Loans

Federal student loans can be a critical part of your education financing plan. They are a great resource when used conservatively and wisely. We encourage you to carefully consider whether or not you really need to borrow, and if you do, to borrow as little as necessary.

Strategic Financing for Your Future​

You can borrow less than the loan amounts offered in My Finances in CalCentral.

Federal student loans are available to most students regardless of income and provide a range of very flexible repayment plans including income-based repayment plans and loan forgiveness benefits. For more information, check out this video on Responsible Borrowing.

​Types of Federal Student Loans

To learn more about each type of federal student loans and how you can apply for them, click on the following links. You can also download the Student Loan Checklist to help you keep track of the loan process.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL)

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

You can also compare these federal student loans!

​Additional Types of Loans

Berkeley Loan

DREAM Loan

Private Alternative Loan

Short-Term Emergency Loan

Summer Sessions Loan

 

Did You Know? Seventy-one percent of Berkeley undergraduate students who graduated between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 graduated without loan debt (Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, private loans). The average cumulative loan debt for graduating seniors who borrowed was $18,468. See also Graduate Student Average Cumulative Loan Debt.