Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan
(Formerly Stafford Loan) Federal student loans awarded without regard to financial need. The
FAFSA must be filed in order to obtain this loan; there is no qualifying income for parents or students. Unlike
Direct Subsidized Student Loans, the student is charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full, including in-school, grace and deferment periods. However, students typically have the option of compounding interest during these periods and adding that to the loan principal that is paid back after graduation or upon leaving school, or dropping below half-time status.
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