Undergraduate Student Loan Information
CU Denver participates in the Federal William D. Ford Direct Loan program, and the U.S. Department of Education is the lender. A Federal Direct Loan may be Subsidized or Unsubsidized. Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students regardless of need. The amount and loan type you may be offered is based on your grade level, your previous borrowing, your cost of attendance and other financial aid you receive.
Interest Rates for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans*
| Loan Type | Interest Rate First disbursed on or after July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 |
Interest Rate First disbursed on or after July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 |
| Undergrad Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans | 6.39% | 6.53% |
* The rate for each loan is a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan.
Loan Origination Fees for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
An origination fee is a percentage of your loan amount charged by the lender for the processing of your loan. Federal student loans have an origination fee; therefore, the amount you may receive as a disbursement may be slightly lower than the amount you accept.
| Loan Type | Origination Fee First disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2026 | Origination Fee First disbursed on or after October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023 |
| Undergrad Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans | 1.057% | 1.057% |
Direct Loan Borrower Annual and Lifetime Aggregate Loan Limits
Dependent Student Direct Loan Annual and Lifetime Aggregate Limits
| Year | Academic Credits Passed | Annual Subsidized Limit | Annual Unsubsidized Limit |
| Freshman | 0 - 29 | $3,500 | $2,000 |
| Sophomore | 30 - 59 | $4,500 | $2,000 |
| Junior+ | 60+ | $5,500 | $2,000 |
Lifetime Limit: $31,000, of which, no more than $23,000 may be subsidized.
Independent Student Direct Loan Annual and Lifetime Aggregate Limits
| Year | Academic Credits Passed | Annual Subsidized Limit | Annual Unsubsidized Limit |
| Freshman | 0 - 29 | $3,500 | $6,000 |
| Sophomore | 30 - 59 | $4,500 | $6,000 |
| Junior+ | 60+ | $5,500 | $7,000 |
Lifetime Limit: $57,500, of which, no more than $23,000 may be subsidized
Complete the Loan Process
One of the many benefits of Federal Direct Student Loans offered to undergraduates is that the loans are not credit-based. If you accept Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans, you will have steps to complete each year. All loan requirements must be completed for the university to apply a loan to your CU Denver student account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- You must first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which you wish to borrow. For example, if you complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA you will have completed the correct FAFSA for Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023.
- If you are offered a federal student loan as part of your financial aid offer, visit our Complete the Loan Process page for further guidance
- A Subsidized Loan is only available to undergraduate students and the interest is subsidized. This means that the government pays all the interest that accrues while the student remains enrolled at least half time in school, during the grace period, and during any authorized deferment periods. Eligibility is based on need.
- An Unsubsidized Loan is not subsidized and the borrower is responsible for all of the loan’s interest from the moment the school applies the funds to your tuition account. This type of loan is not based on need.
Please visit our Summer Financial Aid page to learn about summer aid.
Parents of dependent undergraduate students may apply for Parent PLUS Loan to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.
Independent students and students whose parents are unable to borrow a Parent PLUS Loan, may pursue a credit-based private student loan. These loans typically require a student borrower to secure a creditworthy co-signer. We encourage families to exhaust all federal loan options before utilizing this type of loan to assist with educational expenses.
If you are not eligible due to citizenship status you may want to pursue a credit-based private student loan.
Visit https://studentaid.gov for more information on federal student loans.