Federal student loans for college or career school are an investment in your future. 
You must repay your loan, so be sure you understand your options and responsibilities. If you apply for financial aid , you may be offered loans as part of your school s financial aid offer. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you decide to take out a loan , make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan. Student loans can come from the federal government, from private sources such as a bank or financial institution, or from other organizations. Loans made by the federal government, called federal student loans, usually have more benefits than loans from banks or other private sources. Learn more about the differences between federal and private student loans. 

What types of federal student loans are available? 
The U.S. Department of Education s federal student loan program is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Direct Loan Program. Under this program , the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. There are four types of Direct Loans available : Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students , but eligibility is not based on financial need. Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need , but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify. Direct Consolidation Loans allow you to combine all of your eligible federal student loans into a single loan with a single loan servicer. Try This Resource Federal Student Loan Prog

user: I have been wondering about asking for a federal student loan, but I don't know if I should. Can you please tell me a bit more about this topic?

assistant: Of course. You must repay your loan, so be sure you understand your options and responsibilities.

assistant: Did you apply for financial aid?

user: Yes, I have applied for it.

assistant: Then you may be offered loans as part of your school s financial aid offer. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest.

user: I see. So what if I decide to take out a loan?

assistant: Make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan.

user: Are there other loans beside the federal student loans?

assistant: Yes. Student loans can come from the federal government, from private sources such as a bank or financial institution, or from other organizations.

user: What if I'm in financial need? What can the government do for me?

assistant: If you demonstrate financial need, the government pays the interest on some loan types while you are in school and during some periods after school.

user: That's great! So, what exactly are those direct plus loans?

assistant: Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required.