Financial Aid Office

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Program (for undergraduate students only)—a low-interest loan borrowed from the federal government by the student to help pay for their education, based on demonstration of financial need. The federal government is the lender of the Direct Loan. Under current regulations, all applicants must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for this program.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program—a low-interest loan borrowed from the federal government by the student to help pay for their education, and is not based on demonstration of financial need. The federal government is the lender of the Direct Loan. Under current regulations, all applicants must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for this program.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Program (parents of dependent undergraduate students only)—a credit-based loan for parents of dependent undergraduate students to provide additional funds for educational expenses. Parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus all financial aid received.

Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan Program (graduate students only)—a credit-based loan for graduate and professional students. Graduate and professional students may apply annually for this loan not to exceed the total cost of attendance minus all financial aid received and within the maximum annual borrowing limit.

Federal Primary Care Loan Program (Sidney Kimmel Medical College students only)—a low interest loan for medical students who demonstrate financial need, agree to enter and complete a Primary Care residency, and continue to work in Primary Care until the loan is repaid in full. Consult with your financial aid counselor for availability and for more information.

Federal Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) (Sidney Kimmel Medical College students only)—a low interest loan for students who demonstrate financial need and meet the “disadvantaged” criteria as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Consult with your financial aid counselor for more information on the terms and conditions of the LDS.

Once you graduate, drop below half-time enrollment, or leave school, your federal student loan goes into repayment unless you are entitled to a grace period, during which payments do not have to be made. For detailed information on your student loan repayment plan options, see the link below. Additionally, you may contact your student loan servicer (i.e., the organization that will be administering your student loan repayment plan) regarding information on when your student loan will come due and what your repayment plan options are.

If you have multiple federal student loans, you may be able to combine them into one new loan with a fixed interest rate based on the weighted average of the interest rates on the federal loans being consolidated. A Federal Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to do that at no cost to you.

Through your completion of the free Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note, you will confirm the loans that you want to consolidate and agree to repay the new Direct Consolidation Loan. Once the consolidation is complete, you will have a single monthly payment on the new Direct Consolidation Loan instead of multiple monthly payments on the individual loans you consolidated.

A loan becomes delinquent when you do not make a payment by the specified due date.

When you have been delinquent on your loans for a specific period of time (which is dependent upon your loan program), your loan will enter default status. You may incur serious legal repercussions if your loan(s) go into default status.

For detailed information on student loan delinquency and default, visit the link below. Additionally, you may contact your student loan servicer regarding information on student loan delinquency status and default status. 

Federal Pell Grant (undergraduate students only)—grants awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) (undergraduate students only)—grants awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. FSEOG priority will go to Pell-eligible students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution and to those meeting the published financial aid deadlines. Availability of FSEOG funds at Thomas Jefferson University is limited. 

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a federally funded financial aid program designed to assist undergraduate and graduate students meet their educational expenses through part-time, on-campus employment. FWS awards to students are based on the student's financial need and the funds allocated to the University by the federal government. FWS students are paid at varying hourly wage rates depending on their skill level, experience, and job duties; therefore, your FWS award is earned and is not deducted from your student bill. A FWS position is an excellent opportunity for professional development. Please contact your campus Financial Aid Office for information about Work-Study job postings and the hiring process.

More information on the FWS program can be found in the FWS handbooks:

• Federal Work-Study Handbook – Students (PDF)
• Federal Work-Study Handbook – Supervisors (PDF)

Jefferson offers Federal Work-Study Graduate Research Assistant programs in Couple and Family Therapy, Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences and Biotechnology, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy as a viable way to help finance your education while gaining a distinct career advantage. Federal Work-Study Graduate Research Assistant programs are available to qualified students; demonstrated financial need is required for most positions. Depending on each student’s skills and interests, as well as the needs of the department, Federal Work-Study Graduate Research Assistants may support the academic department or individual faculty members in research, teaching and scholarly activities.