The federal government offers subsidized loans based on the student’s financial need when applying for aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The key components of a subsidized student loan (and the biggest benefits) are:
1. The U.S. Department of Education pays for any interest accrued while you are in school. To receive this benefit, you must be enrolled at least halftime.
2. You’ll also get a six-month grace period after graduation, meaning that any interest that accrues during your college career and six months afterward, is completely paid for.
Unsubsidized student loans, on the other hand, begin accruing interest from the date of your first loan disbursement, though you’re not required to pay that interest until you finish school. When you graduate, the amount of money that accrued during your education is simply added to the principal loan amount and you begin paying off that new amount. One benefit to taking out a federal unsubsidized loan is that you are not required to demonstrate financial need so the amount you can take out is much higher than a subsidized student loan. Additionally, unsubsidized federal student loans are available for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Federal subsidized and unsubsidized direct federal loans for undergraduates carry the same low, fixed interest rate, so it is generally a good idea to take out a subsidized loan before taking on additional debt with an unsubsidized loan. If you are planning on going back to school, subsidized loans can help save a lot of money in deferment since interest will not accrue.
