Before completing your student loan application, you must:
1. Complete the FAFSA (Pell grant) application for the academic year you are applying for.
2. If you were selected for the Verification Process, you must have delivered all required documents to the Financial Aid Office.
3. You must always be enrolled at least as a Half-time student to receive loan funds:
a. 6 or more credits per term for undergraduate students b. 3 or more credits per term for graduate students.
4. Courses taken in every term should be those included in your study program and which are required for graduation.
5. Comply with the Standards for Academic Progress of the Financial Aid Office of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.
6. Be admitted as a regular student.
7. Should not have a debt with the US Department of Education.
8. Have financial need.
9. Complete a Master Promissory Note and an Entrance Counseling on the Department of Education’s webpage.
To be eligible for loan disbursements, every student must comply with these requirements every term. If the student does not comply with one or more of these requirements, funds will not be disbursed.
Loan Limits per Academic Level
Undergraduate Programs
Credits
Year
Amount for Dependent Students
Amount for Independent Students
Subsidized
Unsubsidized
Subsidized
Unsubsidized
0 – 36
1
$3,500
$2,000
$3,500
$6,000
37 – 72
2
$4,500
$2,000
$4,500
$6,000
73 – 108
3
$5,500
$2,000
$5,500
$7,000
109 – 144
4
$5,500
$2,000
$5,500
$7,000
145 +
5
$5,500
$2,000
$5,500
$7,000
Aggregate total amount of loans for Undergraduate dependent students is $31,000.
Aggregate total amount of loans for Undergraduate independent students is $57,500.
Graduate Programs
Credits
Year
Amount for Independent Students
Subsidized
Unsubsidized
Any
Any
Not applicable
$20,500
Students in a Graduate program are no longer eligible for subsidized loans.
Aggregate total amount of loans for Graduate students is $138,500.
Interest Rates for Stafford and PLUS Loans in the Direct Loan Program
Loan Program
Grade Level
Interest rate for loans first disbursed between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024
Interest rate for loans first disbursed between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025
Subsidized Loan
Undergraduate
5.50 %
6.53 %
Unsubsidized Loan
Undergraduate
5.50 %
6.53 %
Unsubsidized Loan
Graduate
7.05 %
8.08 %
PLUS Loan
Parents of Undergraduate students and Graduate students
8.05 %
9.08 %
NOTICE: Effective as of July 1, 2010, the only loans available are under the Direct Loan Program.
Origination Costs – these are fees charged by the federal government for managing student loans. These amounts are subtracted from the total amount of the loan.
Type of Loan
Origination Fee for Loans disbursed between between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024
Origination Fee for Loans disbursed between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan
1.057 %
1.057 %
PLUS Loan
4.228 %
4.228 %
Loan Application
To apply for Federal Direct Loan, please click here! After you login into the PUPR portal, go to the Financial Aid tab. There you will find the loan application.
