Student Loans

Fast Facts

  • When you apply for financial aid, you might be offered loans as part of your  financial aid offer.
  • A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest.
  • Student loans can come from the federal government, from private sources such as a bank or financial institution, or from other organizations.
  • The dollar amount of these loans may be based on federal limits, year in school, dependency status, cost of attendance, and other financial aid received.

Review the loan eligibility chart

Federal Student Aid Resources: 

Federal Direct Loans

The funds for a Federal Direct Loan are provided by the U.S. Department of Education and are credited to your student Bursar account. Subsidized loans are need-based; unsubsidized loans are not. The federal government pays the interest on the subsidized Stafford Loan while you're enrolled in school at least half-time (6 credit hours).

Federal Direct PLUS Loans

Parents of dependent students may borrow funds through the William D. Ford Federal Direct PLUS Loan program. The borrower must be a natural parent, adoptive parent, or stepparent of the dependent student. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. Starting with the 2026-27 school year, new borrowers will have both student-based annual limits and lifetime limits that may limit the amount of PLUS loans received

Private Loans

Sinclair will certify a private loan from any lender. Terms, fees, and borrowing limits of private loans differ. Private loans are not federally guaranteed and do not require that you file the FAFSA. The yearly amount cannot exceed the annual cost of attendance minus other financial aid and resources. Borrowing a private loan is a decision that should be made with careful consideration.