U.S. citizens attending AUB may be entitled for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program to assist them financially in their education.
General Information
Most of the information provided in the Federal Direct Loan Section comes from The Guide to Federal Student Aid booklet distributed by the U.S. Department of Education. Hard copies are available as well at AUB's Financial Aid Office. In addition the FAFSA (
www.fafsa.ed.gov) website provides considerable information and online help.
US Federal Financial Aid
US financial aid includes several types of programs, however AUB only participates with the Federal Direct Loans and Direct PLUS Loans. There are other programs such as Pell Grants, Campus-Based programs, the Perkins Loan and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), but these are not offered to students enrolled in universities located outside the United States.
Direct Loan Program
Loans made through this program are referred to as Direct Loans. Direct Loan Funds come directly from the Federal Government, and include:
- Subsidized Loan
- Unsubsidized LoaN
- Direct PLUS Loans
- You repay these loans to the U.S. Department of Education's Direct Loan Servicing Center.
- Student loans are borrowed money that must be repaid, with interest, just like car loans and mortgages.
- Student loans cannot be canceled because you didn’t get—or didn’t like—the education you paid for with the loans, didn’t get a job in your field of study or because you’re having financial difficulty.
- Loans are legal obligations, so think about the amount you’ll have to repay before you take out a loan.
- The maximum Direct Loan amount you can borrow each Academic Year depends on your academic level in school and whether you are a dependent or independent student.
- Students who demonstrate financial need are eligible for a subsidized Direct Loan to cover some or all of that need.
- For students who are eligible for a subsidized Direct Loan, the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you’re in school at least Half-time, during the first six months after you leave school (your grace period) and during a deferment (a postponement of loan payments).
- Unsubsidized Direct Loans do not require a student to have financial need. The borrower is responsible for paying all interest on unsubsidized Direct Loans.