Federal Direct Loans are a form of financial aid offered to eligible UCLA Extension students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These loans must be repaid with interest.
To be considered for federal financial aid, a student must be enrolled in one of the programs listed below. Courses that are not part of the approved program curriculum will not qualify for financial aid.
Programs Eligible for Federal Direct Loans
| Program Name | Program Type | Available Direct Loan Type(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Medical and General Science Studies | Undergraduate Certificate | Subsidized and Unsubsidized |
| Landscape Architecture | Graduate Certificate | Unsubsidized only |
| Paralegal Training Program | Graduate Certificate | Unsubsidized only |
| UCLA Post-Baccalaureate Program in Classics | Graduate Certificate | Unsubsidized only |
Types of Federal Direct Loans
Subsidized Federal Direct Loan: This loan is based on financial need determined by a federal formula. The government pays the interest while the student is in school, during the grace period, and during periods of deferment.
Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan: This loan is not based on financial need and is available to all eligible students regardless of income. Interest accrues from the date of the loan disbursement.
Important Callouts for Borrowers
-
Enrollment and Eligibility Conditions: To receive and maintain Federal Direct Loan eligibility, students must meet specific enrollment requirements:
- Half-time Enrollment: You must be enrolled in at least Half-time units per quarter in your eligible program.
- Required Courses: You must be enrolled in required courses for your program for the entire quarter in which you are receiving aid.
- Repayment of Unearned Aid: If you completely withdraw or drop below half-time enrollment, you may be required to repay all federal financial aid funds received for that quarter. Withdrawing may also impact future eligibility.
- Courses that are not part of the approved program curriculum will not qualify for financial aid.
- Maintaining Eligibility (Satisfactory Academic Progress): All financial aid students must meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to maintain their aid eligibility. SAP measures your progress toward certificate completion.
- Loan Disbursement Dates: Loans are disbursed to your account 10 days before the start of the quarter. Loan disbursement dates cannot be adjusted and represent the earliest date funds can be made available. Financial aid is equally disbursed over your quarters of enrollment for the current school year.
- Cost of Attendance (COA): Your maximum loan eligibility cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance (COA) per quarter. The COA is the total estimated cost of attending UCLA Extension, including tuition, fees, housing costs, food, books, and transit. The COA is a guide for budgeting and is not a bill.
- Social Security Number Requirement: Students who have borrowed or plan to borrow via Federal Direct Loans must provide their Social Security number (SSN) on their online student account. Failure to provide an SSN will prevent you from borrowing Direct Loans. It may cause your enrollment not to be reported to the Department of Education, which could result in loans falling out of deferment or delaying loan forgiveness.
If eligible, we recommend you start by thoroughly reading the following page on the UCLA Extension website: Federal Financial Aid.
Here, you will find detailed, step-by-step instructions on eligibility, types of aid, cost of attendance estimates, loan disbursement dates, maintaining your eligibility, application steps and links, enrollment conditions, and frequently asked questions for new and current applicants.
Please note that international students on F-1 visa are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.
Related articles: