Student loans can help finance your education but must be repaid, often with interest. If you apply for financial aid, your offer may include loan options.

Before applying for a loan, consider the following:

  • Types of Loans
  • Application Process
  • Loan Limits
  • Cost of Borrowing
  • Repayment
  • Loan Forgiveness

It is important to know there are loans available for higher education for both students and parents: Once App State receives your FAFSA, we provide an aid offer that will include any federal student loan eligibility you may have.

Student Loans

Federal Direct Student Loans

  • Loan is in the student’s name and is the responsibility of the student to repay.
  • Subsidized Direct Student Loans do not accrue interest while enrolled at least half time.
  • Unsubsidized Direct Student Loans accrue interest after disbursement.
  • Interest rates are fixed for the life of the loan.
  • Federal student loans also have fees.
  • Do not require a credit history or a credit check.
  • Have a six-month grace period after you’ve graduated or dropped below half time when you do not have to begin paying back the loan or accrue interest.
  • Have both standard and income-driven repayment options.

Private Student Loans

  • Loan is in the student’s name and is the responsibility of the student to repay.
  • Borrower chooses the lender.
  • Accrues interest after disbursement.
  • Interest rates can be variable or fixed.
  • Require a credit history or a credit check.
  • Can have a parent or third-party co-signer to help with approval or interest rate.
Parent Loans

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans

  • Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan is in the parent’s name and is the responsibility of the parent to repay.
  • Interest rates are fixed for the life of the loan.
  • Federal parent loans also have fees.
  • Require a limited credit check. Eligibility is based on the absence of adverse credit history.
  • Eligible for deferment of repayment until after student graduates or drops below half time.

Private Parent Loans

  • Loan is in the parent’s name and is the responsibility of the parent to repay.
  • Borrower choses the lender.
  • Accrues interest after disbursement.
  • Interest rates can be variable or fixed and are dependent on credit rating.
  • Require a credit history or a credit check
  • Can have a third-party co-signer to help with approval or interest rate

Application Process

Navigating the loan application process does not have to be difficult. We've got you covered. Learn how students and parents can apply for federal and private loans and understand key requirements.

Federal Direct Student Loans
  • Complete the FAFSA using App State’s school code 002906.
  • Complete the required online Entrance Counseling to ensure you understand your loan responsibilities.
  • Complete the required a Master Promissory Note (MPN) which is a legal agreement outlining the loan’s terms.
Federal Direct Parent Loan (FPLUS)
Private Student or Parent Loans
  • Review available private loan programs.
  • Decide how much you need to borrow.
  • If you are an undergraduate or a parent with limited credit, decide if you would benefit from a co-signer for lower rates.
  • Choose your lender and submit your application directly to the lender.
  • Once approved, the lender will send a certification request to App State and it will be added to your financial aid.

Loan Limits

There are limits to how much you can borrow with federal and private loans. Learn what those limits are and how they may affect your financial aid options.

Federal Student and Parent Loan Limits

The following chart shows the annual and aggregate limits for subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

The following chart shows the annual and aggregate limits for subsidized and unsubsidized loans.
YearDependent StudentsIndependent StudentsParent of Undergraduate StudentGraduate Students
1st year$5500 with no more than $3500 in subsidized loans$9500 with no more than $3500 of this as subsidizedas of July 1, 2026 $20,000 PLUS loan maximum per student$20,500 unsubsidized, Grad PLUS no longer available to new borrowers after 7/1/26
2nd year$6500 with no more than $4500 in subsidized loans$10,500 with no more than $4500 of this as subsidizedas of July 1, 2026 $20,000 PLUS loan maximum per student$20,500 unsubsidized, Grad PLUS no longer available to new borrowers after 7/1/26
3rd year and beyond$7500 with no more than $5500 in subsidized loans$12,500 with no more than $5500 of this as subsidizedas of July 1, 2026 $20,000 PLUS loan maximum per student$20,500 unsubsidized, Grad PLUS no longer available to new borrowers after 7/1/26
Lifetime limit$31,000 with no more than $23,000 in subsidized loans$57,500 with no more than $23,000 of this as subsidizedas of July 1, 2026 lifetime borrowing maximum $57,000 per student.$100,000 lifetime borrowing maximum for Master's and PhD students
Private Loan Limits

Private loan borrowing is limited to the school’s Cost of Attendance (COA) less any other financial aid received by the student. Aggregate limits, or the total amount you can borrow over the course of your education, is dependent on the borrower's debt levels and income.

Cost of Borrowing

There are several factors that contribute to the overall cost of borrowing educational loans:

  • Origination Fee
  • Interest Rate
  • Interest Accrual

An origination fee is a charge that some lenders apply to help cover the cost of processing a loan. This fee is deducted from the loan amount before the funds are disbursed. Federal government loans include an origination fee for both student and parent borrowers. In contrast, state government and private loans are less likely to charge this fee.

The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money, typically expressed as an Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Interest rates for federal loans are fixed, meaning they remain the same for the life of the loan. Other loans can have variable interest rates, meaning they can fluctuate over time based on changes in a financial index.

Interest accrual refers to when interest begins to accumulate on your loan. For unsubsidized loans, interest starts accruing from the date the loan is disbursed. For subsidized loans, interest does not begin to accrue until the loan enters repayment—usually six months after you leave school or drop below half time.

Repayment

The start date for paying back your educational loan depends on the type of loan you borrow. 

  • Federal Student loans  go into repayment six months after the student drops below half-time enrollment.   There is a six month grace period between enrollment and repayment during which time payments are not required. For subsidized loans, interest does not accrue during the grace period.
  • Federal Parent loans allow borrowers to choose when to repay. It can begin once the loan is disbursed or 6 months after the student drops below half time. Parents can also choose to make interest-only payments to keep the interest from accumulating over time. 

Standard repayment plans are 10-years. Federal Loans offer lower monthly payments based on your income (income-driven repayment plans). For estimated repayment information, log into the Loan Simulator at studentaid.gov with your FSA credentials using your actual loan data.

If you are graduating, withdrawing or dropping below half time, you must complete exit counseling within 30 days to review repayment obligations.

Loan Forgiveness

Forgiveness programs for educational loans are very limited and require specific eligibility criteria.

For example, Federal Loan borrowers may receive loan forgiveness after working for a qualifying employer. Some State/State Agency Loans offer similar programs to encourage employment in certain professions. The NC Forgivable Loan is another example of a loan forgiveness program.