Loans

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans are loans for students. Beginning 2026-27 students who are not full-time (12+ credit hours) will have their loans adjusted in proportion to the percent of full-time status enrolled.

Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The Department of Education pays the interest on a subsidized loan

• while you are in school at least half-time
• for the first six months after you leave school
• during a period of deferment

Always accept the full amount of subsidized loan offered to you before accepting your unsubsidized loan. 

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students; financial need is not required.

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans have an annual limit and an aggregate limit.

• The annual limit is based on dependency status and grade level – if you progress from one grade level to another during the award year, let Financial Aid know. You may be eligible for additional loan.
  • Dependent students – first year undergraduates may borrow up to $5,500 annually. Second year undergraduates may borrow up to $6,500 annually and third year and beyond undergraduates may borrow up to $7,500 annually.
  • Independent students – first year undergraduates may borrow up to $9,500 annually. Second year undergraduates may borrow up to $10,500 annually and third year and beyond undergraduates may borrow up to $12,500 annually. Graduate level students may borrow up to $20,500 annually and professional level students may borrow up to $50,000 annually.
  • See Loan Amount Limits for more information
• The aggregate limit is the total amount you may borrow as an undergraduate or graduate level student. Once you reach the aggregate limit, you may not borrow additional Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized loans.
  • Aggregate limits: dependent undergraduates may borrow up to $31,000 and independent undergraduates may borrow up to $57,500. Graduate level students may borrow up to $100,000 and professional level students may borrow up to $200,000.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) is for the parent of a dependent student. Beginning 2026-27 the maximum amount a parent may borrow is $20,000 per year per dependent student and a $65,000 aggregate limit per dependent student. A parent may borrow less than the maximum amount, if desired.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS is for graduate and professional degree students. Beginning 2026-27 the Graduate PLUS program is eliminated for new borrowers.

What is Grad PLUS Loan?

Federal Perkins Loans are no longer available Purdue Northwest. If you had a Perkins loan in the past at Purdue Northwest, your Perkins loan is serviced by Educational Computer Systems Inc. (ECSI).

• ECSI borrower information
• The ECSI customer service number is (888) 549-3274

Federal Loan Requirements

Purdue University Northwest students may choose to borrow a private loan in addition to or in place of a Federal Direct Loan. We encourage you to explore federal aid before borrowing a private loan to compare the differences  between Federal and Private Loans. The Office of Financial Aid does not recommend a particular lender. If you decide a private loan is right for you, you may choose any lender; we process all lenders with equal timeliness.

Listed below is an application tool providing access to multiple lenders to assist you in looking for a private education loan that best fits your needs. This tool has the lender’s application conditions and “Truth in Lending” disclosure information. This tool is not an application for a private loan.

INvestEd Marketplace

See the Truth in Lending Act Section 1638(e) for terms and disclosure related to private education loans.

Applications for private education loans are made by the student through a lender. Prior to disbursing a private loan the lenders are required to obtain a Private Education Loan Applicant Self Certification Form from the applicant. To complete your lender’s self-certification, you’ll need your Cost of Attendance and Other Financial Assistance, see below or contact our office.

Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification Instructions

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) requires that institutions participating in the federal student loan programs develop, publish and enforce a code of conduct with respect to student loans. Purdue Northwest (PNW) is committed to compliance with the HEOA which requires the prohibition of the following activities:

1. Participating in a revenue-sharing agreement with any lender. The HEOA defines “revenue-sharing arrangement” as any arrangement between an institution and a lender under which the lender makes private education loans to students attending the institution (or the families of those students), the institution recommends the lender or the loan products of the lender and, in exchange, the lender pays a fee or provides other material benefits, including revenue or profit-sharing, to the institution or to its officers, employees, or agents.
2. Directing borrowers to lenders or delaying loan certifications. Additionally, the institution may not refuse to certify or delay the certification of any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
3. Requesting or accepting from any lender any offer of funds for private loans to students in exchange for providing concessions or promises to the lender for a specific number of private education loans made, insured or guaranteed, specified loan volume, or a preferred lender arrangement.
4. Receiving gifts from a lender, guaranty agency or loan servicer. No PNW employee who has responsibilities with respect to educational loans may solicit or accept any gift from a lender, guarantor or servicer of educational loans. The term “gift” means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan or other item having monetary value of more than a de minimis monetary value, including services, transportation, lodging or meals.
5. Accepting from a lender or an affiliate of any lender, any fee, payment or other financial benefit as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or contract to provide services to or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
6. Requesting or accepting from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing, except that a lender may provide professional development training, educational counseling materials (if the materials identify the lender that assisted in preparing the materials) or staffing services on a short-term, non-recurring basis during emergencies or disasters.
7. Receiving advisory board compensation. An employee of an institution’s financial aid office (or employees who have responsibilities with respect to education loans or financial aid) who serves on an advisory board, commission or group established by a lender or guarantor (or a group of lenders or guarantors) is prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor or group except for reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee for serving on the board.