Undergraduate Loan Resources

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2025-26 Interest Rate: 6.39%
Origination Fee: 1.057% origination fee is deducted from each disbursement
The government covers the interest on Subsidized Loans while the student is enrolled. However, interest on Unsubsidized Loans starts accruing immediately when the loan is disbursed, and the student is responsible for paying that interest.

Repayment begins after enrollment drops below half-time.

Eligibility Requirements:
- Be accepted and enrolled in a degree-granting program
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Be enrolled at least half-time
- Have a valid FAFSA on file for the corresponding academic year
- Not be in default on any federal student loan
How to apply

Academic Year (Fall & Spring):

Undergraduate students are awarded their full Federal Direct Subsidized Loan eligibility upon completing the financial aid application process.

File the FAFSA
We recommend using your Unsubsidized Loan eligibility first - it has lower fees and a better interest rate than the Parent PLUS Loan.
2025-26 Interest Rate: 8.94%
Origination Fee: A 4.228% origination fee is deducted from each disbursement

Repayment begins 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. During the application process, parents are given the option to defer repayment until after your student graduates or their enrollment drops below half time.

Eligibility:

To be eligible, the student must be:
- accepted and matriculated in a degree granting program
- making satisfactory academic progress
- enrolled at least half-time
To borrow a PLUS loan for a dependent student, the parent must be the student’s biological or adoptive parent. A stepparent is also eligible to borrow a PLUS loan if his/her income and assets were listed on the FAFSA. A legal guardian or grandparent is not eligible to borrow a Federal Direct PLUS Loan.

Use our PLUS Fee Calculator to determine how much you would like to borrow.

Apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Parent Loan

First-time borrowers at Fordham:

Sign the MPN

Complete your entrance counseling

Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans

If you need to modify your federal direct subsidized/unsubsidized loan request, email [email protected] from your Fordham email address using this format:
- Subject Line: Federal Loan Adjustment
  Body: "Please (increase/decrease) my (name of loan) by ($XX) for the (fall semester/spring semester/academic year)."
Federal PLUS Loan

If you need to modify the federal direct plus parent loan request, have your parent email [email protected] from the email address on file with the PLUS application using this format:
- Subject Line: Federal Loan Adjustment
  Body: "Please (increase/decrease) my PLUS loan by ($XX) for the (fall semester/spring semester/academic year)."
Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans

Dependent First-years: $5,500 (up to $3,500 can be subsidized)
Dependent Sophomores: $6,500 (up to $4,500 can be subsidized)
Dependent Juniors/Seniors: $7,500 (up to $5,500 can be subsidized)

Lifetime Limit: $23,000 Subsidized; $31,000 Total

Federal PLUS Loan

Cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received.
Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans

Independent First-years: $9,500 (up to $3,500 can be subsidized)
Independent Sophomores: $10,500 (up to $4,500 can be subsidized)
Dependent Juniors/Seniors: $12,500 (up to $5,500 can be subsidized)

Lifetime Limit: $57,500 for independent students or students whose parents have been denied a PLUS Loan
Additional Unsubsidized Loan eligibility is available for Independent students or those whose parents are ineligible for the Federal Parent PLUS Loan: $4,000 (FR/SO) and $5,000 (JR/SR)
Loan disbursements begin three business days before the start of each term. The timing of your disbursement depends on the loan period you select, with your total loan amount evenly distributed across the semesters or trimesters included in your loan request.

A credit balance occurs when the funds applied to your account exceed your direct charges. This will be refunded within 14 days of either the first day of classes or the date funds were applied to your account—whichever is later. Refunds can only be issued after all unpaid charges on your bill are satisfied. If you anticipate receiving a refund, we strongly recommend setting up Direct Deposit for faster processing.
- Exit Counseling
- Repayment Options
- Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs
- Repayment Relief
- When You Have Surpassed Your Lifetime Loan Limit
- How To Get Out of Default
- How to Regain Eligibility After Total Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge
- Loan Repayment Simulator
Students who received a request from the financial aid office to provide documentation to clarify their federal loan default status have options to regain eligibility for federal aid. If you have already brought your defaulted loans back into good standing, please provide the financial aid office with documentation from your loan servicer. The Department of Education provides helpful resources regarding federal loan default status.
This is a period during which repayment of the principal and interest of your loan is temporarily delayed. During a deferment/forbearance, you do not need to make payments. You are responsible for paying the interest that accrues (accumulates) during the deferment period, but your payment is not due during the deferment period. You can request a deferment or forbearance by contacting your loan servicer.

