94% of Embry-Riddle freshmen students receive some form of financial aid through scholarships, grants and loans. A variety of federal and private loan options exist to students who meet diverse qualifications including degree of study, past accomplishments, financial status and other such criteria.
Play Video Are you thinking about taking out a federal student loan to help pay for college or career school? Check out this video to learn about your responsibilities as a borrower and what you should consider when taking out loans for college. Visit http://StudentAid.gov for more info.
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What Are the Interest Rates for Federal Student Loans?

The interest rate varies depending on the loan type and (for most types of federal student loans) the first disbursement date of the loan. The table below provides interest rates for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024.

Undergraduate Borrowers

Graduate or Professional Borrowers

Parents and Graduate or Professional Students

5.50%

7.05%

8.05%

Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Direct PLUS Loans

The table below provides interest rates for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2022, and before July 1, 2023.

Undergraduate Borrowers Graduate or Professional Borrowers Parents and Graduate or Professional Students
4.99% 6.54% 7.54%
Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans Direct Unsubsidized Loans Direct PLUS Loans

All interest rates shown in the charts above are fixed rates. A fixed rate will not change for the life of the loan.

If your loan was disbursed before July 1, 2023, you likely have a different interest rate. View interest rates for loans disbursed earlier.

How to Apply for Federal Direct Loans

To apply for a Federal Direct Loan, you must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The information from your FAFSA form is used to determine how much student aid you are eligible to receive. If you are offered a new Federal Direct Loan(s) at any time you must accept this loan before the last day of the term and/or the last day of the last term you attended in the academic year. The Following must be completed before any funds are disbursed to your student account:

Please Note: Any time your Financial Aid changes, a revised notification is sent to your ERAU email. At such time, you should review your revised Financial Aid Offer by logging into ERNIE and view your Campus Solutions Student Homepage > Financial Aid.

150% Direct Subsidized Loan Limit

As of July 1, 2013 - There is a limit on the maximum period of time (measured in academic years) that a First-Time Borrower can receive Direct Subsidized Loans. In general, you may not receive Direct Subsidized Loans for more than 150% of the published length of your program of study. This is called your “maximum eligibility period.” Please review in more detail: Direct Subsidized Loan Limit.

Aggregate Federal Loan Limits

The following chart shows the annual and aggregate limits for subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

Year Dependent Students (except students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans) Independent Students (and dependent undergraduate students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans)
First-Year Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit $5,500 - No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans $9,500 - No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans
Second-Year Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit $6,500 - No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans $10,500 - No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans
Third-Year and Beyond Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit $7,500 - No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans $12,500 - No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans
Graduate or Professional Students Annual Loan Limit Not Applicable (All graduate and professional students are considered independent) $20,500 (unsubsidized only)
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limit $31,000 - No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans

$57,500 for undergraduates - No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans

$138,500 for graduate or professional students - No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study.

If the total loan amount you receive over the course of your education reaches the aggregate loan limit, you are not eligible to receive additional loans. However, if you repay some of your loans to bring your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan limit, you could then borrow again, up to the amount of your remaining eligibility under the aggregate loan limit. For more information, please visit https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans.

As a transfer student, it is your responsibility to know your annual loan limits for Federal Direct Loans and have all pending disbursements cancelled at your previous school before transferring to ERAU. This ensures a more accurate award package.

Before accepting a Federal Direct Loan(s) at ERAU, you must inform the Office of Financial Aid of any disbursements you received at another school during the academic year. Due to the timing of loans, we may not be aware of the total loan amounts you may have received at your other school. Failure to notify our office of any loans you received at another school during the year can result in your existing loans being reduced and billed in order to keep within the annual loan limits. This would result in a balance owed (by you) to ERAU.

To avoid being over-awarded at ERAU, please follow these simple steps:

  • Cancel any pending financial aid disbursements at your previous school before transferring.
  • Inform us of any Financial Aid received at another Institution in the same Academic Year.

Note: Your previous school may also contact us directly by looking up our contact info on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

Don’t Over-Borrow

Over-borrowing or going into excess of your aggregate loan limits will prevent you from receiving any Federal Student Aid! In order to regain financial aid eligibility, you must make satisfactory arrangements with your loan holder and turn in the appropriate documentation to our office. Acceptable documentation may include but is not limited to:

  • Payment confirmation from your loan servicer that you have paid the excess amount.
  • Loan Summary Sheet from Direct Loans confirming you have consolidated all loans that were in excess.

Resolving a Loan Overage

If you have received loans in excess of the lifetime aggregates, you must choose from the two options listed below in order to resolve the overage:

  • Repayment of the excess loan amount by contacting the servicer of the loan indicated in NSLDS and following the servicer's instructions. Once the loan has been repaid, you must attach a copy of the repayment confirmation from the servicer to ERAU.
  • Request a reaffirmation of loan funds with the servicer of the loan indicated in NSLDS. Please contact the servicer and ask for a reaffirmation letter in the amount of your overage. Once you receive your reaffirmation letter, please email to us at prfinaid@erau.edu. Be sure to include your Student ID# when submitting.

