Terms and conditions of loans
In general
Parallel terms, conditions, benefits, and amounts
Designation of loans
Loans made to borrowers under this part that, except as otherwise specified in this part, have the same terms, conditions, and benefits as loans made to borrowers under—
section 1078 of this title shall be known as “Federal Direct Stafford Loans”;
section 1078–2 of this title shall be known as “Federal Direct PLUS Loans”;
section 1078–3 of this title shall be known as “Federal Direct Consolidation Loans”; and
section 1078–8 of this title shall be known as “Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans”.
Termination of authority to make interest subsidized loans to graduate and professional students
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B) and notwithstanding any provision of this part or part B, for any period of instruction beginning on or after
a graduate or professional student shall not be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Stafford loan under this part; and
the maximum annual amount of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans such a student may borrow in any academic year (as defined in section 1088(a)(2) of this title) or its equivalent shall be the maximum annual amount for such student determined under section 1078–8 of this title, plus an amount equal to the amount of Federal Direct Stafford loans the student would have received in the absence of this subparagraph.
Exception
Interest rate
Rates for FDSL and FDUSL
For Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans for which the first disbursement is made on or after
the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1; plus
3.1 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
In school and grace period rules
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), but subject to paragraph (3), with respect to any Federal Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
prior to the beginning of the repayment period of the loan; or
during the period in which principal need not be paid (whether or not such principal is in fact paid) by reason of a provision described in section 1078(b)(1)(M) or 1077(a)(2)(C) of this title,
shall not exceed the rate determined under subparagraph (B).
For the purpose of subparagraph (A), the rate determined under this subparagraph shall, during any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to—
the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction prior to such June 1; plus
2.5 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
Out-year rule
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans made on or after
the bond equivalent rate of the security with a comparable maturity as established by the Secretary; plus
1.0 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
Rates for FDPLUS
For Federal Direct PLUS Loans for which the first disbursement is made on or after
the bond equivalent rate of 52-week Treasury bills auctioned at final auction held prior to such June 1; plus
3.1 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 9 percent.
For any 12-month period beginning on July 1 of 2001 or any succeeding year, the applicable rate of interest determined under this subparagraph shall be determined on the preceding June 26 and be equal to—
the weekly average 1-year constant maturity Treasury yield, as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, for the last calendar week ending on or before such June 26; plus
3.1 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 9 percent.
For Federal Direct PLUS loans made on or after
the bond equivalent rate of the security with a comparable maturity as established by the Secretary; plus
2.1 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 9 percent.
Temporary interest rate provision
Rates for FDSL and FDUSL
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans for which the first disbursement is made on or after
the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1; plus
2.3 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
In school and grace period rules
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, with respect to any Federal Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
prior to the beginning of the repayment period of the loan; or
during the period in which principal need not be paid (whether or not such principal is in fact paid) by reason of a provision described in section 1078(b)(1)(M) or 1077(a)(2)(C) of this title,
shall be determined under subparagraph (A) by substituting “1.7 percent” for “2.3 percent”.
PLUS loans
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, with respect to Federal Direct PLUS Loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
by substituting “3.1 percent” for “2.3 percent”; and
by substituting “9.0 percent” for “8.25 percent”.
Interest rate provision for new loans on or after October 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2006
Rates for FDSL and FDUSL
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans for which the first disbursement is made on or after
the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1; plus
2.3 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
In school and grace period rules
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, with respect to any Federal Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
prior to the beginning of the repayment period of the loan; or
during the period in which principal need not be paid (whether or not such principal is in fact paid) by reason of a provision described in section 1078(b)(1)(M) or 1077(a)(2)(C) of this title,
shall be determined under subparagraph (A) by substituting “1.7 percent” for “2.3 percent”.
PLUS loans
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, with respect to Federal Direct PLUS Loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
by substituting “3.1 percent” for “2.3 percent”; and
by substituting “9.0 percent” for “8.25 percent”.
Consolidation loans
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, any Federal Direct Consolidation loan for which the application is received on or after
the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher one-eighth of one percent; or
8.25 percent.
Temporary rules for consolidation loans
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, any Federal Direct Consolidation loan for which the application is received on or after
the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1; plus
2.3 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
Interest rate provision for new loans on or after July 1, 2006 and before July 1, 2013
Rates for FDSL and FDUSL
PLUS loans
Consolidation loans
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, any Federal Direct Consolidation loan for which the application is received on or after
the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher one-eighth of one percent; or
8.25 percent.
Reduced rates for undergraduate FDSL
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection and subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, for Federal Direct Stafford Loans made to undergraduate students for which the first disbursement is made on or after
For a loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
For a loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
For a loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
For a loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
For a loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after
Interest rate provisions for new loans on or after July 1, 2013
Rates for undergraduate FDSL and FDUSL
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans issued to undergraduate students, for which the first disbursement is made on or after
a rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1 plus 2.05 percent; or
8.25 percent.
