Graduate Loans

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  • Interest Rate: 7.94% | Origination Fee: 1.057% deducted from each disbursement

    Annual Limit (subject to enrollment proration starting in Fall ‘26)
    Up to $20,500 for most students.
    Up to $50,000 for Law students pursuing a J.D. and Graduate Education students pursuing a Phd in School Psychology or Counseling Psychology

    Enrollment Proration
    Loan eligibility is adjusted based on enrollment:

    • Full-Time Enrollment: $20,500 annual eligibility (100%)
    • 3/4 Time Enrollment: $15,375 annual eligibility (75%)
    • Half-Time Enrollment: $10,250 annual eligibility (50%)

    Aggregate (Lifetime) Limits
    Your lifetime borrowing limit depends on when you first received a federal loan:

    • Current Borrowers (Pre-7/1/26): $138,500 combined Undergraduate and Graduate debt.
    • New Borrowers (On or After 7/1/26): $100,000 Graduate-only debt (Undergraduate debt is excluded).

    Eligibility:

    How to apply

    Requesting Your 2025-26 Federal Loan
    (Fall ‘25, Spring ‘26 & Summer ‘26):

    1. File the 25-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    2. Visit our Application Page
    3. Complete your Loan Request Form
      1. Your expected credit hours are used to determine your loan eligibility.
      2. Enrolling in fewer credits than reported may result in a loan reduction.
      3. If your loan covers multiple terms, the total amount will be split equally across those terms.

  • We recommend using your Unsubsidized Loan eligibility first — it has lower fees and a better interest rate than the Graduate PLUS Loan.

    Interest Rate: 8.94% | Origination Fee: 4.228% deducted from each disbursement

    Annual Limit: Cost of Attendance minus other aid

    Current Direct Loan Borrowers (Pre-7/1/26) may continue borrowing Graduate PLUS Loans under existing terms for the remainder of their current program or three years, whichever comes first — as long as you stay continuously enrolled in the same program at Fordham.

    Graduate PLUS Loans will no longer be available to new borrowers as of 7/1/26.

    Eligibility:

    • U.S. Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens must have a valid 2025-26 FAFSA.
    • A credit check is required as part of the application, and you must be approved to receive the loan.
    • Students must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting or eligible certificate program. 
    • Continuing students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

    How to apply

    Requesting Your 2025-26 Federal PLUS Loan
    (Fall ‘25, Spring ‘26 & Summer ‘26):

    1. File the 25-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    2. Calculate the amount you need using the PLUS Loan Origination Fee Calculator.
    3. Complete Federal PLUS Loan Application.

    Helpful Application Information:

    • A credit check is required as part of the application.
    • If you choose “unknown” or “maximum” as your loan amount, you must provide Fordham with a specific loan amount using the Graduate PLUS Loan Request Form.
    • If you already have a Graduate PLUS Loan for this academic year and wish to increase it, submit a request using the Graduate PLUS Loan Request Form.

First-time borrowers at Fordham:

Sign the MPN

Complete your entrance counseling

  • If you need to modify your loan request, email [email protected] from your Fordham email address using this format:

    • Subject Line: Federal Unsubsidized or PLUS Loan Request Adjustment
    • Body: "Please (increase/decrease) my (name of loan) by ($XX) for the (fall semester/spring semester/academic year)."

  • Annual Limit: $20,500 (prorated based on enrollment)

    Enrollment Proration (Effective Fall ‘26)
    Loan eligibility is adjusted based on enrollment:

    • Full-Time Enrollment: $20,500 annual eligibility (100%)
    • 3/4 Time Enrollment: $15,375 annual eligibility (75%)
    • Half-Time Enrollment: $10,250 annual eligibility (50%)

    Aggregate (Lifetime) Limits
    Your lifetime borrowing limit depends on when you first received a federal loan:

    • Current Borrowers (Pre-7/1/26): $138,500 combined Undergraduate and Graduate debt
    • New Borrowers (On or After 7/1/26): $100,000 Graduate-only debt (Undergraduate debt is excluded)

  • 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.

  • Direct loan checklist for graduate students

    New students should claim their Fordham username before taking the steps below. They should also ensure that their admissions department has an official copy of their undergraduate transcript.

    Follow these steps to receive your Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

    1. Secure a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID)

    2. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

    3. Respond to all requests for additional documentation. Check the financial aid portal for details about any missing documents. 

    4. Submit your Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Request

    5. If this is your first time borrowing at Fordham, complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling Session

    Important Details

    • Make your loan request 2–3 weeks before you need it to be in place.
    • Approved loans typically disburse to student accounts 2–3 business days before the start of a term.
    • The total amount you request is spread evenly across the number of terms in the loan period you request. For example, if you request a $6,000 loan for fall, spring and summer, $2,000 (gross) will be scheduled for each term.
    • Federal Direct Loans cannot be used to cover prior balances for terms that have already finished classes. There are some private education loan options that can be used to cover balances from prior terms.
    • The summer term is considered a “trailer” to the academic year. (i.e., The summer 2026 term is a part of the 2025–2026 academic year.)
    • There is a 1.057% origination fee assessed by the Department of Education that is deducted from each loan disbursement. Make sure you consider this fee when calculating how much you need to borrow for each semester.

  • If you have inadvertently exceeded your undergraduate aggregate limit, here are some options for you to regain federal eligibility to borrow as a Graduate Student:

    • Consolidate Your Loans - Federal Direct Loan Consolidation loan is considered to be a satisfactory arrangement to repay the excess amount that restores the borrower’s eligibility for FSA aid. Once your consolidation loan is finalized, submit the documentation to our financial aid office.
    • Repay the amount that is over the aggregate limit

    If you have received Federal Direct Loans up to but not exceeding the aggregate limit for graduate students, you are still eligible to borrow a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan.

  • 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.

  • ** If you are subsequently approved after using one of these options you must complete PLUS Credit Counseling before your loan will disburse.

  • Repayment of Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans begin after enrollment drops below half-time.

    Multiple repayment plans are available, including options that base your monthly payment on your income or give you a fixed payment. If you experience hardship, you may temporarily suspend payments by qualifying for a deferment or forbearance.

Graduate PLUS Loan Fee Calculator

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


Private Education Loans

Private Education Loans are available from a variety of lenders and can cover up to your full Cost of Attendance. We recommend exhausting your federal loan options first, as they typically offer more favorable terms and protections. Students from states with their own education loan programs — such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Jersey — should explore those options as well, as they may offer more favorable rates.

We recommend using ELM Select to compare lenders — all listed lenders have been carefully vetted by Fordham, though you are free to choose any lender you wish.

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 recommend using ELM Select to compare lenders. The lenders below have been vetted by Fordham, but you are free to choose any lender you wish. Students from states with their own loan programs, such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, may find more favorable rates and terms through those options.

    Apply directly through your chosen lender's website. Be sure to review eligibility requirements, interest rates, fees, and repayment terms before completing an application.

  • MPower Financing offers loans to international students enrolled in certain eligible degree programs who are within 2 years of graduation or entering a 1- or 2-year program. No U.S. co-signer is required.

  • 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).

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.

Contact Us

Our staff is available to answer phone inquiries from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Financial Aid
[email protected]
718-817-3800

Student Accounts
[email protected]
718-817-4900

Student Employment
[email protected]
718-817-3820

Admissions

General: [email protected]
International: [email protected]
Transfer Students: [email protected]

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You can now get face-to-face virtual assistance from our representatives, or you can walk into our on-campus locations.