Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
(855) 411-2372
Submit a Complaint
Search

What is a federal Direct Loan?

A federal Direct Loan is a federal student loan made directly by the U.S. Department of Education.

Generally, if you took out a federal student loan or consolidated your loans on or after July 1, 2010, you have a federal Direct Loan. There are four types of Direct Loans:

  • Direct Subsidized Loans
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Direct PLUS Loans
  • Direct Consolidation Loans

You can learn more about what type of loan you have through the U.S. Department of Education .

TIP: All federal Direct Loans are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment plans. Some Direct Loans may be eligible for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE), which may offer even lower monthly payments for some borrowers. Direct Parent PLUS loans consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan are eligible for the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.

Don't see what you're looking for?

Browse related questions

Search for your question

Was this answer helpful to you?

Please do not share any personally identifiable information (PII), including, but not limited to: your name, address, phone number, email address, Social Security number, account information, or any other information of a sensitive nature.