Understand the financial aid process
We know that navigating the financial aid process can be daunting, but our goal is to make it easier for you.
Undergraduate Types of Aid
Federal Direct Student Loans
Loan | Various Amounts | U.S. Department of Education
Federal Direct Loans are available to eligible students who complete a FAFSA form. These loans have low interest rates, favorable repayment options and they don’t require a credit check.
Loan Limits
| Year | Subsidized | Unsubsidized Supplement | Unsubsidized (Denied a PLUS) |
| First year | $3,500 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Sophomore | $4,500 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Junior / Senior | $5,500 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
Interest Rates and Fees for 2023-24
| Program | Interest Rate | Fees |
| Federal Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans | 5.5% | 1.057% |
| Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan | 8.05% | 4.228% |
Note: All student and parent loans are originated through the federal government's Federal Direct Loan program.
Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN)
If you will be attending Quinnipiac’s undergraduate programs and are a first-time borrower of federal loans, you are required to complete Entrance Loan Counseling and the Loan Agreement Master Promissory Note (MPN) for your Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loan before funds can be disbursed to the university.
Learn More About Entrance Counseling
Exit Counseling
Students are required to complete an online Exit Counseling session if they drop below half-time enrollment, graduate or leave school.
Learn More About Exit Counseling
Considering Your Loan Options
Effective July 1, 2010, all colleges and universities are required to process Federal Direct Student Loans and PLUS Loans through the government’s Federal Direct Loan Program. Private lenders no longer participate in the federal loan programs.
Students are strongly encouraged to exhaust all of their grant, scholarship and federal loan options before considering private loans due to the favorable terms and conditions offered through the federal programs. Traditionally, private loans require the student to obtain a credit-worthy cosigner in order to secure the loan. A credit score is used as a tool to determine eligibility, interest rate offerings, and terms of repayment for private loans.
The Office of Financial Aid does not recommend lender lists for students or parents inquiring about private educational loans, however, we do guide families toward an educational lending website provided by ELMSelect, a non-profit organization that provides a free, unbiased comparison tool for private educational loans. We also suggest that you pay attention to your home state’s loan programs, which can often provide favorable terms, conditions, fees and interest rates on student and parent loans. Visit ELMSelect
Federal Loan Consolidation
Consolidating student loans is similar to refinancing, which allows a student to combine his or her federal loans (not private loans) into one big loan, usually extending the repayment period beyond the 10-year maximum. Depending on the loan amount, the new loan terms can go from 12–30 years. Although a student's minimum monthly payment can be significantly reduced, it is important to note that in most cases, this will result in additional interest being paid over the life of the loan.
Learn More About Consolidating Loans
Learn More About Financial Aid
Explore types of aid
There are several ways to help offset the cost of your education.