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Federal Perkins Loan Program
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Program Description

Federal Perkins Loans help financially needy undergraduate and graduate students meet the cost of postsecondary education. The award is made by the school based on the availability of funds. A Federal Perkins Loan carries a fixed interest rate and must be repaid beginning after a nine-month grace period following the date when the student is no longer enrolled on at least a half-time basis.

Institutional financial aid administrators at participating institutions have substantial flexibility in determining the amount of Perkins loans to award to students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment. Borrowers who undertake certain public, military, or teaching service employment are eligible to have all or part of their loans canceled.

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a student pursuing a postsecondary educational degree or certificate.

Loan Terms

Maximum Loan Amounts: Undergraduate - up to $5,500 a year (maximum of $27,500 as an undergraduate)
Graduate - up to $8,000 a year (maximum of $60,000, including undergraduate loans)
Amount actually received depends on financial need, amount of other aid, and availability of funds at school

Interest Rate: Fixed at five percent

Maximum Loan Length: Up to 10 years to repay, depending on amount owed

Frequency of Payments: Monthly or quarterly. After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you have a nine-month grace period before you begin repayment. Those in the military might have longer.

Prepayment penalties: None

Fees: None

Your Next Steps
The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.

Application Process

To apply for Perkins Loans, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can apply online using FAFSA on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov (the faster and easier way), or you can get a paper FAFSA from your high school, local library, postsecondary school, or by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). TTY users for the hearing impaired can call 847-688-2567.

If you applied for Federal student aid for the previous school year, you can probably file a Renewal FAFSA for the next year. By using a Renewal FAFSA, you will only have to update any information that has changed and fill in a few new answers.

Program Contact Information

For general information about Federal student aid programs, assistance in completing the FAFSA, and information about FAFSA on the Web, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at the following toll-free number:
1-800-433-3243

People who are hearing impaired may call this toll-free number:
1-800-325-0778

TTY users for the hearing impaired can call:
1-800-730-8913

Callers in locations without access to 800 numbers may call this non toll-free number:
319-337-5665

Managing Agency

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov