
  • Annual loan eligibility may be reduced for student enrolled less than full time under Schedule of Reductions (SOR) provisions.
  • Aggregate limits include all federal Direct Loans borrowed throughout a students academic career.
  • Amounts borrowed as an undergraduate count toward graduate aggregate limits.

Legacy Borrower Information

Students who borrowed federal student loans prior to July 1, 2026 may remain eligible for previous federal borrowing provisions, depending on federal grandfathering criteria and continued enrollment status.

Legacy borrowers may:

  • Retain eligibility for Graduate PLUS Loans
  • Remain subject to previous aggregate borrowing limits
  • Have different annual borrowing eligibility than new borrowers beginning Summer 2026.

Because eligibility may vary based on individual borrowing history and enrollment status, students with questions are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office directly.Ìý

Interest Rates and Fees

If you receive a federal student loan, you will be required to repay that loan with interest. It is important that you understand how interest is calculated and the fees associated with your loan. Both of these factors will impact the amount you will be required to repay. A federal student loan is a loan funded by the federal government to help pay for your education. A federal student loan is borrowed money you must repay with interest. Please see additional

Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling

If you intend to borrow a federal student Subsidized or Unsubsidized Direct Loan you must complete the following two required federal loan documents:

  1. ; required to borrow a federal loan. Legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the US Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loans.
  2. ; required to borrow a student loan. The counseling ensures that you understand the responsibilities and obligations you are assuming.

Federal Direct Loan Reduction for Less-Than-Full-Time Enrollment

Federal student loan annual limits will be reduced for students enrolled less than-full-time beginning with the Summer 2026 term. The reduction is based on enrollment across the academic year.Ìý

Students who enroll less than full-time, or who drop below full-time enrollment, will now have their annual federal student loan limit reduced in proportion to their enrollment for theÌýacademic year.ÌýFor example, if full-time enrollment for undergraduates is 24 credit hours for the academic year (fall/spring) and a student enrolls in 18 credit hours for the academic year, the student would be eligible for 75% of the applicable annual loan limit:Ìý18 ÷ 24 = 75%.ÌýThis calculation is based on enrollment for theÌýacademic year, not separately by term.

Federal loans affected by this requirement include:

  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loans for undergraduate students
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students
  • Federal Graduate PLUS Loans for graduate or professional students who remain eligible under the federal interim/legacy provisions

Federal Parent PLUS Loans are not subject to the less-than-full-time annual loan limit reduction.

Each applicable loan type is reduced separately based on the student’s enrollment status.

To learn how this affects your Federal Direct Loan eligibility please refer to our policies and contact our office to speak with an advisor regarding your specific aid package.Ìý

Exit Counseling

All federal loan borrowers are required to complete prior to graduation, leave of absence, or withdrawal from school. The purpose of the exit counseling is to inform borrowers of the provisions of the loan(s) as well as their rights and responsibilities now that the loan(s) will be in another status.

Students who have additional questions about the Exit Counseling process should contact Office of Financial Aid at 585-389-2310 or finaid@naz.edu.

Graduate Student Loan Eligibility

Graduate students are eligible to borrow as long as the following conditions are met:

  • You are matriculated in a graduate program
  • You are registered for at least 6 credit hours per semester
  • You have filed the FAFSA
  • You have completed
  • You have completed a
  • You have Federal Direct loan eligibility remaining

Upon receipt of a FAFSA, the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Financial Aid Office will automatically offer you the Unsubsidized Direct Loan.

  • If you want to decline the entire loan, you may decline the entire loan amount on NazNet, email the financial aid office at finaid@naz.edu, or call the financial aid office at 585-389-2310.
  • If you want to decline a portion of the loan, you must contact the financial aid office atÌý585-389-2310 or finaid@naz.edu.