Rates for graduate and professional FDUSL
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans issued to graduate or professional students, for which the first disbursement is made on or after
a rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1 plus 3.6 percent; or
9.5 percent.
PLUS loans
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, for Federal Direct PLUS Loans, for which the first disbursement is made on or after
a rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1 plus 4.6 percent; or
10.5 percent.
Consolidation loans
Consultation
Rate
Repayment incentives
Incentives for loans disbursed before July 1, 2012
Accountability
No repayment incentives for new loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2012
Publication
Loan fee
In general
Subsequent reduction
Paragraph (1) shall be applied to loans made under this part, other than Federal Direct Consolidation loans and Federal Direct PLUS loans—
by substituting “3.0 percent” for “4.0 percent” with respect to loans for which the first disbursement of principal is made on or after
by substituting “2.5 percent” for “4.0 percent” with respect to loans for which the first disbursement of principal is made on or after
by substituting “2.0 percent” for “4.0 percent” with respect to loans for which the first disbursement of principal is made on or after
by substituting “1.5 percent” for “4.0 percent” with respect to loans for which the first disbursement of principal is made on or after
by substituting “1.0 percent” for “4.0 percent” with respect to loans for which the first disbursement of principal is made on or after
Repayment plans
Design and selection
Consistent with criteria established by the Secretary, the Secretary shall offer a borrower of a loan made under this part a variety of plans for repayment of such loan, including principal and interest on the loan. The borrower shall be entitled to accelerate, without penalty, repayment on the borrower’s loans under this part. The borrower may choose—
a standard repayment plan, consistent with subsection (a)(1) of this section and with section 1078(b)(9)(A)(i) of this title;
a graduated repayment plan, consistent with section 1078(b)(9)(A)(ii) of this title;
an extended repayment plan, consistent with section 1078(b)(9)(A)(iv) of this title, except that the borrower shall annually repay a minimum amount determined by the Secretary in accordance with section 1078(b)(1)(L) of this title;
an income contingent repayment plan, with varying annual repayment amounts based on the income of the borrower, paid over an extended period of time prescribed by the Secretary, not to exceed 25 years, except that the plan described in this subparagraph shall not be available to the borrower of a Federal Direct PLUS loan made on behalf of a dependent student; and
beginning on
Selection by Secretary
Changes in selections
Alternative repayment plans
Repayment after default
The Secretary may require any borrower who has defaulted on a loan made under this part to—
pay all reasonable collection costs associated with such loan; and
repay the loan pursuant to an income contingent repayment plan.
Income contingent repayment
Information and procedures
Repayment based on adjusted gross income
Additional documents
Repayment schedules
Calculation of balance due
Notification to borrowers
Maximum repayment period
In calculating the extended period of time for which an income contingent repayment plan under this subsection may be in effect for a borrower, the Secretary shall include all time periods during which a borrower of loans under part B, part D, or part E—
is not in default on any loan that is included in the income contingent repayment plan; and
is in deferment due to an economic hardship described in section 1085(o) of this title;
makes monthly payments under paragraph (1) or (6) of section 1098e(b) of this title;
makes monthly payments of not less than the monthly amount calculated under section 1078(b)(9)(A)(i) of this title or subsection (d)(1)(A), based on a 10-year repayment period, when the borrower first made the election described in section 1098e(b)(1) of this title;
makes payments of not less than the payments required under a standard repayment plan under section 1078(b)(9)(A)(i) of this title or subsection (d)(1)(A) with a repayment period of 10 years; or
makes payments under an income contingent repayment plan under subsection (d)(1)(D).
Automatic recertification
In general
The Secretary shall establish and implement, with respect to any borrower described in subparagraph (B), procedures to—
use return information disclosed under section 6103(l)(13) of title 26, pursuant to approval provided under section 1098h of this title, to determine the repayment obligation of the borrower without further action by the borrower;
allow the borrower (or the spouse of the borrower), at any time, to opt out of disclosure under such section 6103(l)(13) and instead provide such information as the Secretary may require to determine the repayment obligation of the borrower (or withdraw from the repayment plan under this subsection); and
provide the borrower with an opportunity to update the return information so disclosed before the determination of the repayment obligation of the borrower.
Applicability
Subparagraph (A) shall apply to each borrower of a loan made under this part who, on or after the date on which the Secretary establishes procedures under such subparagraph—
selects, or is required to repay such loan pursuant to, an income-contingent repayment plan; or
recertifies income or family size under such plan.
