Loans: Traditional First-Year Undergraduate

Carlow University offers you guidance in financing your educational expenses through student loans. Your eligibility is determined by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). 

Because of the nature of federal, state and institutional guidelines affecting financial aid programs, the

information contained in this website is subject to change. Listed are some options for undergraduate students to explore.

• Federal Direct Loan
• Parent Plus Loan
• Nursing Loan
• Alternative Loan

Federal Direct Loan

Students may be offered subsidized (government pays interest while the student is in school) and/or unsubsidized (interest begins accruing immediately) federal direct loans. Repayment begins six months after you stop attending school on at least a half-time basis.

Students must complete Entrance Counseling, Master Promissory Note and Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement forms for this loan. Visit Federal Student Aid for more information.

Parent PLUS Loan

Parents/stepparents can take out a loan for a dependent student, pending a credit check for approval. Parents must complete a PLUS Application, Master Promissory Note and Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement form. If your parent is denied, you may be able to borrow additional funds on your unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan. Visit Federal Student Aid for more information. 

Nursing Loan

This loan is administered by Carlow University in accordance with the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. If you are eligible, you will be notified by the Financial Aid office.

Alternative Loan

These are private loans, most requiring a credit-worthy cosigner. On ELMSelect, you can view a list of lenders commonly used by Carlow students. The list is provided as a convenient tool to compare lenders, but you may choose any lender.

Additional Student Loan Resources

• Federal Student Aid: Information about type of loan, repayment plans, repayment estimators and eligibility requirements
• National Student Loan Data System: Review borrowing history and determine loan servicers

Learn more about budgeting and financial literacy at:

• You can deal with it
• Khan Academy
• MyMoney
• 360 degrees of Financial Literacy
• The Simple Dollar