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Traditional Graduate Students

Loans

Understand the role of student loans.

You are responsible for making arrangements to pay the cost of attendance that is not met by your financial aid award. Several loan options are available to help finance your remaining cost.

Payment for each quarter is due 10 days prior to the official start of the term. You will find a schedule of exact dates for billing statements and payment due dates on the Bursar's Office website.

If you borrow from one or more of the Federal loan programs, information regarding your Federal loans will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and will be accessible by guarantee agencies, lenders and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.

Loan Options

Federal Perkins Loan
  • Federal loan made available to students by the University of Denver
  • Students with demonstrated financial need who meet the application priority deadline may be offered this federally guaranteed loan as a part of their award
  • Up to $3,000 per academic year with fixed 5% interest rate
  • 9-month grace period after graduation (or after student drops below 4 credits) before repayment
  • Interest does not accrue while student is enrolled at least half-time, during grace period, or during eligible deferments
  • Must complete a master promissory note and entrance counseling with the Bursar's Office
  • Can be consolidated with other federal loans
Federal Direct Loans
  • Federal loans made available to students by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Students with demonstrated financial need are eligible for a combination of subsidized and unsubsidized loans
  • Up to $20,500 per academic year with a fixed 6.8% interest rate; up to $8,500 of that amount may be subsidized (Note: Due to recent changes in federal regulations, subsidized loans are no longer available for graduate students after the 2011-12 academic year.)
  • Government pays the interest on subsidized loans while a student is enrolled and during grace period
  • Interest accrues on unsubsidized loans while in school, during the grace period, and during repayment and is capitalized at repayment if not paid
  • Fixed 6.8% interest rate for both types of loans
  • Students must be enrolled at least half-time (4 credits)
  • A 1% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of loan
  • 6-month grace period after graduation (or after student drops below 4 credits) before repayment
  • If offered as a part of a financial aid award, you must complete both a master promissory note and entrance counseling at www.studentloans.gov
  • Multiple repayment options available and can be consolidated with other federal loans
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
  • Federal loan available to credit-worthy graduate students enrolled at least half-time by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Can borrow up to the total cost of attendance less all other financial aid
  • Not based on financial need, but student must submit a FAFSA
  • Borrower must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
  • Credit check is required*
  • Fixed 7.9% interest rate
  • A 4% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of loan
  • Repayment of principle and interest begins 60 days after the last disbursement of the loan; however, repayment can be deferred while you are enrolled at least half-time (4 credits), and loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008 can have repayment deferred for an additional 6 months after you are no longer enrolled at least half-time (similarly to Direct subsidized/unsubsidized loans).
  • Upon graduation, can be consolidated with Federal Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans
  • Students need to complete both a master promissory note and an application, using their own PIN, with the Department of Education at www.studentloans.gov

*To be approved for a Graduate PLUS loan, you will need to have no adverse credit. Adverse credit is defined as 90 days or more delinquent on any debt, or having a credit report that shows default, discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment, or write-off of Title IV (federal student loan) debt, in the past five years. Your debt-to-income ratio, credit score, employment status, or lack of credit is not taken into account during a credit check. If you are denied a Graduate PLUS loan because of adverse credit, you may appeal the denial or reapply with an endorser (cosigner).

Private Education Loans
  • Note: Before borrowing a private loan, students should consider applying for a Graduate PLUS loan
  • Terms vary among lenders and interest rates are variable
  • Requires a credit check and/or debt-to-income ratio
  • Co-borrower may be required; interest rates may be lower for students who apply with a co-borrower
  • Private loan funds are electronically disbursed to DU and are credited to a student's account automatically (as with all other loans)
  • Private loans cannot be consolidated with federal loans
  • Borrowers need to apply directly with the lender of their choice, and should apply early as processing may take several weeks
  • Repayment options will vary among lenders