Federal Direct Loans

Two Important Federal Websites for Student Borrowers:
If you need to view your Federal Direct loan documents, sign a Master Promissory Note or complete an Entrance or Exit Interview, log on to https://studentaid.gov/h/complete-aid-process. You will need your federal IS to access your record. If you do not have a FSA ID, log onto https://studentaid.gov/h/complete-aid-process.

Federal Student Aid

If you need information about the total amount and types of federal student loans that have been disbursed to you or information about federal grants you have received, you need to log into your portal at Federal Student Aid.

Federal Direct Loans

The Federal Direct Student Loan program is the most widely used student loan program for both undergraduate and graduate students interested in borrowing to help meet educational expenses. Borrowing limits, interest rates and terms of repayment are determined and regulated by the US Department of Education. The University of Pittsburgh participates exclusively in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program.

The interest rate for loans disbursed after July 1, 2023 is 5.49% for undergraduates who qualify for a Federal Direct Loan, with default and up front origination fees of 1.057% for loans disbursed before October 1, 2023. No interest is charged on a subsidized loan for you while you are in school and during the grace and deferment periods. Subsidized loans are made based on financial need. Unsubsidized loans can be made to any otherwise qualified student, without regard to financial need. Interest is charged on these loans during in-school, grace, deferment and repayment periods.

All potentially eligible undergraduate students are automatically considered and reviewed by the financial aid office based on the results of the FAFSA.

Annual Loan Limits

The following annual loan limits apply based on a student's grade level, dependency status and enrollment in a graduate or undergraduate program. The annual loan limits apply to the entire twelve month academic year which includes the fall, spring and summer terms. Please keep in mind as Pitt-Titusville only offers a 2 year program, loan limits are restricted to the 2nd year level.
 

Grade Level Credit Requirement Subsidized Limit Unsubsidized Limit Extended Unsubsidized Limit (1)
First Year 0-24 $3500 $2000 $4000
Second Year 25-54 $4500 $2000 $4000


Annual amounts may be limited based on the Cost of Attendance and other financial aid received.

(1) Extended Limits are available only to independent students and dependent students whose parents have been denied a Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan.

Maximum Cumulative Loan Limits

Student borrowing is governed by federally determined maximum limits for all post-secondary education as indicated below:

  Total Subsidized Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized
Dependent Undergraduate $23,000 $31,000
Independent Undergraduate and dependents whose parents are denied a PLUS loan $23,000 $57,500

Entrance Interview

All incoming freshman and transfer Federal Direct Loan borrowers at the University of Pittsburgh will be required to complete an Entrance Interview before loan funds can be disbursed. This requirement can be completed online at: Direct Loan Entrance Counseling. You will only be required to complete once while you are a University of Pittsburgh student.

Master Promissory Note

All incoming freshman and transfer students will be required to sign a new Master Promissory Note (MPN) for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan. Your MPN will be valid for 10 years while you are enrolled as a student. You will not need to sign this form each year as long as you remain continuously enrolled at a University of Pittsburgh campus. You can sign your MPN online at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing.

Based on the results of your FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office at the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville will automatically consider you for a Federal Direct Loan and notify you of your eligibility via a student financial aid award letter. In addition, the Financial Aid Office will send your loan eligibility information to the US Department of Education. You will need to accept the amount of student loan you wish to borrow. If you decide to change this amount, you will need to complete a Info Update Form and send it to Pitt-Titusville's Financial Aid Office. Once we receive this form, we will cancel or adjust your loan according to your request.

As a student borrower, you will need to complete both an Entrance Interview and a Master Promissory Note before your Direct Loan can be disbursed to you. Completing your Entrance Interview and Master Promissory Note will help insure that you receive your loan funds on a timely basis. Both of these activities can be completed on line. See above for websites.

Loan Repayment

After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you have a six month period of time before you have to begin repayment. This six month period of time is called the "grace period". Your federal loan servicer will provide information about repayment and will notify you of the date your loan repayment begins.

You will be able to choose a repayment plan that meets your needs. The amount you pay and the length of time to repay your loans will vary depending on the repayment plan you choose. Generally, you’ll have from ten to twenty-five years to repay your loans. Our office recommends that you explore the Federal Direct Loan Repayment Plans for more information about the repayment plans and to calculate your estimated repayment amount under each of the different plans.

Loan Services

For specific questions about loan repayment or deferment, you can contact your federal loan servicing center directly. If you are not sure who your federal loan servicer is, you can look it up on your account at Federal Student Aid or you can find more information about various servicers at Federal Direc t Loan Servicers.