Understanding Student Loans

Graduate PLUS loans are federal student loans backed by the U.S. Government that have fixed interest rates and are used expressly for paying for graduate school costs such as tuition, room & board, and other expenses.

• Students should borrow the full amount available through the federal Stafford Loan program before using Graduate PLUS Loans.
• Graduate PLUS Loans can be used to cover the full cost of attendance, less other aid.
• A credit check is required for Graduate PLUS Loans, but only for adverse credit history (bankruptcy, default on a previous federal student loan, etc.) - not for a particular credit score.
• Some schools participate in the Direct Lending program, which means a student enrolled at that school receives their federal student loans (including Graduate PLUS) directly from the school instead of from a lender.

How to Use the Student Loan Comparison Tools

Save time, energy and money by comparing multiple student loan options from a variety of leading lenders. Simply enter the amount you need to borrow and a little bit about when you need the money and where you go to school to see a customized list of student loan options.

What to Look for in a Student Loan

Use the comparison tools on this site to consider all of the costs of a student loan, including fees and rates. Students should always borrow the most they can in federal loans first (such as Perkins and Stafford) and then compare private student loans for the best rates, fees and costs.

• the annual percentage rate (APR)
• the total cost of the loan
• the monthly payment
• the loan's borrower rewards
• student loan deferment options