Graduate Loans

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Annual Limit Per Academic Year: $20,500
Lifetime Subsidized/Unsubsidized Limit: $138,500

2025-26 Interest Rate: 7.94%
Origination Fee: A 1.057% origination fee is deducted from each disbursement
Repayment begins after enrollment drops below half-time

Eligibility:
- U.S. Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens must have a valid 2025-26 FAFSA.
- 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 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.

Annual Limit: Cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received
2025-26 Interest Rate: 8.94%
Origination Fee: A 4.228% origination fee is deducted from each disbursement

Students can choose when they would like repayment to begin during the application process.

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)."
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.
- Get an Endorser. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the Graduate PLUS Loan if you do not repay it.
- Appeal your credit decision by documenting extenuating circumstances
** If you are subsequently approved after using one of these options you must complete PLUS Credit Counseling before your loan will disburse.
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:

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.
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.
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: