Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
Federal Direct Subsidized Loans are need-based loans for undergraduate students where the government pays the interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time, during the grace period, and during authorized deferment periods.
Award Amount
$3,500–$5,500
per year
Deadline
Ongoing
application due
GPA Required
None
minimum
Field of Study
Any
eligible majors
Eligibility Checker
Enter your information below to check if you meet the basic eligibility criteria for the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan.
Requirements Checklist
Track your progress — check off requirements as you complete them.
0/4 completeApplication Tips
Government pays interest while you're in school
Interest rate fixed at 6.53% for 2025-26
Aggregate limit is $23,000 for dependent undergrads
Apply early each year
Scholarship Value Calculator
Annual Value
$5,500
per year
4-Year Total Value
$22,000
if renewed each year
Loan Interest Saved
$7,700
at 6.5% over 10 years
Pro tip: Every dollar in scholarship funding saves roughly $1.35 compared to borrowing the same amount through student loans at 6.5% interest over a 10-year repayment period.
Eligibility Details
| Eligibility | Undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need enrolled at least half-time |
| Demographics | All students |
| Field of Study | Any |
| Type | federal |
| Renewable | Yes — renewable annually |
Frequently Asked Questions
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