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Financial Aid and Scholarships
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Loans

Loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid. Student loans can come from different sources including the federal government, private banks, or other organizations. You are encouraged to make sure you understand the terms and conditions of a loan before accepting.

The University of North Florida encourages students to borrow only what is necessary to cover their cost of attendance for the academic period. There is no penalty for accepting a partial loan amount.

Title IV school code: 009841

Federal Direct Loans

Federal loans are loans made available to eligible students through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, which The University of North Florida participates in. Under the Direct Loan Program, all funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education.

Federal Direct Loans are low-interest education loans and are the most common student loans for funding undergraduate and graduate education.

Federal Direct Loans consists of the following:

Private/Alternative Loans

Have you applied for Federal Student Aid?

Before considering private educational loans, it's important to apply for all other types of aid. Please complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal, state and institutional grants, federal work-study and low-interest federal loans, first.

Private Loans are credit-based and require an application directly with an educational loan lender. These loans can vary in terms, conditions and eligibility requirements. Therefore, Private Loans should be considered as a last resort for educational purposes after all other federal aid options have been exhausted (grants, scholarships and Federal Direct Loans). We advise students that are considering a private loan to research and understand the terms and conditions of the lenders and to speak with a One-Stop counselor.  

For more Private Loan information visit:

Loan Repayment

Students are required to pay back all federal student loans borrowed according to the terms of the Master Promissory Note. After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you will have a six-month grace period before you are required to begin repayment. During this period, you'll receive repayment information from your loan servicer, and you'll be notified of your first payment due date. Payments are usually due monthly.

Repayment Information

There are several repayment options available that are designed to meet the individual needs of borrowers. Your loan servicer can help you understand which repayment options are available to you. Generally, you'll have 10 to 25 years to repay your loan, depending on the repayment plan you choose. The most common repayment plan options are Standard, Extended, Graduated, Income Contingent, Income-Driven and Income-Sensitive. For detailed descriptions of each repayment plan option, visit the Federal Student Aid website. 

Please Note: students seeking face-to-face guidance may contact One-Stop Student Services in order to schedule an appointment with a financial aid specialist.

The Loan Simulator is a great tool to help you make decisions about your student loans. Use it to find a repayment plan that meets your needs and goals or to decide whether to consolidate.

How to View Your Loan History

Information regarding every student's federal loans will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

NSLDS is a secure central database for student aid where students can view:

  • The total amount of aid borrowed
  • Summary of disbursed Federal Direct Loans
  • Federal student loan history
  • Contact information of lenders and loan servicers
  • Progression towards aggregate loan limit

FSA Ombudsman Group


Contact Method Details
Online Assistance fsapartners.ed.gov
Phone (877) 557-2575
Fax (606) 396-4821
Mail U.S. Department of Education
FSA Ombudsman Group
P.O. Box 1843
Monticello, KY 42633

The Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman Group of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is a neutral, informal and confidential resource to help resolve disputes about federal student loans. The FSA Ombudsman Group should only be contacted as a last resort after unsuccessful efforts to resolve your student loan problems with your lender or servicer.

Additional Resources

The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) offers free resources to help educate students regarding their rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. All are found on the Navigating Your Financial Future website, including:

  • Financial Literacy online training modules covering Repayment of Student Loan Debt, Managing Your Credit and Managing Your Budget.
  • Financial Calculators and Wizards
  • Recorded presentations (located under the TRAINING tab for students)

For more Direct Loan information visit: