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Loans for Graduate Programs

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

With the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, significant changes have been made to federal graduate student loans that will impact graduate and professional students. You can find more information on our dedicated One Big Beautiful Bill Act page.

Beginning July 1, 2026, graduate students will fall under different federal loan programs and borrowing limits depending on when they begin their program of study:

  1. New Students

    Students who begin their program on or after July 1, 2026 will be subject to the updated federal loan programs, limits, and terms established under the new legislation as outlined below.
  2. Grandfathered Students

    Students who began their program prior to July 1, that have received a federal loan for the applicable program of study and have not exceeded the program's published length, will be eligible for a limited loan limit exception period – grandfathering. 

    Students will fall under the grandfathering provisions, for the lesser of: 

    • Three academic years OR 
    • The difference between the total length of the program enrolled and the period of the program already completed. 

    Throughout this page, we have clearly noted where grandfathering provisions differ and what applies to these students.

Loan Types

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:

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of financial need. Graduate students are not eligible for subsidized Stafford Loans.

For more information on the current interest rates and origination fees, see .

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 Stafford Loan Limits

Degree Type Loan Limit (July 1, 2026) Grandfathered Student Loan Limit 
Graduate Annual Loan Limit $20,500 (unsubsidized only) $20,500 (unsubsidized only)

Professional Annual Loan Limit (PsyD and MDiv programs)

$50,000 (unsubsidized only)

MDiv - $20,500 (unsubsidized only)

PsyD - $37,167 (unsubsidized only)

Loans cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance minus other financial aid.

Aggregate Stafford Loan Limits

Degree Type Loan Limit (July 1, 2026) Grandfathered Student Loan Limits 
Graduate Annual Loan Limit $100,000 (not including undergrad loans) $138,500 (including undergrad loans)

Professional Annual Loan Limit (PsyD and MDiv programs)

$200,000 (not including undergrad loans)

MDiv - $138,500 (including undergrad loans)

PsyD - $224,000 (including undergrad loans)

Lifetime Stafford Loan Limits

A lifetime loan limit of $257,500 applies to all Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans borrowed at any level, including amounts repaid, forgiven, canceled, or discharged. 

This lifetime limit does not apply to students under the grandfathering provisions.

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:

Excess funds are sent (as a refund) within 6 to 10 business days beginning the first week of class each semester. For detailed direct deposit and refund information, please contact Student Accounts.

Federal Student Loan Repayment

Understanding your loan repayment options is a smart way to approach using student loans. is your hub for federal student loan repayment questions and answers. Once you log in, you can view your current student loan balance and plan for loan repayment, plus get a link to your loan servicer’s website. 

After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you will have a six-month grace period before you are required to begin repayment. Once your grace period is up, it will be important to choose the right payment plan option that works for you.

Start by reviewing Student Aid's . It walks you step-by-step through loan repayment and provides a helpful FAQ! You can view information about and use the to see a detailed plan of specific loan repayment options based on your own borrowing.

Some students may also qualify for — click the link to review eligibility requirements.

Stafford Loans FAQ

No! Unsubsidized Stafford Loans do not accrue interest until we actually disburse them onto your account. We always disburse financial aid 10 days before classes begin.

According to the Department of Education's definition of professional programs, the following will be considered "professional" for federal Direct Loan limit purposes and will qualify for the higher loan limits:

  • Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

  • Master of Divinity (MDiv)

All other graduate programs at ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Fox are considered standard graduate programs for federal Direct Loan limit purposes.

Both a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Loan Counseling must be completed before we can disburse your Stafford Loans. Entrance Loan Counseling is training that helps students understand their rights and responsibilities when taking out federal student loans. It ensures that you understand the terms and conditions of your loan(s), including how to avoid default and delinquency, how interest works, and repayment options. A Master Promissory Note is a document that outlines the terms and conditions of the Stafford Loan, including the promise to repay the loan and any interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education.

Interest rates vary from year to year and will always be posted in early summer.

Subsidized Stafford Loans are considered need-based and do not accrue interest while you are in school. Grad students do not qualify for subsidized loans. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans do accrue interest while you are in school.

Since subsidized Stafford Loans are based on financial need, only those who demonstrate need based on federal formulas will be eligible for a subsidized loan. Grad students do not qualify for subsidized loans.

You will accept your Stafford Loans through your MyºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµFox account under the financial aid tile. We have a very helpful tutorial video that walks you through the step-by-step process. If you do not want the full amount offered to you, you’ll select the “reduce” option in MyºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµFox and then specify how much you want to accept.

We will disburse your Stafford Loans one semester at a time and always 10 days before classes start, pending the items we mention in our last question below.

Stafford Loans are for the student and are therefore in the student’s name. Stafford Loans can never be transferred to a parent to pay off. 

