Student Loans Available Directly from the Federal Government

by: Michael Saunders
Federal Direct Student Loans are available to assist those vocational, undergraduate, and graduate postsecondary students (or their parents) and allows them to borrow money directly from the Federal government. This is done so that these students or their parents do not have to take out loans through private or other commercial lenders that oftentimes have much higher interest rates or simply will not provide a loan.

There are different variations of a Federal Direct Student Loan available; these are dependent on whether or not the student is eligible for government assistance. Need based programs include the Stafford Loan and the Direct Subsidized Loan; while non-need based programs are the Direct PLUS program, and the Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Federal Direct Student Loans are overseen by the Department of Education. In order to be eligible for Federal Direct Student Loans the student is required to be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen (this means those with a Alien Registration Card or those with a Arrival Departure Record with specific designations).

To qualify for Federal Direct Student Loans the student must be accepted or currently already enrolled in a degree or certificate program. The student has to be at least a half-time basis undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at a postsecondary that participates with Federal Direct Student Loans. Students are not allowed to owe a refund on another a Title IV grant, and cannot currently have a Title IV loan that is defaulted. The student will also have to get a certification of eligibility from their school.
  (continued...)

Student Loans Available Directly from the Federal Government
  Page 2

About The Author The author edits a site featuring Education Grants and another Government Grants site providing info on every grant the federal government offers. Michael Saunders has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Additional Resources

category - Education Grants

The Future Leaders Exchange Program: Host Family and School Placement and Monitoring
The ECA has constituted the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program wherein it seeks to promote mutual understanding between the citizens of the United States of America and the inhabitants of Eurasia by way of sending secondary school students from Eurasia to live in an American community for a full academic year.

---

What's this I Hear About a Free Application for Federal Student Aid?
Are you struggling to get through school financially but not sure where to turn next? Have you exhausted loan options but are sick of paying large fees just to apply for the loan and being turned down anyway at the end? You will be glad to find out that that there are cost-free Federal Student Aid applications available to you.

---

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program revolves around improving then country's information infrastructure through the utilization of funding projects that are designed to address the education and training needs of certain professionals who help build, maintain and provide the public with immediate access to some of the world's vast and wide-ranging information systems and resources.

---

SMART Grants - Educational Grants for the Student of Math, Science and Languages
National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants assist those undergraduate postsecondary students that major in foreign languages or certain designated technical fields. Financial grant assistance is provided on need-basis to help these students meet their educational expenses.

---