William D. Ford was a U.S. Representative who spent three decades on Capitol Hill and dedicated himself to expanding educational opportunities for children. He served as Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor and as Chairman of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.

He believed that the government has an obligation to give its citizens a chance at success and he worked every day of his life to be the champion of the working poor and the middle class, per Representative John Dingell, D-Dearborn.

He authored the Middle Income Student Assistance Act and orchestrated the passage of the Family Medical Leave Act. In 1994 The Federal Direct Student Loan Program was named for him.

Please Explain the Program

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FDSLP), often referred to as “Direct Loans,” is a United States Department of Education program that provides loans to help students pay for education after high school.

The Department of Education acts as a lender, providing funds for Stafford loans and PLUS loans in the same amounts as the Stafford and PLUS loans offered through the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). The Department of Education allows schools to choose which program; FDSLP or FFELP, best suits the needs of its students.

Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of your education after high school. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institutions. Direct Loans are:

Simple: You borrow directly from the federal government and have a single contact-the Direct Loan Servicing Center-for everything related to the repayment of your loans, even if you receive Direct Loans at different schools.
Convenient: You’ll have online access to your Direct Loan account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Flexible: You can choose from several repayment plans that are designed to meet the needs of almost any borrower, and you can switch repayment plans if your needs change.

What Kinds Of Direct Loans Are Available?

Subsidized Stafford Loans are for students with financial need as determined by federal regulations. No interest is charged while you are in school at least half time, during your grace period, and during deferment periods.

PLUS Loans are low-interest loans for graduate/professional students and for parents to help their children who are dependent students meet college costs.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are for students and are not based on financial need. Interest is charged during all periods.

Consolidation Loans allow students or parents to combine different eligible federal student loans into one loan.

To be eligible for these types of loans you must be enrolled at least half time at a school that participates in the Direct Loan Program, and you must meet general eligibility requirements for the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs.

Also, to find out more information about these requirements, contact your school’s financial counselor or by reading “Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid.”

Many students will be heading off to school and will be in need of many things. The first year of college brings great surprises, newfound freedom and great financial need. If you are a student or a parent of one, it is important for you to understand your education-funding options. Students will turn to federal or private loans to finance their goals.

Comparing The Two Loans

First, we shall examine the eligibility between the two. The requirements for federal loans offer a numbers of differences when compared to the private loans. The Federal Stafford Loans do not require any credit check. Requesting a private loan would be very difficult to acquire without having a past credit check.

To be eligible for a federal loan, you must be a U.S. citizen/national, or eligible noncitizen. Some private loans may offer options to international students who do not qualify for federal loans.

Also, private loans are credit-based. This means that your eligibility is determined by your credit rating. Most private lenders will allow you to use a co-signer or co-borrower to qualify for a private loan showing proof of income before lending you the money.

Where Does The Money Come From For Each Loan

One of the largest differences between the private and federal loans is where the money comes from. With a federal loan, the loans are part of one of two federal programs. The most common federal loan is a Stafford Loan; these may be issued directly from the government to the student or from a lender such as a bank or credit union belonging to the Federal Family Education Program.

This program is known as FFELP. Also, Stafford Loans may be subsidized or unsubsidized. If you are eligible for a subsidized Stafford Loan, the government will pay the interest while you are in school. These loans are usually given to students who prove financial need.

If you receive an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, you will be responsible for paying all of the interest.

Lenders such as banks and credit unions issue private education loans. The federal government regulates them, but there are no guarantees against default. These loans are provided and guaranteed by private lenders and guarantors. Private loan programs will vary by lender.

Let’s Look At Interest Rates And Repayment Plans

Private loans will have a higher interest rate than federal loans and the interest rate for private loans will always be variable. If you need a co-signer for your loan their credit score will have an effect on the interest rate. Private lenders start at a prime interest and then add a margin.

Federal loans are better when they come to interest rates. The interest rate on the Federal Stafford and the Federal Plus Loans is fixed, not variable. This helps during periods when interest rates rise high.

Repayment plans also differ. Private lenders may not offer benefits such as forbearance or deferment in times of hardship. They also may not grant a grace period, and some private lenders require the interest payment to be made while the student is in school.

However, most lenders do have repayment options to allow deferment of the principal until the student graduates. The federal government has put safety nets into place if you are faced with hardships where you can’t make your loan payments. You can apply for deferment, forbearance, and/or temporarily postponement to reduce your monthly payments.

Repayment plans differ by loan providers for both federal and private loans. Make sure your lender provides you with the options prior to signing any paper work. Also depending on your provider, both federal student loans and private loans may be eligible for different incentive or discounts.

Explore what the many providers offer. The best advise is to spend time in researching a large number of loans and what they offer and what you qualify for. You will be repaying your lender for many years to come, so choose your lender carefully and ask many questions.