Federal Loans

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. 
• Must be enrolled at least half-time (10 credits per term required for your degree). 
• Can borrow up to $33,000 maximum per academic year; $224,000 aggregate lifetime limit. 
• Fixed interest rate of 8.08%. For prior year rates, please visit this Federal Student Aid page. 
• The origination fee for loans disbursed prior to October 1, 2024 is 1.057%. This fee is automatically deducted from the loan prior to disbursement. 
• Loan is unsubsidized, meaning interest begins accruing at disbursement and continues accruing during the school year. If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school or during other grace periods, that interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan when you begin repayment. 
• Master Promissory Note (MPN) and entrance interview are required for disbursement and can be completed online. 
• Exit counseling is required for all graduating students as well as those whose enrollment falls below half-time status. 

For more detailed information, visit the Federal Student Aid website. 

1. Complete the FAFSA and Harvard Chan School Financial Aid Application at MyFinaid. Your award will be determined only after you are accepted into a degree-granting program. 
2. View your loan eligibility on the “Financial Aid Offer” tab in MyFinaid once you have been accepted and have viewed your Financial Aid Communication letter. 
3. If you accept the federal loan, our office will instruct you on when to complete the necessary online loan documents (MPN and Entrance Interview) required for disbursement to the student term bill.

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. 
• Must pass a credit check. Individuals who apply and are denied due to credit issues may obtain an endorser (co-signer) and reapply. 
• Must be enrolled at least half-time (10 credits per term required for your degree). 
• The maximum PLUS loan amount you can borrow per academic year is the cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance you receive. 
• Fixed interest rate of 9.08%.  For prior year rates, please visit the Federal Student Aid site. 
• The origination fee for loans disbursed prior to Oct. 1, 2024 is 4.228%. This fee is automatically deducted from the loan prior to disbursement. 
• Loan is unsubsidized, meaning interest begins accruing at disbursement and continues accruing during the school year. If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school or during other grace periods, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan when you begin repayment. 
• A Master Promissory Note (MPN) and entrance interview are required for disbursement and can be completed online. 
• Exit counseling is required for all graduating students and those whose enrollment falls below half-time status. 

• To apply for a Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, please visit StudentAid.gov.
• If you need to make changes to your loan, submit the Federal Loan Adjustment Request Form or contact our office at financialaid@hsph.harvard.edu. 
• Graduate PLUS loan borrowers must also complete a Graduate PLUS loan promissory note and student loan entrance counseling. Both can be completed online: 
• Promissory note requirement: https://studentaid.gov/mpn/  
• Loan entrance counseling:  https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/