Loans for Graduate Programs
Loan Disbursement Timeline
Loan funds will be applied to your student account (disbursed) 10 days before the start of your first class if you have:
- Accepted the loans in your award package in MyGeorgeFox
- Completed all required documents
- Enrolled in a minimum of 4 credit hours (half-time enrollment)
Excess funds are sent within 6 to 10 business days beginning the beginning the first week of classes each semester. For direct deposit and refund information, contact Student Accounts.
Loan Types
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education for eligible students to help cover the cost of higher education.
Unsubsidized Stafford loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of financial need. Interest accrual begins at the point of disbursement.
Interest rates for unsubsidized loans are fixed, and there is an origination fee deducted from the funds prior to receipt at the university. Specific information on the current interest rates and origination fees is available at studentaid.gov.
How much should I request for my Stafford loan?
Stafford loans have a loan fee of 1.057%. A loan fee comes out of the amount of money that is disbursed (paid out) to you while you’re in school. This means the money you receive will be less than the amount you actually borrow. Use the form below to determine how much you should request to make sure you receive all you need in your student account.
Annual Loan Limits
| Degree Type | Loan Limit |
|---|---|
| Graduate or Professional Annual Loan Limit | $20,500 (unsubsidized only) |
| Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology (9-month enrollment) | $33,000 (unsubsidized only) |
| Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology (12-month enrollment) | $37,167 (unsubsidized only) |
Loans cannot exceed the cost of attendance minus other financial aid.
Maximum Total Debt from Stafford Loans When You Graduate
| Degree Type | Aggregate Loan Limits |
|---|---|
| Graduate and Professional Degree Students | $138,500 |
| Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology | $224,000 |
The graduate debt limit includes Stafford Loans received for undergraduate study.
Grad PLUS Loans
PLUS loans are federal loans provided by the U.S. Department of Education that graduate or professional degree students can use to help pay education expenses. To be eligible, borrowers must apply online at studentaid.gov and be approved. The maximum loan amount is the student’s cost of attendance minus other aid.
Watch our tutorial video about Plus loans
Here are some quick facts about Grad PLUS Loans:
- The U.S. Department of Education is the lender.
- They are approved based on a credit check of the student.
- The credit check is not a review of your credit score but a check for adverse credit history.
- The maximum loan amount is the student’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received.
- They have an origination fee deducted from the loan funds by the Department of Education.
- You’ll receive an automatic deferment while you’re enrolled in school at least half time, and for an additional six months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. You don’t have to start making payments until after this deferment period ends.
The PLUS loan must be applied for each year the student wishes to borrow. Additional information is available at studentaid.gov.
How much should I request for my PLUS loan?
PLUS loans have a loan fee of 4.228%. A loan fee comes out of the amount of money that is disbursed (paid out) to you while you’re in school. This means the money you receive will be less than the amount you actually borrow. Use the form below to determine how much you should request to make sure you receive all you need in your student account.
Private Loans
Private (or alternative) loans are loans that are not part of the federal financial aid program. Interest rates and fees vary greatly and may depend on the borrower’s credit-worthiness. Generally, students are required to have a cosigner. Loan amounts cannot exceed the cost of attendance less other financial aid.
Try ELMSelect to view and compare lenders that have provided private loans to George Fox students in the past. While these resources will help you make an informed decision about the most appropriate loan for you, please note that you are not required to select a lender on this list.
You can also visit ConsumerAffairs.com for helpful tips on how to choose a student loan lender.