What is a Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan?
Learn the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans when you apply for a Federal Direct Loan, previously called a Direct Stafford Loan.
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Undergraduate
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Opens in same windowFor college students seeking undergraduate degrees
Graduate
Student Loans
Opens in same windowFor graduate students in master's and doctoral programs
Health Professions
Student Loans
Opens in same windowFor graduate students in health profession programs
MBA
Student Loans
Opens in same windowFor graduate students seeking master's degree in business school
Law
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Opens in same windowFor graduate students attending law school
Residency
Student Loans
Opens in same windowFor health profession students preparing for residency or internship
Bar Exam
Student Loans
Opens in same windowFor law students preparing for bar exam
Consolidation
Student Loans
Opens in same windowFor consolidating your federal and private student loans
Parent
Student Loans
Opens in same windowFor Parents or other credit worthy individual's
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Why choose Discover Student Loans?
Up to 100% Covered
Up to 100% of school-certified college costs are covered. Aggregate loan limits apply.
Zero Fees
That includes no application, origination or late fees.
Valuable Rewards
Get cash rewards for good grades. Plus a 0.25% rate reduction when you're enrolled in automatic payments.
US-Based Loan Specialist
All of our Student Loan Specialists are US-based. We're here anytime day or night to help you.
See how we compare
| Discover | Sallie Mae | Citizens Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celebrates hard work with a cash reward for good grades1 | yes | no | no |
| Zero fees | yes | no | no |
| Customize your loan with rate and repayment options | yes | yes | yes |
| Offers a free search tool to find scholarships | yes | yes | no |
| Apply in minutes | yes | yes | yes |
Comparisons based on information obtained on lenders' websites or from customer service representatives and are based on student loans where students are the primary borrower as of May 2021.
Student loan resources for students and parents
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Compare Federal and Private Student Loans
Discover Student Loans believes in responsible borrowing and encourages students to maximize scholarships, grants and other free financial aid before taking private loans. For students who need to borrow, we advise them to compare federal and private student loans to find the loans that best fit their needs.
Students who get at least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) may qualify for a one-time cash reward on each new Discover undergraduate and graduate student loan. Plus, undergraduate freshman borrowers who received at least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) during high school may qualify for an additional cash reward on their first undergraduate student loan. Limitations apply. See Terms and Conditions for complete details.
The fixed interest rate is set at the time of application and does not change during the life of the loan. The variable interest rate is calculated based on the 3-Month LIBOR index plus the applicable margin percentage. For variable interest rate loans, the 3-Month LIBOR is X as of X. Discover Student Loans may adjust the rate quarterly on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 (the “interest rate change date”), based on the 3-Month LIBOR Index, published in the Money Rates section of the Wall Street Journal 15 days prior to the interest rate change date, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent (0.125% or 0.00125). This may cause the monthly payments to increase, the number of payments to increase or both. Our lowest APRs are only available to applicants with the best credit. The APR will be determined after an application is submitted. It will be based on credit history, the selected repayment option and other factors, including a cosigner’s credit history (if applicable). If a student does not have an established credit history, the student may find it difficult to qualify for a private student loan on their own or receive the lowest advertised rate. Learn more about Discover Student Loans interest rates.