An unsubsidized loan is offered to students not on the basis of financial need as determined by the FAFSA. If a student does not qualify for a subsidized loan, the unsubsidized loan is the next offered option. You must be enrolled at least half time to be considered for this loan. Parents do not need to co-sign for this loan, and the loan is in the student's name only.
Interest and Repayment
While you are attending school, the interest accumulates on this loan. You must either pay the interest on this loan quarterly to the Direct Loan Servicing Center or let the interest accumulate and capitalize. Capitalized interest makes the loan payback more expensive over time.
No payment on the principal balance of the loan is necessary so long as the student remains half-time (six credit hours undergraduate and five credit hours graduate students).
The interest rate may vary depending on if you are an undergraduate or graduate student. Yearly loan amounts you may borrow may vary depending on the following:
- Your credit hours enrolled per semester
- Your class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student)
- Whether the FAFSA form considers you a dependent or independent student
The Department of Education's Direct Loan Servicing Center is the holder of this loan when a student goes into repayment.
To Get Credit
Before the proceeds of this loan will credit to your cashiering account, you must complete the following:
- An Entrance Loan Counseling Session – The entrance loan counseling session has mandated consumer rights and responsibilities information from the U.S. Department of Education about your loan.
- The Master Promissory Note – The master promissory note is a legal document where you affirm to pay back your loan in the future. The student will use the same FSA ID he or she used in signing the online FAFSA application for both processes.
Once you complete these steps, you do not need to complete these processes again each year so long as you remain a UNLV student.
| Loan Type | Fixed Interest Rate (Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/18 and before 7/1/19) | Fixed Interest Rate (Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/19 and before 7/1/20) |
|---|---|---|
| Parent PLUS | 7.595% | 7.079% |
| Graduate PLUS | 7.595% | 7.079% |
| Year | Interest Rate Subsidized Loan Undergraduate | Interest Rate Unsubsidized Loan Undergraduate | Interest Rate Unsubsidized Loans Graduate Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 5.045% | 6.595% | 7.595% |
| 2019-2020* | 4.529% | 4.529% | 6.079% |
*Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/19 and before 7/1/20
| Loan Type | Interest Accumulates? |
|---|---|
| Subsidized | No |
| Unsubsidized | Yes |
| Parent PLUS | Yes |
| Graduate PLUS | Yes |
How Much Can I Borrow in Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans?
| Class rank | Dependent Undergraduate Subsidized | Dependent Undergraduate Unsubsidized | Total Yearly Borrowing Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman 0-29 credits | $3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
| Sophomore 30-59 credits | $4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 |
| Junior & Senior 60+ credits | $5,500 | $2,000 | $7,500 |
| Maximum lifetime total all loan debt | $23,000 | $8,000 | $31,000 |
| Class rank | Independent Undergraduate Subsidized | Independent Undergraduate Unsubsidized | Total Yearly Borrowing Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman 0-29 credits | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| Sophomore 30-59 credits | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
| Junior & Senior 60+ credits | $5,500 | $7,000 | $12,500 |
| Maximum lifetime total all loan debt | $23,000 | $34,500 | $57,500 |
| Class rank | Dependent Undergraduate Subsidized | Dependent Undergraduate Unsubsidized | Total Yearly Borrowing Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Students | $0 – Effective July 1, 2012 | $20,500 – Effective July 1, 2012 | $20,500 |
| Maximum lifetime total all loan debt | $0 | $138,500 | $138,500 |