Loans

Cameron University will participate in the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program beginning July 1, 2010. Students and parents who previously received loans through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program will now borrow through the Direct Loan Program. The Direct Loan Program offers the same types of loans as the FFEL Program and Direct Loans generally have the same terms and conditions as FFEL Program loans, but instead of a bank lending the money, the U.S. Department of Education (The Department) lends the money directly to students and parents through the student’s school. There are also some differences in the names of the loans. The FFEL Program’s Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) are called Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans in the Direct Loan Program. Federal PLUS Loans are called Direct PLUS Loans.

Benefits of the Direct Loan Program

Direct Loans and FFEL Program loans have the same annual and aggregate loan limits, the same deferment and cancellation provisions, and most of the same repayment plans (Standard, Graduated, Extended, Income-Based). The interest rates for FFEL Program Stafford Loans and Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans are also the same. Direct Loans also have some benefits that are available only in the Direct Loan Program:

Lower interest rate on Direct PLUS Loans (7.9% vs. 8.5% for Federal PLUS Loans)
Up-Front Interest Rebate
Income Contingent Repayment Plan (in addition to the Income-Based Repayment Plan)
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
No interest charged (for up to 60 months) during qualifying periods of active duty military service (for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2008)

First-Time Direct Loan Borrowers Must Complete a Direct Loan MPN

If you have not previously received a Direct Loan, you must complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). Although you may have previously signed an MPN to receive FFEL Program loans, a FFEL MPN cannot be used to make Direct Loans.

The MPN is the legal document through which you promise to repay your Direct Loans and any accrued interest and fees to the Department. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loans. A Direct Loan MPN can be used to make loans for up to ten (10) years. You may complete a Direct Loan MPN electronically via the StudentLoans.gov Web site at https://studentloans.gov

To complete a Direct Loan MPN electronically, you must have a Federal Student Aid PIN. The Federal Student Aid PIN is the same PIN used to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

First-Time Student Loan Borrowers Must Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling

If you are an undergraduate or graduate/professional student and have not previously received a FFEL or Direct Loan program loan, you must complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling before you can receive a Direct Loan.

You may complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling electronically via the StudentLoans.gov Web site at https://studentloans.gov . A Federal Student Aid PIN is required to complete online Direct Loan Entrance Counseling.

Direct PLUS Loan Application Process

If you are a parent wishing to apply for the Direct PLUS Loan, please visit https://studentloans.gov to learn how to submit your PLUS loan application.

Consolidating FFEL Program Loans into the Direct Loan Program

If you already have FFEL Program loans and will now be receiving Direct Loans, consolidating your FFEL and Direct Loan program loans together into a Direct Consolidation loan may make loan repayment easier. If you consolidate, you will have just a single monthly payment. Consolidating your FFEL Program loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan may also allow you to take advantage of certain benefits that are offered only in the Direct Loan Program, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and the Income Contingent Repayment Plan.

To learn more about when you may consolidate, the pros and cons of doing so, and the application process call 800/557-7392 (TDD/TTY: 800/557-7395).