Deferment
Effect on principal and interest
A borrower of a loan made under this part who meets the requirements described in paragraph (2) shall be eligible for a deferment, during which periodic installments of principal need not be paid, and interest—
shall not accrue, in the case of a—
Federal Direct Stafford Loan; or
a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan that consolidated only Federal Direct Stafford Loans, or a combination of such loans and Federal Stafford Loans for which the student borrower received an interest subsidy under section 1078 of this title; or
shall accrue and be capitalized or paid by the borrower, in the case of a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan not described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
Eligibility
A borrower of a loan made under this part shall be eligible for a deferment during any period—
during which the borrower—
is carrying at least one-half the normal full-time work load for the course of study that the borrower is pursuing, as determined by the eligible institution (as such term is defined in section 1085(a) of this title) the borrower is attending; or
is pursuing a course of study pursuant to a graduate fellowship program approved by the Secretary, or pursuant to a rehabilitation training program for individuals with disabilities approved by the Secretary,
except that no borrower shall be eligible for a deferment under this subparagraph, or a loan made under this part (other than a Federal Direct PLUS Loan or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan), while serving in a medical internship or residency program;
not in excess of 3 years during which the borrower is seeking and unable to find full-time employment;
during which the borrower—
is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; or
is performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency,
and for the 180-day period following the demobilization date for the service described in clause (i) or (ii); or
not in excess of 3 years during which the Secretary determines, in accordance with regulations prescribed under section 1085(o) of this title, that the borrower has experienced or will experience an economic hardship.
Deferment for borrowers receiving cancer treatment
Effect on principal and interest
Eligibility
A borrower of a loan made under this part shall be eligible for a deferment during—
any period in which such borrower is receiving treatment for cancer; and
the 6 months after such period.
Applicability
This paragraph shall apply with respect to loans—
made on or after
in repayment on
“Borrower” defined
Deferments for previous part B loan borrowers
Federal Direct Consolidation Loans
Borrower defenses
Loan application and promissory note
Loan disbursement
In general
Payment periods
Fiscal control and fund accountability
In general
An institution shall maintain financial records in a manner consistent with records maintained for other programs under this subchapter.
Except as otherwise required by regulations of the Secretary 1 an institution may maintain loan funds under this part in the same account as other Federal student financial assistance.
Payments and refunds
Transaction histories
Armed Forces student loan interest payment program
Authority
Forbearance
Repayment plan for public service employees
In general
The Secretary shall cancel the balance of interest and principal due, in accordance with paragraph (2), on any eligible Federal Direct Loan not in default for a borrower who—
has made 120 monthly payments on the eligible Federal Direct Loan after
payments under an income-based repayment plan under section 1098e of this title;
payments under a standard repayment plan under subsection (d)(1)(A), based on a 10-year repayment period;
monthly payments under a repayment plan under subsection (d)(1) or (g) of not less than the monthly amount calculated under subsection (d)(1)(A), based on a 10-year repayment period; or
payments under an income contingent repayment plan under subsection (d)(1)(D); and
is employed in a public service job at the time of such forgiveness; and
has been employed in a public service job during the period in which the borrower makes each of the 120 payments described in subparagraph (A).
Loan cancellation amount
Definitions
In this subsection:
Eligible Federal Direct Loan
Public service job
The term “public service job” means—
a full-time job in emergency management, government (excluding time served as a member of Congress), military service, public safety, law enforcement, public health (including nurses, nurse practitioners, nurses in a clinical setting, and full-time professionals engaged in health care practitioner occupations and health care support occupations, as such terms are defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics), public education, social work in a public child or family service agency, public interest law services (including prosecution or public defense or legal advocacy on behalf of low-income communities at a nonprofit organization), early childhood education (including licensed or regulated childcare, Head Start, and State funded prekindergarten), public service for individuals with disabilities, public service for the elderly, public library sciences, school-based library sciences and other school-based services, or at an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of title 26 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such title; or
teaching as a full-time faculty member at a Tribal College or University as defined in section 1059c(b) of this title and other faculty teaching in high-needs subject areas or areas of shortage (including nurse faculty, foreign language faculty, and part-time faculty at community colleges), as determined by the Secretary.
Ineligibility for double benefits
Identity fraud protection
No accrual of interest for active duty service members
In general
Consolidation loans
Eligible military borrower
In this subsection, the term “eligible military borrower” means an individual who—
is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; or
is performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; and
is serving in an area of hostilities in which service qualifies for special pay under section 310, or paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a), of title 37.
Limitation
Disclosures
Eligibility for, and interest charges on, Federal Direct Stafford Loans for new borrowers on or after July 1, 2013
In general
Accrual of interest on Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Period of enrollment
In general
The aggregate period of enrollment referred to in paragraph (1) shall not exceed the lesser of—
a period equal to 150 percent of the published length of the educational program in which the student is enrolled; or
in the case of a borrower who was previously enrolled in one or more other educational programs that began on or after
150 percent of the published length of the longest educational program in which the borrower was, or is, enrolled; and
any periods of enrollment in which the borrower received a Federal Direct Stafford Loan.
Regulations
The Secretary shall specify in regulation—
how the aggregate period described in subparagraph (A) shall be calculated with respect to a borrower who was or is enrolled on less than a full-time basis; and
how such aggregate period shall be calculated to include a course of study or program described in paragraph (3)(B) or (4)(B) of section 1091(b) of this title, respectively.