News and Updates

Changes to 2021-2022 Verification Requirements

To provide relief to millions of students and colleges facing challenges and barriers resulting from the ongoing national emergency, the Department of Education is focusing on identity and fraud in the 2021-2022 verification process. This means verification is being waived for most Free Application for Federal Student Aid/Institutional Student Information Record (FAFSA®/ISIR) information, except for Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose and High School Completion Status. This waiver begins July 13, 2021, and applies for the remainder of the 2021-2022 FAFSA processing and verification cycle. The University may still reach out to resolve conflicting information concerning a student’s eligibility. 

The Department of Education has released information indicating the Direct Loan student origination fee will remain the same for loans first disbursed after October 1, 2021. The loan fee for Direct Subsidized Loans and for Direct Unsubsidized Loans will be 1.057%. The fee on a loan for $5,500 will be $58.13 (truncated to nearest cent, not rounded). The loan fee for Direct PLUS Loans (for both parent borrowers and graduate and professional student borrowers) is 4.228%. The fee on a $10,000 Direct PLUS loan would be $422.80 (truncated to nearest cent, not rounded).

The following chart shows the sequester-required loan fees for FY 2021 and FY 2022.

A TEACH Grant where the first disbursement is on or after October 1, 2021, and before October 1, 2022, requires a reduction of 5.7% from the award amount for which the student would otherwise have been eligible.

The following chart shows the FY 22 sequester-required TEACH Grant Program reductions as they apply to the 2021-2022 award year.

The chart below shows the interest rates for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2021, and before July 1, 2022.

Note: In response to the COVID-19 emergency relief period, the interest rate on all Direct Loans has been temporarily set at 0% until at least September 30, 2021. Once the COVID-19 emergency relief period ends, the rates as described in this announcement will be in effect for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2021.

The Department of Education has released information indicating the Direct Loan student origination fee will decrease for loans first disbursed after October 1, 2020. The loan fee for Direct Subsidized Loans and for Direct Unsubsidized Loans will be 1.057%. The fee on a loan for $5,500 will be $58.13 (truncated to nearest cent, not rounded). The loan fee for Direct PLUS Loans (for both parent borrowers and graduate and professional student borrowers) is 4.228%. The fee on a $10,000 Direct PLUS loan would be $422.80 (truncated to nearest cent, not rounded).

The following chart shows the sequester-required loan fees for FY 2020 and FY 2021.

The chart below shows the interest rates for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2020, and before July 1, 2021.