Bridgewater State University participates in a wide variety of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs. These programs can be grouped into three categories: grant, work and loan.
The following is a description of the loan programs:
For financial aid purposes, the term “undergraduate” in the following paragraphs refers to students who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Enrollment levels are as follows: full time: 12 or more credits; three quarter time: 9 to 11 credits, half time: 6 to 8 credits; less than half time: 1 to 5 credits.
Available to undergraduate students enrolled full-time
Student must sign promissory note by BSU's deadline, prior to the last day of the semester, or prior to the last day of enrollment, whichever comes first.
If you borrow a Massachusetts No Interest Loan (NIL) while attending BSU, you must complete exit counseling before you drop below 1/2 time status or graduate. This exit counseling is mandatory. If you are dropping below 1/2 time status, please contact us first so we can instruct you on how to complete this process. If you are graduating and you do not receive any information about NIL Exit counseling well before your graduation, please contact us as soon as possible.
Long-term federal loan available through the university
Available to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and eligibility
Student pays an origination fee
Fixed interest rate, set each year on July 1. Refer to Direct Loan Web Site for current interest rate
Loan limits based on grade level: $3500, freshmen; $4500, sophomores; $5500, juniors and seniors
Student must complete a Direct Loan master promissory note and Direct Loan Entrance Counseling by BSU's deadline, prior to the last day of the semester, or prior to your last day of enrollment (whichever comes first) in order to receive this loan
Direct Loan exit counseling is a federal requirement for all students who have borrowed Federal Direct Loans while enrolled at Bridgewater State University. Federal regulations require that loan counseling take place before exiting the college or before enrolling for fewer than 6 credits.
You will need your Federal Student Aid user ID in order to complete the online exit counseling. If you need a user ID, you may request one at https://fsaid.ed.gov.
If you have any questions regarding either the completion of Direct Loan exit counseling or the direct loans you have borrowed while attending Bridgewater State University, you may check InfoBear (for loan amount borrowed), or contact the Financial Aid Office.
Program allows all students, regardless of income, to obtain a student loan after having applied for financial aid
Student pays the interest during in-school & deferment periods or has it capitalized
Student pays an origination fee
Fixed interest rate, set each year on July 1. Refer to Direct Loan Web Site for current interest rate
Loan limits are based on grade level and are the same as the Subsidized loan, however, dependent undergraduates may borrow up to an additional $2000. Independent undergraduates may borrow up to an additional $6000 for freshmen and sophomores, and up to $7000 for juniors and seniors. Graduate students may borrow up to a total of $20,500.
Students who are dependent and whose parents were denied a Federal Ford Direct PLUS Loan may borrow
up to $4,000* for each of the freshman and sophomore years
up to $5,000* for each of the junior and senior years
Student must complete a Direct Loan master promissory note and Direct Loan Entrance Counseling by BSU's deadline, prior to the last day of the semester, or prior to your last day of enrollment (whichever comes first) in order to receive this loan
Direct Loan exit counseling is a federal requirement for all students who have borrowed Federal Direct Loans while enrolled at Bridgewater State University. Federal regulations require that loan counseling take place before exiting the college or before enrolling for fewer than 6 credits.
You will need your Federal Student Aid user ID in order to complete the online exit counseling. If you need a user ID, you may request one at https://fsaid.ed.gov.
If you have any questions regarding either the completion of Direct Loan exit counseling or the direct loans you have borrowed while attending Bridgewater State University, you may check InfoBear (for loan amount borrowed), or contact the Financial Aid Office.
Loan not based on financial need, but rather on the credit worthiness of the applicant
Loan limit is the cost of education minus any other aid and/or resources received
Borrower pays origination fee at the time of disbursement.
Funds received from the federal government typically in two disbursements
Repayment begins within 60 days of disbursement unless a deferment is requested by the parent borrower
Fixed interest rate, set every July 1. Refer to Direct Loan Web Site for current interest rate
Apply only after having exhausted all other student financial aid programs
To apply, applicant must submit a Direct PLUS Loan application to the Financial Aid Office (available in the Financial Aid Office or on our Web site)
If approved, a Plus loan Master Promissory Note must be completed by the BSU deadline, prior to the last day of the semester, or prior to the last day of the student's enrollment, whichever comes first
The parent borrower must decide if any refund from the PLUS Loan is to be returned to the student or the parent and indicate so on the application
Education majors may qualify for forgiveness or cancellation of their Federal loans. If you are unsure of which type(s) of federal loans you have borrowed, visit the Office of Federal Student Aid for a list of all of your federal loans. You will need your FAFSA/Department of Education PIN to access this site. View information about specific programs for Education majors.
