Stafford Loans

The following is true of all Stafford loans:

• FAFSA required for federal loans
• No credit checks or collateral required
• Fixed interest rates
• A net origination fee (after instant rebate) of 0.5% will be charged
• Half-time enrollment required (at least 6 credit hours)
• Must maintain satisfactory academic progress according to Financial Aid Academic Progress Standards:
  • Undergraduate Academic Progress Standards
  • Graduate Academic Progress Standards
• Entrance loan counseling is required for all new Coastal Carolina University loan recipients.

Stafford Loans are federal student loans and can be subsidized or unsubsidized depending on the student's financial need.

• Subsidized Stafford Loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. The federal government pays the interest on these loans while you are in school.


• Current Subsidized interest rate: 4.5% for undergraduate students and 6.8% for graduate students.
  Beginning July 1, 2012: Subsidized interest rate is increasing to 6.8% for all undergraduate students
  Graduate students will not be eligible for SUBSIDIZED Stafford Loans
  Unsubsidized Stafford Loan eligibility will remain in place


• Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are not awarded on the basis of financial need and you will be charged interest on the loan until the loan is paid off. While you are in school you can make interest only payments to avoid having the interest added to the original loan amount.


• Current Unsubsidized Interest rate: fixed at 6.80% for all students.

How to Apply:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the correct academic year
• Sign a Master Promissory Note.
• Complete on-line Entrance Loan Counseling.

Important note:

• If you have already completed Entrance Loan Counseling while attending Coastal Carolina University, you are not required to complete a new counseling session. However, if in doubt, to prevent a delay, you may complete a new Entrance Loan Counseling session.