Federal Perkins Student Loan

Federal Subsidized Stafford/Ford Loan

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan

Federal PLUS

Federal Graduate PLUS (GPLUS)

Lender

School

federal government

federal government

federal government

federal government

Interest-free in school?

yes

yes

no

no

no

Annual maximums

$4,000/year as undergraduate
$6,000/year as graduate/professional

$3,500/freshmen
$4,500/sophomores
$5,500/juniors & seniors
$8,500/grad & prof.

$6,000/freshmen & sophomores ***
$7,000/juniors & seniors ***
$10,000/grad & prof. ***

Cost of attendance minus aid

Cost of attendance minus aid

Cumulative maximums

$20,000 undergrad
$40,000 undergrad & grad combined

$23,000 undergrad
$65,500 undergrad & grad combined

$31,000 /dependent undergrad ****
$57,500/independent undergrad ****
$138,500 undergrad & grad combined ****

NA

NA

Grace period

6-9 months

6 months

6 months

none

none

Repayment period

to 10 years

to 10 years

to 10 years

to 10 years

to 10 years