The Unsubsidized and Subsidized Stafford Loans are federal student loans that are given to students that attend a post-secondary institution.  Students that have the unsubsidized Stafford loan will have to pay interest, while in school.  Students have the option to repay the interest amount while in school or defer payments until they’ve graduated or no longer attend school.  Interest will accrue at the variable interest rate set by the federal government while in school.  The Subsidized Stafford Loan allows students to borrow money without having any interest accrue while attending school.  After the student graduates or leaves school, he or she will have to begin repayment of the Stafford loan with interest being accrued. 

Students that have a Stafford Loan will have a six month grace period after they’ve graduated, before repayment begins.  Students that borrowed the Stafford – Direct Loan will make all repayments to the Department of Education Direct Loan Servicing Center.  Students that borrowed the Stafford – FFEL Loan will make all repayments to the private student loan lender that established the student loan.  

There are six types of Stafford Loan Repayment options that are available with each option having different terms, which include the standard repayment plan, the extended repayment plan, the graduated repayment plan, Direct Only Stafford income contingent repayment plan, FFEL Only Stafford Loan sensative repayment plan, and the Income Based Repayment plan.  Generally, students will have from 10 to 25 years to repay their loan, depending on which repayment program they choose.


Federal Stafford Student Loan / Federal Stafford Loan Consolidation /
Stafford Loan Interest Rate / Stafford Loan Forgiveness / Stafford Loan Limits /
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan / StaffordLoan.org