While you choose to accept your Stafford Loans through your MyºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµFox account, these are not loans you’re borrowing from our school directly. We offer them on your financial aid package on behalf of the Department of Education, and if you choose to accept them, the loans are given through the federal government and repaid back to them.

You will not see any borrowing history on studentaid.gov until we disburse your loan(s). Once they’re disbursed, they will appear on your aid history on studentaid.gov. Get logged in using your FSA ID and password and navigate to the “my aid” section to see your loans, interest accrual, and lender’s contact information.

No! In fact, we encourage you to make payments on your loans if you can while you’re enrolled in school. This is a great way to keep the costs down once you graduate.

This will vary depending on how much you borrow and which repayment options you choose to pursue. Studentaid.gov has great loan repayment information that we encourage you to check out.

In order for us to disburse your Stafford Loans, you need to complete any pending financial aid To Do List items on your MyºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµFox account. This can include, but is not limited to, Entrance Loan Counseling, MPN, verification documentation, proof of U.S. citizenship, SAP appeal, etc. This is why it’s very important to check your MyºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµFox To Do List regularly and take care of items in a timely manner. You will also need to be enrolled at least half-time (4 credits) each semester you plan to borrow the loans, and be in good Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standing.

Private Loans

Private (or alternative) loans are loans that are not part of the federal financial aid program but are instead offered through a private loan lender.

Ready for a quick overview? Here we go!

  • Borrower: Typically private loans would be in your name. In some cases, you may need a cosigner on your loan to help you qualify or get you a better interest rate.
  • Loan Amount: The loan total cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance (COA) minus all other financial aid (COA – all other financial aid = maximum private loan you can borrow).
  • Private loans have no , so you should apply for the exact amount you want to receive.
  • Interest: There are both fixed and variable interest rate options. We generally recommend going with a fixed rate loan because the interest will stay the same for the entire loan term.
    • Interest rates and fees also vary greatly and may depend on the borrower’s credit score and history. The lender will run a hard credit check to pull this information. 
    • Interest begins accruing at the point the loan is disbursed onto your student account (this is typically 10 days before the semester begins).
  • Repayment: Some lenders will want you to begin repayment of the loan while you’re enrolled in school, but most offer loan deferment, meaning no payment on the loan is required while you’re enrolled at least half-time (4 credits).

Where do I find a private loan?

These resources will help you make an informed decision about the most appropriate loan for you:

  • Check with your personal bank or credit union.
  • Try to view and compare lenders that have provided private loans to ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Fox students in the past.
    • Please note that you are not required to select a lender on this list.
  • You can also visit for helpful tips on how to choose a student loan lender.

Your Financial Aid Counselor cannot recommend any private lender but can help you understand your options.

Grad PLUS Loans (Grandfathered Students Only)

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act discontinued the Federal Grad Plus loan program for new borrowers as of July 1, 2026. Under the grandfathering provisions, qualifying students may continue to borrow Grad PLUS Loans for up to three additional academic years, or for the remaining length of their program (based on the difference between the total published program length and the time they have already completed), whichever is shorter.

Federal Grad 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 and be approved. The maximum loan amount is the student’s Cost of Attendance minus other aid.

Here are some quick facts about Grad PLUS Loans:

To learn more about Grad PLUS Loan repayment, visit our Loan Repayment page.

The PLUS Loan must be applied for each year the student wishes to borrow. Additional information is available at .

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.

Additional Private Loan Info

No, we as a school do not lend to our students. However, we are happy to walk you through your loan options, whether federal or private, to help you make an informed decision that is best for you!

  • Lenders should be transparent with their terms and conditions. Avoid lenders who do not review the loan or financial agreement details or are unwilling to answer your questions about the loan details and requirements.
  • Make sure you understand your repayment timeline. Some lenders may require you to make payments on the loan while you are enrolled in school, while others may offer a grace period that defers the payments until after graduation. Additionally, the repayment length can vary from a few years to as long as 25 years, and some lenders may not have graduated repayment options that start out with lower payments right after graduation. Make sure you understand these aspects of the loan before borrowing. 
  • In addition to the interest rate, a lender may charge additional fees, including, but not limited to, application, late payment, payment return, forbearance, and deferment fees. Make sure you read all of the loan terms to see if the lender has any of these built into the contract. 
  • Look out for unresponsive customer service or lenders who may not be entirely forthcoming when responding to specific questions, and check for negative reviews with the Better Business Bureau.
  • Try to avoid variable interest rates if possible.
  • Borrow only what you need to cover costs.
    • If you requested more than you needed, return excess funds to your lender. We have 14 days after your loan has disbursed to return the funds for you — just email your Counselor! After that, you can make the payment directly to your lender. 
    • Think critically before using loan funds to pay for non-essential items.
  • Pay the interest on your loan while you are in school if you can.

