Federal Student Aid

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The US government's official source for federal student loans and grants

About Federal Student Aid

Federal Student Aid, managed by the US Department of Education, is the starting point for all federal student loans including Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Direct PLUS loans. The FAFSA application determines eligibility for federal aid, grants, and work-study programs. Federal loans offer fixed interest rates set by Congress, income-driven repayment plans, deferment and forbearance options, and access to loan forgiveness programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Every student should exhaust federal loan options before considering private loans.

What's Great

✓Fixed interest rates set by Congress with no credit check for most loans
✓Access to income-driven repayment plans that cap payments based on income
✓Loan forgiveness programs including PSLF for public service workers
✓Deferment and forbearance options during financial hardship
✓No private lender can match the borrower protections of federal loans

Watch Out For

!Annual and aggregate borrowing limits may not cover full cost of attendance
!Interest rates are the same regardless of credit quality
!FAFSA application can be complex and time-consuming
!Parent PLUS loans have higher rates and fewer repayment options

Common Use Cases

Undergraduate student applying for financial aid for the first time

Graduate student needing loans with income-driven repayment options

Public service worker planning to pursue PSLF for loan forgiveness

Pricing Model

Freemium

Free plan available. Paid plans unlock advanced features and higher limits.