Your loans are automatically put into deferment if you are a student in a degree granting program and enrolled at least ½ time.

See the federal student aid web site for further details.
- - Appeal your credit decision by documenting extenuating circumstances.*
  - Get an Endorser* – You may add an endorser (co-signer) to your PLUS Application. They will need the ‘Endorser Code’ from your initial PLUS Request to complete the process.
  - Additional Unsubsidized Loan – Students whose parents have been denied a PLUS loan are eligible for an additional $4,000 (freshmen/sophomores) or $5,000 (juniors/seniors) in Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
  * Parents who are subsequently approved as a result of an appeal or obtaining an endorser are required to complete an online “PLUS Credit Counseling” session.
- Federal Student Aid – Visit this informative web site for information about all federal aid. loan programs, and to complete requirements such as the Master Promissory Note and Loan Entrance Counseling.
- Federal Student Aid Loan Consolidation – Get details about the application process for federal loan consolidation.
- National Student Loan Data System – Log in and get a complete listing of all your loans as well as the servicer for each. You can also complete exit counseling on this site.
- Loan Repayment Simulator – Simulate future loan payments.
- Please allow two weeks for your loan request to be processed.
- If your actual enrollment is fewer credits than reported on your loan request, the University may reduce your loan amount accordingly.
- Your total loan amount will be automatically evenly distributed across those terms unless otherwise specified.

Graduate PLUS Loan Fee Calculator

Use the PLUS Loan Calculator below to determine exactly how much to request:

Calculate the amount

Private Education Loans

Private Education Loans are obtained from various lenders to cover educational costs up to the full cost of attendance. We recommend exploring federal loan options before applying for a Private Education Loan.

We recommend using ELM Select to compare lenders. The lenders listed have been vetted and used by Fordham students, but you’re free to choose any lender you prefer.

Apply for a private loan

The application process varies from lender to lender. Once you choose a lender, you should apply directly through their site. Make sure you understand the eligibility criteria, interest rate, fees, and repayment terms before you select a lender.
We suggest using ELM Select as a research tool to help compare lenders. The lenders displayed on ELM Select and listed below have been carefully vetted and used by Fordham students in the past. You are not limited to these lenders and you may choose any lender you wish.
Remember, the application process for private loans varies from lender to lender. Once you choose a lender, you should apply directly through their site. Make sure you understand the eligibility criteria, interest rate, fees, and repayment terms before you select a lender.
The interest rate may be variable or fixed.

The period of repayment varies by lender, and typically ranges from five to fifteen years. Many lenders will require a monthly payment while the student is in school (e.g. interest only payments or $50 per month).
- Lenders for International Students
  - MPower Financing offers loans to international students within 2 years of graduating or about to begin a 1 or 2-year program. A cosigner with U.S. Citizenship is NOT required.
- Lenders for Student Denied Credit-based Loans
  - Funding U: The Funding U approval criteria is driven primarily by academic standing as opposed to credit background. Here are some details on the eligibility criteria:
    - Full-time Enrollment Required
    - The amount of the loan can range from $3,000 - $15,000
    - No cosigner required
    - GPA Requirements by student level
      - First-year students: must have had a 3.5 GPA in high school
      - Sophomores: 3.0 cumulative GPA
      - Juniors: 2.75 cumulative GPA
      - Seniors: 2.5 cumulative GPA

Required Disclosure Information for Borrowers

In accordance with HEOA 489 Amended HEA Sec. 485B, Fordham University is required to disclose to all borrowers that any loan borrowed by a student or eligible parent will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The information reported to NSLDS will be accessible by guarantee agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.

Borrowers may review their NSLDS history and information at any time at www.nslds.ed.gov.

Upon request, Fordham University will provide the self-certification form for private education loans required under Sec. 128(e)(3) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(e)(3) and the information required to complete the form, to the extent that Fordham University possesses the information.

Amount You Are Borrowing:
Fees:
Amount You Will Receive:

Amount Needed:
Fees:
Amount You Will Need to Request: