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Skidmore College

Loan Information

Some families choose to finance their college costs through loans. A loan is a form of financial aid that must be repaid with interest. Given the debt burden associated with taking on a loan, we encourage you to contact us prior to borrowing. 

Federal vs. Private Loans lighbtbulb icon

Federal loans consist of the Federal Direct Student Loan (FDL) and the Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (FPLUS). Interest rates are set and monitored by the .  For loans made between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, see rate and fees below:

  • Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans: 6.53% with a 1.057% loan fee
  • Direct PLUS Loans: 9.08% with a 4.228% loan fee

Private loans are available from commercial lenders to students and parents who need funding beyond the limits of need-based loan programs. The interest rates on these loans are determined based on your credit rating, debt-to-income ratio, and the credit of your co-signer. 

federal loans

Deadlines to apply for Federal Loans for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:
  • Fall only 2024: December 11, 2024 
  • Spring only 2024: April 30, 2025  
  • Academic year: April 30, 2025 

Enrolled and returning students may apply for a Federal Direct Student Loan at any point throughout the term for which you want the loan, however, there are enrollment minimums and FAFSA deadlines that must be met. Prospective students do not need to complete these steps. If you are renewing your loan, only follow Step 1. 

Federal Direct Student loan steps

The student must file the

If you're a first-time borrower, complete the required using your FSA username and password. If you’ve done this in a previous year at Skidmore, you don’t need to do it again. 

If you're a first-time borrower, . If you’ve done this in a previous year at Skidmore, you don’t need to do it again.

Federal Direct PLUS Parent Loan steps

The student must file the

Please  If denied due to credit, you can use an endorser or address credit issues. If still denied, contact the Financial Aid Office to explore additional unsubsidized loan options for your student. 

If approved, . If you’ve done this in a previous year at Skidmore, you don’t need to do it again. 

FSA Ombudsman

It is important for student borrowers to keep records of all loans requested. The works with student loan borrowers to informally resolve loan disputes and problems with Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Direct Student Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans. The Ombudsman Customer-Service Line is 1-877-557-2575.  

private loans

Private (alternative) loans are offered by banks to supplement your financial aid package. Unlike federal loans, they aren't guaranteed by the government but must be certified by the Financial Aid Office to ensure they don't exceed your cost of attendance minus other aid. These loans are typically disbursed in two installments directly to your student account. 

Since private loans are based on income and credit, most students will need a creditworthy co-signer. Many lenders offer parent loans as well. Interest rates, fees, and repayment terms vary, so it's important to explore all federal loan options first. 

Before borrowing a private loan 

Skidmore doesn't have a list of preferred private lenders, but local banks, credit unions, and websites like are good places to start. Research various lenders, compare their terms, and ask questions to make an informed decision. Once approved, Skidmore will certify your eligibility before funds are applied to your account. 

Take time to carefully review your family's financial situation and identify every financing resource available. Be sure to explore all options before applying for a private loan. 

Private loans should be the last option a student should consider. The Federal Direct Student Loan program is often a better option. If you need to borrow a private loan, be sure that you have first borrowed the maximum Direct Student Loan for which you are eligible. 

Determine the total amount of educational debt you and your family are willing to accumulate during your college enrollment. Consider the four years' worth of loan debt and what income you may expect after graduation. 

Thoroughly review and decide how important the various features of a loan are to you before choosing one; these features include fees, grace periods, lengths of repayment terms, how future interest rates are determined, co-signer release availability, borrower benefits and incentives. 

Some loans change every three months (quarterly). Some loans change their interest rates every month. During a time of rising interest rates, having your rate change monthly may cost you more money. 

Think about the length of your repayment period and how your monthly payments will be affected. The longer the repayment period, the lower the monthly payment amount, but you will pay more in interest over the life of the loan.
 
You may want a grace period (or time between leaving school and when monthly payments begin). Look for a private loan with a grace period. 

Some loans have a co-signer release option. This means that the co-signer can be released from the obligations of the loan after a period and the student borrower will remain as the sole signer on the loan. Be aware that to be able to release the co-signer, you must make a certain number of on-time payments before the lender will consider releasing the co-signer. Also, the student borrower must prove that they can make payments on the loan after the co-borrower is released. If this is an important feature for you, inquire about the number of on-time loan payments required to release the co-signer and how the borrower is determined to be able to make payments after the co-signer is released. 

Most loans have borrower benefits and payment incentives. Payment incentives include interest rate reductions after a certain number of on-time payments, and interest rate reductions for automatic payments from a bank account. A word of caution about incentives linked to making several on-time payments: only a few borrowers benefit from this type of incentive because there may be a late payment made along the way. To ensure that payments are made on time, ask about paying the monthly bill using automatic payments from your bank account. 

Skidmore College is committed to protecting the rights of and serving only the interests of students and parents as outlined in our code of conduct