Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
Qualifications
- Available to students who do not qualify for the full federal subsidized loan or other need-based aid and have unmet cost of education
- Student must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Eligibility for the Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Loan must be determined before MU can process an unsubsidized loan
- Student must be enrolled at least half-time
Maximum amount
- The amount for which you are eligible depends on your year in school and the amount of subsidized loan money for which you are eligible
- This loan must fit within the Cost of Attendance after other resources, such as scholarships and subsidized loans, have been considered
- Undergraduate dependent student borrowing is by limited annually by academic grade level, not to exceed $31,000 including subsidized loan balances
- Graduate student borrowing not to exceed $138,500 including undergraduate loan balances
Maximum award by year
| Year | Award amount for dependent student* | Award amount for independent student** |
| 1st-year undergraduate | $5,500 ($3,500)^ | $9,500 ($3,500)^ |
| 2nd-year undergraduate | $6,500 ($4,500)^ | $10,500 ($4,500)^ |
| 3rd- and 4th-year undergraduate | $7,500 ($5,500)^ | $12,500 ($5,500)^ |
| Graduate/professional | Not applicable | $20,500 |
*except those whose parents are unable to borrow a PLUS loan
**these limits also apply to dependent students whose parents are unable to borrow a PLUS loan
^numbers in parentheses represent the maximum amount that may be subsidized
Loan proration for graduating undergraduate borrowers
If you are scheduled to graduate with your undergraduate degree and will not attend a full academic year, your annual federal loan limits will be prorated. The amount of your prorated loan(s) will be directly impacted by your hours of enrollment.
Promissory note
The master promissory note cannot be completed until the loan has been certified by MU. Student will be notified when the MPN is available for electronic signing with federal PIN.
Additional information
- Low-interest loan for students to help pay for the cost of higher education
- Not based on financial need
- Lender is the U.S. Department of Education
- Origination fee of 1.057 percent for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2023
- Fixed interest rate of 4.99 percent for undergraduate students whose loans are disbursed between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023
- Fixed interest rate of 6.54 percent for graduate students whose loans are disbursed between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023
- Interest accrues and is charged during all periods, including grace and deferment periods
- Repayment begins six months after graduation, withdrawal or dropping below half-time enrollment