Private loans take about 2-4 weeks to process after the initial application is submitted, so it’s best to apply for these no later than 1 month prior to the semester’s payment due date. For the fall semester, the due date is August 15, so you should apply no later than July 15, and apply to borrow enough for the entire school year.

While not required, you may consider using a co-signer. This might be a good option if you don’t have credit history or if you have poor credit. Applying with a co-signer may increase your likelihood of approval, help you qualify for a lower interest rate, and provide more favorable loan terms.

Yes, you should only consider a private loan after you have used all available federal grants, scholarships, and federal loan options. Unlike federal loans, private loans are based on your creditworthiness and do not offer the same repayment protections.

Yes, lenders perform a hard credit check for final loan approval, which can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points. To minimize the impact on your credit, you can ask lenders about prequalification options that use a soft credit check, and you should try to do all of your lender comparisons within a 30-day window.

Your maximum loan total cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance (COA) minus all other financial aid you are receiving. Because private loans do not have origination fees, you should only apply for the exact amount you need, including any additional funds for living expenses if needed. Be sure to budget carefully to avoid overborrowing. To help figure out how much you should borrow, ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Fox provides a Graduate Payment/Refund Estimator.

Borrowing less reduces the total amount you will have to repay, so you should return any excess funds directly to your lender. If you email your Financial Aid Counselor within 14 days of the loan disbursing, the school can return the excess funds for you. After 14 days, you will need to make the payment directly to your lender or contact your Financial Aid Counselor to see if you can return funds directly through the school.

Lenders offer both fixed and variable interest rates, but it is generally recommended that you choose a fixed-rate loan and avoid variable rates if possible. With a fixed rate, your interest will remain exactly the same for the entire term of the loan.

Each lender determines their own method for calculating your private loan interest rate. Generally speaking, private student loan interest rates are calculated using a combination of market benchmarks and your individual financial profile. Lenders typically start with a base index, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), and then add a risk premium based on your (or your cosigner’s) creditworthiness.

Key factors that likely influence this personal risk premium include:

  • Your Credit Score & History
  • Adding a Creditworthy Cosigner
  • Your Income & Debt-to-Income Ratio
  • Loan Structure (fixed or variable interest and length of repayment)

You can inquire directly with lenders about their rate-setting process before you apply or once you've received your approval and terms.

Once your private loan is approved, your lender will send a certification request to the ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Fox Financial Aid Office. The office will then certify your loan up to your eligible Cost of Attendance, and the loan funds will be sent directly to ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Fox to be applied to your student account.

No, ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓÆµ Fox University does not lend directly to students. However, the Financial Aid Office is happy to walk you through your federal and private loan options so you can make the best decision for your situation.

When choosing a private loan, you should carefully compare lenders' rates, fees, repayment options, and borrower benefits. Make sure you fully understand the repayment timeline, including when repayment begins, repayment amounts,  and the length of the repayment period. You may also consider researching customer service or Better Business Bureau reviews, and additional charges like application, late payment, or deferment fees. Finally, try to avoid variable interest rates if possible.

  • Borrow conservatively: Only borrow what you need to cover your costs, and keep a clear repayment plan in mind.
  • Return excess funds: If you request more money than you need, return the extra funds to your lender.
  • Spend wisely: Think critically before using your loan funds to pay for non-essential items.
  • Pay interest early: Making payments while you are still in school can reduce the total amount of interest you will pay over time.

Because private loans take two to four weeks to process after submitting your application, you should apply no later than one month before your semester's payment due date. For example, if your fall semester payment is due on August 15, you should apply by July 15. It is also recommended to apply for enough funds to cover the entire school year at once.

A denial from one lender does not mean you are ineligible for all funding. Private lenders use different criteria for credit scores and income. Here are some helpful next steps:

  • Review Your Denial Decision – reach out to your lender or review their denial notice to determine denial reasons. Review this carefully to see if there is an error you can dispute with the credit bureaus.
  • Apply with a Creditworthy Cosigner – A common reason for denial is a lack of credit history. Adding a cosigner like a parent, relative, or trusted mentor with a strong credit profile can significantly increase your chances of approval and may even lower your interest rate.
  • Appeal or Re-apply – Some lenders may allow you to appeal if you can provide proof of a recent change in financial circumstances (like a new job or a mistake on your credit report). If an appeal isn't an option, you can re-apply with a different lender or at a later date after improving your credit score.
  • Check Your Credit Reports for Errors
    • Request a Free Report: You are entitled to a free credit report from each bureau following a loan denial.
    • Look for Mistakes: Check for accounts that aren't yours, incorrect payment statuses, or old debts that should no longer be reported.
    • Dispute Inaccuracies: If you find an error, file a dispute directly with the credit bureau. Correcting a single mistake may boost your credit score.