Federal student loans
Also called federal direct loans, federal student loans are the most commonly used to pay for college. The money is loaned directly to you, and you are solely responsible for repaying the money after dropping below a part-time credit load or leaving WSU.
To apply for federal student loans, you must first complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. There are 2 types of federal student loans: subsidized and unsubsidized.
WSU also offers short-term loans for students who are facing financial emergencies.
Next steps
Review Current Federal Loan Interest Rates
**PLEASE NOTE: For the 24-25 academic year – accepting/declining of offered loans is now open! Visit our Accepting Loans page for more information and details about the process.**
Federal Vs. Private Education Loans
WSU’s 3-year Cohort Default Rate:
0.0%
Every 3 years, the US Department of Education informs institutions of the loans that have gone into default and provides them with their Cohort Default Rate – the percentage of student loans in default during the 3 years. All Family Education Loans (FFEL) and/or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans are used as part of this rate calculation. Cohort default rate as of FY 2020.Subsidized loans
Eligibility for subsidized loans is based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
The federal government pays the interest while you are in college and during the six-month grace period after you leave school or enroll less than half time—you are not required to make loan payments until your grace period ends.
Subsidized loans are available only to undergraduate students. See graduate and professional student options.
Unsubsidized loans
Unsubsidized loans are offered regardless of income or assets.
You are responsible for paying all the interest on the loan. You may choose to defer interest and principal payments while in school at least half time. If you do, the interest will be capitalized—that is, added to the initial amount you borrowed. Future interest costs will be based on that higher loan amount.
Loan amounts and limits
There are limits on the amount of loans that you can receive each academic year (annual loan limits) and on the total amounts that you may borrow for undergraduate and graduate study (aggregate loan limits).
The actual loan amount you’re eligible to receive each academic year may be less than the annual loan limit.
Lifetime Aid Summary
The lifetime aid summary tool is available for current students and alumni of WSU. The lifetime aid summary will allow students to view their current loan amounts, their federal loan limit, remaining loan eligibility, estimated monthly payments and their current Pell usage.
How to view your Lifetime Aid Summary:
- Log into myWSU.
- Click on the financial aid tile.
- Once you have selected a Federal Aid Year, click on the drop-down menu on the right side of display.
- Click on “Lifetime Aid Summary”
Note: In order to generate your lifetime aid summary, you must select a Federal Aid Year that you received financial aid.
Undergraduate students
| Type of loan | Freshman Annual Limit | Sophomore Annual Limit | Junior Annual Limit | Senior Annual Limit | Lifetime Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidized loan: Dependent student | $3,500 | $4,500 | $5,500 | $5,500 | $23,000 |
| Subsidized loan: Independent student | $3,500 | $4,500 | $5,500 | $5,500 | $23,000 |
| Unsubsidized loan: Dependent student | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $8,000 |
| Unsubsidized loan: Independent student | $6,000 | $6,000 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $34,500 |
| Totals (Dependent Students): | $5,500 | $6,500 | $7,500 | $7,500 | |
| Totals (Independent Students): | $9,500 | $10,500 | $12,500 | $12,500 | |
| *Direct PLUS Parent Loan | The loan amount varies widely. It should not exceed the total cost of attendance including other types of assistance. This loan requires good credit. | ||||
| *Private / Alternative Loans | The loan amount varies, but can not exceed the total cost of attendance including other types of assistance. This loan requires good credit. | ||||
| See current student loan interest rates | |||||
Find out if you’re a dependent student or independent student
Graduate and professional students
| Type of loan | Annual Loan Limit | Lifetime aggregate limit |
|---|---|---|
| Unsubsidized Direct Loan for Graduate Students | $20,500 | $138,500 |
| Unsubsidized Direct Loan for Medical Students | $40,500 | $224,000 |
| Unsubsidized Direct Loan for Pharmacy Students (9-month program) | $33,000 | $224,000 |
| Unsubsidized Direct Loan for Pharmacy Students (12-month program) | $37,167 | $224,000 |
| Unsubsidized Direct Loan for Veterinary Students (9-month program) | $40,500 | $224,000 |
| Unsubsidized Direct Loan for Veterinary Students (12-month program) | $47,167 | $224,000 |
| PLUS Loan for Graduate Students | Amounts vary widely. They should not exceed the total cost of attendance including other types of assistance. This loan requires good credit. | |
| Loan for Health Professions | This loan is based on the EFC criteria, the FAFSA delivery date, and the current level of HPL funding. Amounts granted vary according to availability. | |
| Private / Alternative Loans | Amounts vary widely. They should not exceed the total cost of attendance including other types of assistance. This loan requires good credit. | |
| See current student loan interest rates | ||
Borrow responsibly
Student loans are an important financial commitment—plan ahead and make sure to borrow responsibly.
