Loans
A Loan is money you borrow and you must pay back with interest. If you decide to take out a loan, make sure you understand the terms, conditions, and who you're borrowing the money from. Jax State highly recommends exhausting all federal eligibility before pursuing Alternative and Private Loans because they are generally more expensive than federal loans.
Federal Direct Stafford Loans
There are three types of Direct Loans available:
- Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a Jax State.
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but in this case, the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loans.
- Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students or parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.
To apply for loans, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed. Steps to complete a FAFSA are listed under the FAQ & Hints tab.
If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your financial aid offer at Jax State. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If students wish to borrow the loans offered to them, they must accept these on their MyJaxState account.
- For undergraduate dependent students:
- $5,500 (freshmen)
- $6,500 (sophomores)
- $7,500 (juniors and seniors)
- For undergraduate independent students:
- $9,500 (freshmen)
- $10,500 (sophomores)
- $12,500 (juniors and seniors)
- For graduate students:
- $20,500
- For undergraduate dependent students:
- a maximum aggregate loan eligibility of $31,000.
- For undergraduate independent students:
- a maximum aggregate loan eligibility of $57,500.
- For graduate students:
- a maximum aggregate loan eligibility (including undergraduate loans) of $138,500.
To view changes and accept or decline your offer, please follow the instructions listed below:
- Log in to MyJaxState using your username and password Select "Financial Aid Self Service" under "Student Links"
- Use the "Award Year" drop-down on the top, right to select the correct Aid Year (2025-2026)
- Select whether you would like to "Accept" or "Decline" each type of aid. Pell Grants are automatically applied to the student's account based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and number of hours the student is registered in for the term.
Alternative/Private Loans
Because federal loans generally offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options, students are encouraged to apply for all available federal financial aid before pursuing private loans. However, if you are ineligible for federal aid or your federal aid package does not meet your full financial need, private loans may be a viable option.
Students should thoroughly compare lenders, review all terms and conditions, and consult with a co-signer (if applicable) before selecting the loan that best meets their financial needs. Loan terms, interest rates, and eligibility requirements vary by lender.
Jax State highly recommends exhausting all federal eligibility before pursuing Alternative/Private Loans because they are generally more expensive than federal loans. If you would like to review a historical list of private loan lenders for Jax State students, you may visit FASTCHOICE. Steps to apply are listed under the FAQ & Hints tab.
For an unbiased resource to compare private loan options, visit ELM Select. This tool allows you to review and compare loan products from lenders most frequently used by Jacksonville State University students.
Parent PLUS Loans
The Parent PLUS loan application should be completed by a parent that is on the current FAFSA.
- Parents log-in to studentaid.gov using their FSA ID
- Under the "Apply for Aid" section, select "Apply for a Parent Plus Loan"
- Select the appropriate award year from the drop-down box
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- Award year example: 2025-2026 = Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026
- Input your student's information in the section labeled "Student information"
- Select your choice for the "Request for Deferment while student is enrolled in school" option
- Select your choice for the "Authorization for school to use loan funds to satisfy other charges"
- Select your choice for the "Credit Balance Option"
- Select the state your institution is located in from the drop-down box (Alabama)
- Select your school name from the drop-down box (Jacksonville State University)
- Specify whether this is a new application for this year OR if you are requesting a loan to a previous application
- Input the amount of the loan you would like to request in the "Loan Amount Requested" box
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- If you would like to borrow the maximum, you may select "I want to borrow the maximum Direct PLUS Loan amount for which I am eligible, as determined by the school"
- Select your "Loan Period" by using the drop-down boxes, you may request this loan to cover multiple semesters
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- Fall Semester: August - December
- Spring Semester: January - May
- Summer Semester: June - July
PLUS Loan Endorser
Loan Repayment Information
Once you graduate, drop below half-time enrollment, or leave school, your federal student loan goes into repayment. However, if you have a Direct Subsidized or Direct Unsubsidized you have a six-month grace period before you are required to start making regular payments.
Your loan servicer will provide you with a loan repayment schedule that states when your first payment is due, the number and frequency of payments, and the amount of each payment.
Jax State is excited to partner with ECMC Solutions to help you create a plan for loan repayment and address your questions and concerns regarding federal student loans at no cost to you!