FFELP

   FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM

Federal Loans help students and their families to obtain financial aid to pay for university. This is the largest student financial aid program in the USA. It produces tax benefits. It offers subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Plus Loans (for parents) and Federal Consolidation Loans.

Private financial institutions (banks, credit cooperatives and loan and savings companies) lend money to families in co-operation with the federal government, thus offering low interest rates. The cost of such loans is affordable for students and their families, and under certain economic and family circumstances the government even pays for some of the loans’ interest while the student is still studying (subsidized loan).

The federal government applies an initial charge of 3 %, and the financial institution granting the loan can charge a maximum 1 %. Both charges are automatically deducted from the loan. Students therefore receive the granted sum minus these charges.