Before applying for a loan, determine how much you’ll be able to afford to repay by estimating:
- What you can expect to earn after graduation;
- What your monthly loan payments will be; and
- How much you must have for other living expenses.
Borrow only what you can comfortably repay within that budget.
See current student loan interest rates
WSU has partnered with Student Connections to help students navigate their repayment options. Students entering repayment will be receiving a communication from Student Financial Services introducing you to the Student Connections team. You will also be receiving an email from Student Connections with next steps.
Contact Student Connections to:
•Find your loan balance and monthly payment amount
•Discuss available repayment plans
•Explore options to reduce or delay your payments
Who to Contact if You are Having Problems with Student Loans
Please contact the Student Financial Services Office for information, help and resources regarding financial aid. There are additional help available if the Student Financial Services Office is not able to help.
The WA Student Achievement Council (WSAC) can also provide information and resources about student loan repayment, or can assist with a complaint relating to your student loans or student loan servicer. For help with a student loan complaint, please visit wsac.wa.gov/loan-advocacy or contact the WSAC Student Loan Advocate at loanadvocate@wsac.wa.gov.
Emergency short-term loans
**This is a funding option only for students with a financial aid application on file.**
The Short-Term Loan (STL) program is funded by WSU funds. Since it is a “revolving” fund, the amounts available for lending will vary depending on the payments and interest collected from previous borrowers.
WSU short-term loans are not an ordinary source of aid. They are only intended to bridge a gap until other resources arrive—for instance, emergency situations when financial aid is not available to cover costs in a timely manner or when unexpected costs occur.
Eligibility
STLs are available to assist with a student’s immediate needs, such as books/rent/food, but not to pay tuition, mandatory fees, or other charges.You must be currently enrolled to request a short-term loan. WSU faculty/staff members who are enrolled in classes are not eligible.
You must be able to document a guaranteed source of repayment to be eligible to borrow. (A Stafford Loan that has been processed but has not arrived yet is one example of a guaranteed source of repayment.)
In some cases, you will be required to get a co-borrower (a.k.a. co-signer) on your application.
- A co-borrower is a person who is equally responsible to repay the loan if the borrower (you) does not make the scheduled payments.
- Parents are the most usual choice for a co-borrower.
- Co-borrowers cannot be other students or a spouse of the borrower.
- Co-borrowers must have been employed for at least a year at the same position unless they are a parent of the borrower.
Loan process
Prospective borrowers must obtain the STL packet to begin the process.
- Contact our office and indicate that you are seeking an STL
- An SFS counselor will review your account to determine if you are eligible for a short term loan
- This option is only available if you have a financial aid application on file with our office.
- If you are eligible for an STL, the counselor will determine if a cosigner is required
- A cosigner WILL BE required if you have a pending SAP Appeal and/or if you have outstanding documents we have requested from you
- The counselor will then initiate a myWSU To-Do list item for you. They will also send an email to your cosigner if needed.
- 2 hours after the counselor initiated the To-Do list item, you will be able to complete the STL application at submitsfsdocs.wsu.edu
- The application will have or collect the following information:
- STL rights, responsibilities, and conditions
- STL information and details
- STL quiz
- Your contact information
- Your parental/guardian reference information
- Your reference information
- The application will have or collect the following information:
- You will complete this information and submit the application
- The Bursar’s Office will receive this information and then send you the Master Promissory Note (MPN) email
- You must complete, print out, and submit this information (MPN and cosigner reference sheet) to the Bursar’s Office
- Once the Bursar has received all needed documents, your STL will be sent to you via direct deposit or check
Loan applications should not be submitted until all sections have been completed.
- Completed applications are submitted to the Bursar’s Office (not to Student Financial Services).
- Loan approval and processing may take 24-48 hours, depending on the current volume of loans.
The amount approved for books and other expenses will be delivered to you either by direct deposit or mailed check, depending on your prior arrangements with the Bursar.
Repayment
Interest is charged on the loan at a rate of 6%. Short-term loans are usually repaid within the same term they are borrowed. Payment must be made on time or you will accrue late charges. Failure to repay a short-term loan on time can impact your future ability to borrow.
Repayment is usually automatic, occurring when your financial aid is credited to your student account. (If your source of repayment was not financial aid, or if you canceled the aid, or if you did not receive the amount of aid you expected, you must still repay the loan as scheduled.)
Contact information
Bursar’s Office
Washington State University
French Admin. Bldg, Rm. 342
P.O. Box 641039
Pullman, WA 99164-1039
Phone: (509) 335-9653 ext 9
bursar.office@wsu.edu