KCU makes applying for a student loan simple.

This loan information is only for incoming students in the fall of 2026.

·      The Direct Unsubsidized loan is Non-Need based.

·      The interest begins accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed.

·      There is a six-month grace period after graduation or dropping below half-time before repayment is required

·       Students can choose to make interest payments while in school or let interest capitalize. When a student loan capitalizes, the interest is added to the principal amount of the loan.

Priority Deadline: March 15, however, students can apply anytime during the current academic year

Eligibility Requirements:

·      Must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

·      Must be admitted to a graduate or professional program

·      Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

·      Must be enrolled at least half-time

·      Must not be in default on any student loan

Application: Must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note.

First time borrowers at KCU must complete online entrance counseling on StudentAid.gov.

Interest Rate and Loan Origination Fees:

View updated interest rates and loan origination fees on StudentAid.gov. 

Does the unsubsidized loan have to be repaid?

Yes. Repayment begins six months after graduation or when a student drops below half-time.

Award Maximum:

Graduate Students (BioS/MHS-AA): $20,500

Professional Students (COM/PsyD/Dental): $50,000

Need based: No

Enrollment: Must be enrolled at least half-time.

Repayment Options: You can learn more about loan repayment options available on StudentAid.gov. Students can also view loan repayment options using the Loan Simulator on StudentAid.gov.

The Direct Grad PLUS loan is a federally guaranteed credit-based loan. Only graduate and professional students are eligible to apply for this loan.

The Federal Loan Origination Applicant Services (LOAS) center will conduct a credit check on the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan applicant.

For purposes of qualifying for a Direct PLUS Loan, you’re considered to have an adverse credit history if:

• you have one or more debts with a total combined outstanding balance greater than $2,085 that are 90 or more days delinquent as of the date of the credit report, or that have been placed in collection or charged-off (written off) during the two years preceding the date of the credit report; or
• during the five years preceding the date of the credit report, you have been subject to a
  • default determination
  • discharge of debts in bankruptcy
  • foreclosure
  • repossession
  • tax lien
  • wage garnishment
  • write-off of a federal student aid debt

Meeting any of the criteria above will result in the Grad PLUS loan will be denied.

The LOAS will issue a loan denial letter to the applicant that will identify the name and telephone number of the agency that provided the credit information. The applicant should call the agency and request a copy of the credit report. After reviewing the report, if the credit data is inaccurate, the loan denial decision may be appealed. Please note that our office is not provided any information about the specific reason for the denial. All loan denial appeals are handled by the LOAS. The LOAS may be contacted at 800-557-7394, or you may write to the Direct Loan Origination Center at: Applicant Services, PO Box 5691, Montgomery, AL 36103-5691.

If the denial decision was based on accurate information, the applicant has the option to obtain an endorser, which is similar to a co-signer, on the loan. The LOAS will include an Endorser Promissory Note and information with the denial letter mailed to the borrower.

Priority Deadline: March 15, however, students can apply anytime during a current academic year

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Must be admitted to a graduate or professional program
• Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Must be enrolled at least half-time
• Must not have adverse credit history as determined by federal regulations
• Must not be in default on any student loan

First-time borrowers must complete the online entrance counseling here.

Steps to Apply for Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loan

• Must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Federal Direct Loan Application/Master Promissory Note.
• First-time borrowers must complete the online entrance counseling here.
• Students can review the KCU loan offer information in Workday to determine the amount of GradPLUS loan needed. To avoid having a second credit check mid-year: apply for an amount to cover your estimated full year expenses
• Complete the online Federal Direct GradPLUS loan application here. Students will need to select the award year and enter the school code G02474.
• The US Department of Education will perform a credit check to determine your eligibility for the Grad PLUS loan. The credit decision will be displayed immediately after the application is completed. The Department will inform our office about the outcome of the credit decision.
• Your credit approval is valid for 180 days. Your credit is evaluated when you complete the GradPLUS loan application. 