Federal student loans can be very useful in helping cover education and living expenses, but it is important to keep in mind that loans must be repaid. Borrowers need to understand the responsibility that comes with student loan debt because their borrowing decisions will impact their ability to meet future financial obligations. The articles below can help borrowers learn more about responsible borrowing and successful repayment.

Exit Loan Counseling

Review the Exit Loan Counseling Guide.

All students receiving Federal Stafford Loans must attend an Exit Loan Counseling session prior to graduation, withdrawal from the university or if enrollment drops below half-time status.

Repayment Guides and Information

Private Education Loans are offered by private lending organizations. They can supplement the amount the government allows you to borrow in its programs.

Things to look for in a private loan:

  • Eligibility requirements: Most private loans require a credit-worthy applicant and/or co-signer. Having a co-signer may reduce the cost of the loan.
  • Interest rates: Most private loans have variable interest rates. Determine how often the interest rate is adjusted and how it's calculated.
  • Fees: Many private loans have fees deducted from, or added to, the amount you borrow. Find out when they're charged and how much.
  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The APR is the annual cost of your loan, including the effect of any fees and charges in addition to interest. Remember, a loan with fees and a lower base interest rate may be as good of a choice as a loan with no fees and a higher base interest rate. APR helps show how all charges affect the cost of the loan.
  • Repayment: Determine the repayment terms, including monthly payments and repayment period. Some lenders offer rewards, such as interest rate reduction, to borrowers who make payments on time or via electronic funds transfer (EFT).
  • Loan limits: Check to see if there is an annual or aggregate limit. Try to pick a lender who has an aggregate limit that works best with your program of study. Some private loans have maximum limits, while others allow you to borrow up to your total cost of attending school.
  • Compare lenders and apply for private loans.
  • Credit checks: Both the borrower and co-signer must pass a credit check. Applying with a qualified co-signer may give you the best rate. Private loan credit checks are valid for a limited time. Please check with your lender for details.
  • Do not hesitate to contact us at 1-928-777-3765 with any questions.

On April 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced an initiative — called “Fresh Start” — to help eligible borrowers in default. Fresh Start will continue through one year after the COVID-19 payment pause ends.

This is not loan forgiveness, meaning your loan debt balance is not being reduced or canceled. All Fresh Start initiative participants must repay their loans and will have one year after the end of the COVID-19 student loan payment pause to make payment arrangements. Any borrower with eligible defaulted federal student loans can make payment arrangements during the initiative by visiting the ED's Debt Resolution website, contacting their loan holder by phone or in writing, or calling the Default Resolution Group at 1-800-621-3115.

You may regain Federal Student Aid benefits:

  • Restores access to repayment options — that could offer monthly payments as low as $0 through IDR plans — and provide opportunities for loan forgiveness.
  • Restores eligibility to receive federal student aid, including Federal Pell Grants and campus-based aid like Federal Work-Study, so borrowers can complete their course of study and increase long-term repayment success.
  • Protects borrowers from involuntary collection efforts and costly collection fees.
  • Restores eligibility for future rehabilitation for borrowers who rehabilitated a defaulted loan during the payment pause.
  • Provides credit reporting features — including removing borrowers from the federal Credit Alert Verification Reporting System (CAIVRS) — making it potentially easier and more affordable for student loan borrowers to afford living expenses.

Eligible Loans:

  • Defaulted William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans
  • Defaulted Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans (both ED-held and commercial held)
  • Defaulted ED-held Perkins Loans

Loans Not Eligible:

  • Defaulted school-held Perkins Loans
  • Defaulted Health Education Assistance Loan Program loans
  • Student loans remaining with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
  • Direct Loans and commercial-held FFEL Program loans that default after the end of the pause on student loan payments and collections

If you’re not sure whether your loans qualify, you can call the Default Resolution Group at 1-800-621-3115 (TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing 1-877-825-9923).

Process

Process for students returning to school with a loan default:

  • A Free Application for Federal Student Aid is required to notify the institution of your intent to return to school.
  • Once we receive your FAFSA, we will review your eligibility for the Fresh Start Initiative based on which loans are in default and when.
  • If you qualify, a form will be added to your To-Do List to complete.
  • Once the Acknowledgment form is returned, we will review and, if eligible, will proceed in awarding Title IV aid.

Process for parents applying for a Parent PLUS Loan with a default:

  • A Parent PLUS Loan application will need to be submitted to notify the institution of your intent to receive Title IV aid.
  • Once we receive the PLUS Loan application, we will review the parent's eligibility for the Fresh Start Initiative.
  • If eligible, a form will be sent to the parent's email on file. This will include next steps, additional information about Fresh Start and a page that requires a signature. This signature page needs to be returned to our office.
  • Once we have received the form, we will review the information again and let the parent know how to proceed.

For more and updated information, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.


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