Federal Graduate / Professional School Loans

Remember that borrowing money is a serious responsibility; you must repay loans with interest.
Before you borrow, pursue outside agency scholarships.
Submit any additional documents requested by the Financial Aid Office before the May 1 deadline.
In addition to the federal loan programs listed below, you may wish to consider private loan programs.
Read more about loans and about the Federal Direct Loan Program.
Please note: If you accept a Title IV loan, the loan(s) will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and schools to be determined as authorized users of the data system.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Interest begins to accrue after the loan is disbursed. To borrow a Federal Direct Loan File your FAFSA and provide any requested documents. UC San Diego offers Direct Loan options on your award offer. This can be found on the Financial Aid & Scholarships student portal via MyTritonLink. You will be notified via your UC San Diego email when your award offer is ready for review. Review the Manage Awards section to Accept/Decline the award via your Financial Aid & Scholarships student portal on TritonLink. Sign the electronic Master Promissory Note (eMPN). This document confirms your agreement to repay the loan. Complete online entrance loan counseling (first-time UC San Diego borrowers only.) Loan funds will be credited to your UC San Diego student account (read more about how you get your money).
Annual maximum amounts for independent graduate/ professional school students:	$20,500
Need-based/subsidized?:	No.
Awarded and disbursed by:	The U.S. Department of Education (with funds from the U.S. Treasury)
Interest rates effective:	2023: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 2024: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Interest rate:	2023: 7.05% fixed for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 2024: 8.08% fixed for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Loan fees:	For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2023 and by September 30, 2024 the loan origination fee is 1.057%. For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2024 and by September 30, 2025 the loan origination fee is 1.057%.
Repayment of principal and interest begins	6 months after your full-time or half-time enrollment ends.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Award amount and term:	The annual maximum equals the cost of attendance minus estimated financial assistance, including other non-need-based loans.
Need-based/subsidized?:	No.
Awarded and disbursed by:	The U.S. Department of Education (with funds from the U.S. Treasury)
Aggregate Award Amounts for Graduates and Professional $138,500 for graduate or professional students - No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study. Effective for periods of enrollment beginning on or after July 1, 2012, graduate and professional students are no longer eligible to receive Direct Subsidized Loans. The $65,500 subsidized aggregate loan limit for graduate or professional students includes subsidized loans that a graduate or professional student may have received for periods of enrollment that began before July 1, 2012, or for prior undergraduate study. If the total loan amount you receive over the course of your education reaches the aggregate loan limit, you are not eligible to receive additional loans. However, if you repay some of your loans to bring your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan limit, you could then borrow again, up to the amount of your remaining eligibility under the aggregate loan limit. To be eligible for the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, you must Use the funds for educational expenses Be enrolled at least half-time Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident Not be in default or owe a repayment on any Title IV loan or grant Comparing the Graduate PLUS and private loans The Graduate PLUS Loan may be a better financing option over private loans. The Graduate PLUS Loan offers competitive fixed rates for the life of the loan. Your income and credit score will affect your eligibility, and you must pass a credit check. Private loans have variable interest rates, without a rate cap and with adjustments during the year. Carefully compare the two programs to choose the one that is best for your circumstances. Make sure you request the maximum Unsubsidized loan amount for which you're eligible, before borrowing a Graduate PLUS Loan!

Award amount and term:

The annual maximum equals the cost of attendance minus estimated financial assistance, including other non-need-based loans.

Need-based/subsidized?:

No.

Awarded and disbursed by:

The U.S. Department of Education (with funds from the U.S. Treasury)

Aggregate Award Amounts for Graduates and Professional

$138,500 for graduate or professional students - No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study.
Effective for periods of enrollment beginning on or after July 1, 2012, graduate and professional students are no longer eligible to receive Direct Subsidized Loans. The $65,500 subsidized aggregate loan limit for graduate or professional students includes subsidized loans that a graduate or professional student may have received for periods of enrollment that began before July 1, 2012, or for prior undergraduate study.
If the total loan amount you receive over the course of your education reaches the aggregate loan limit, you are not eligible to receive additional loans. However, if you repay some of your loans to bring your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan limit, you could then borrow again, up to the amount of your remaining eligibility under the aggregate loan limit.

To be eligible for the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, you must

Use the funds for educational expenses
Be enrolled at least half-time
Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident
Not be in default or owe a repayment on any Title IV loan or grant

Comparing the Graduate PLUS and private loans

The Graduate PLUS Loan may be a better financing option over private loans.

The Graduate PLUS Loan offers competitive fixed rates for the life of the loan. Your income and credit score will affect your eligibility, and you must pass a credit check.
Private loans have variable interest rates, without a rate cap and with adjustments during the year.
Carefully compare the two programs to choose the one that is best for your circumstances.
Make sure you request the maximum Unsubsidized loan amount for which you're eligible, before borrowing a Graduate PLUS Loan!

Funded and Disbursed by:	The U.S. Department of Education disburses funds directly to UC San Diego
Interest rates effective:	2023: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 2024: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Interest rate:	2023: 8.05% fixed for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 2024: 9.08% fixed for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Loan fees:	For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2023 and by September 30, 2024 the loan origination fee is 4.228%. For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2024 and by September 30, 2025 the loan origination fee is 4.228%.
Repayment of principal and interest begins	6 months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time

To borrow the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

File your FAFSA and provide any requested documents.
UC San Diego offers Direct Loan options on your award offer. This can be found on the Financial Aid & Scholarships student portal via MyTritonLink. You will be notified via your UC San Diego email when your award offer is ready for review.
Review the Manage Awards section to Accept/Decline the award via your Financial Aid & Scholarships student portal on TritonLink.
Sign the electronic Master Promissory Note (eMPN). This document confirms your agreement to repay the loan.
Complete online entrance loan counseling (1st year UC San Diego graduate students must complete entrance counseling.)
Loan funds will be credited to your UC San Diego student account (read more about how you get your money).