Interest Rates 

Loan Origination Fees

When does repayment on a Direct Grad PLUS Loan begin?

• For loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008, borrowers may be eligible for in-school deferment if enrolled at least half-time, and may be eligible for deferment of loan repayment for the six-month period following any period of borrower’s half-time enrollment.
• Repayment begins 60 days after the final disbursement for loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2008.

What types of repayment plans are available?

You can view the repayment plan options here. You can contact your loan servicer if you would like to discuss repayment plan options. There multiple plans available (including income-based) available.

How much can I borrow?

Graduate and professional students are eligible to borrow up to their full cost of attendance, minus other financial aid and resources.

Example:                     

                                        $ 73,299 Cost of Attendance
                                     -- $ 44,494 less other aid awarded  (Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan)
                                        $ 28,355 is the amount a student can borrow in a Federal Direct Grad PLUS loan

Need based: No

Enrollment: Must be enrolled at least half-time

Repayment Options: You can learn more about loan repayment options available by clicking here. This Department of Education site is designed to assist you managing your repayment

Private loans help bridge the gap between the cost of education and the limited amount of federal financial aid available through federal loan programs.

Private loan approval is generally based on creditworthiness and ability to repay – for students; a credit-worthy, employed co-signer might be required (and is strongly encouraged to get the best rates and terms). 

Private loans cannot be consolidated with federal loans and will have different repayment options than those of federal loans.

• How much can I borrow?

  The amount you can borrow in a private loan is determined by the cost of attendance (COA) minus other financial aid, scholarships, and resources. The lender may have a loan minimum/maximum.

  Example cost of attendance: $100,000

  Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: $50,000

  The amount you can borrow in a Private Loan: $50,000

   

  Applying for a Private Loan

  For funds to be available for payment purposes, we recommended that applications be submitted by these priority dates:

  · June 30 for the Fall semester.

  · November 1 for the Spring semester.

  · April 1 for Summer sessions.

  Please note that the credit check performed by many lenders expires after 90 to 120 days. Therefore, you should not apply for a private loan more than three months before the start of the loan period. However, because of processing time, you should apply as soon as possible within the three-month window.

   

  FastChoice

  FastChoice is a tool that allows you to compare private loan options to identify the loan that will best meet your specific needs and then submit your application.

  You can filter loan options based on interest rate type, APR, enrollment status, academic performance, non-degree, prior term balances, etc. Loan options for international students or non-citizens are also available through filtering in FastChoice.

  The lenders and loan options presented in FastChoice include all lenders who made a loan at KCU within the last three years and elect to participate in the FastChoice platform.

   

  The Private Loan Application Process

  1. Research – You may research private loans with any lender. Before you apply for a private loan, first exhaust your eligibility for Federal loans. You may review a list of lenders that KCU students have used in the past on FastChoice. We also recommend reviewing our Private Student Loan Application Checklist for more details on the application process.

  2. Disclosure Forms – Lenders must provide required disclosures to the student and co-signer, if applicable, at three different times during the private loan origination process:

  ·      Application and Solicitation Disclosure – Provided during the online loan application process or via mail included with the Promissory note.

• ·      Approval Disclosure – Provided after the loan is approved and the lender has received the promissory note, the Application and Solicitation Disclosure, the Borrower Self Certification Form and the school certification.

  ·      Final Disclosure – Provided after the loan is approved, loan terms are accepted, and the school has certified the student’s eligibility for the loan.

  What are the eligibility requirements?

  These requirements may vary by lender but are the most common:

  ·      Graduate/professional student in an eligible degree or certificate program

  ·      Be a credit worthy borrower or borrower with a credit worthy co-signer

  ·      You may be required to be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen

  Tips to assist you:

  ·      Prequalify and a use soft credit pull on lender websites to see your credit.

  ·      Calculate the total amount of loan you want to borrow on school cost of attendance (COA) Your COA can be found in Workday when aid offers are available.

  Determine if you need a credit worthy co-signer.