Federal Direct Loans
UMass Law participates in the federal Title IV Direct Loan program, offering Unsubsidized and Graduate Plus loans.
File your FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid).
Eligibility Requirements
Borrowers must meet the general Eligibility Requirements for federal student aid.
Unsubsidized Loans
- U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents and Eligible Non-Citizens
- Enrolled at least half-time
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress (as defined by your school)
- Cannot be in default on a federal student loan
Graduate PLUS Loans
- Be a graduate or professional degree student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school in a program leading to a degree or certificate
- Not have an adverse credit history*
* Applicants can add an endorser or appeal their credit decisions if denied.
Annual & aggregate limits
Unsubsidized Loans
For Graduate or Professional Students, the annual loan limit is $20,500 and the aggregate loan limit is $138,500.
Graduate PLUS loans
Graduate or Professional Students can borrow up to the cost of the student's annual attendance minus other financial aid the student receives.
Interest rates & fees
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS Loan interest rates vary depending on the loan type and 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. All interest rates shown are fixed rates for the life of the loan.
Interest rates for Direct Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 & before July 1, 2024
| Loan Type | Borrower Type | Fixed Interest Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Subsidized Loans & Direct Unsubsidized Loans | Undergraduate | 5.50% |
| Direct Unsubsidized Loans | Graduate or Professional | 7.05% |
| Direct PLUS Loans | Parents and Graduate or Professional Students | 8.05% |
Origination fees for Direct Loans on or after October 1, 2019
Most federal student loans have loan fees. These fees are a percentage of the total loan amount. A loan fee comes out of the amount of money that is disbursed (paid out) to you while you’re in school.
The chart below shows the loan fees for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2019.
Loan Fees for Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans
| First Disbursement Date | Loan Fee |
|---|---|
| On or after 10/1/20 and before 10/1/24 | 1.057% |
| On or after 10/1/19 and before 10/1/20 | 1.059% |
Loan Fees for Direct PLUS Loans
| First Disbursement Date | Loan Fee |
|---|---|
| On or after 10/1/20 and before 10/1/24 | 4.228% |
| On or after 10/1/19 and before 10/1/20 | 4.236% |
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