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 Unsu​bsidized. 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.
Read more about the Direct Loan Program.
Read more about Interest Rates and Loan Origination Fees.
Interest Rates for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans*
| Loan Type | Interest Rate First disbursed on or after July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 | Interest Rate First disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 |
| Undergrad Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans | 6.53% | 5.50% |
* 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, 2024 | 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.