Bluffton University

Loans

There are several types of loans available to Bluffton students, both federal loans and private student loans.

Students may qualify for one or more of the loans discussed below unless the student is in default on a previous student loan or has borrowed the maximum amount allowed. Undergraduate students must have a minimum of six credit hours per semester to be eligible for loans. Students must also complete the FAFSA to determine what type of loans and the amount they may be eligible to receive.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs

All first-time direct loan borrowers at Bluffton must complete both Entrance Loan Counseling and a Master Promissory Note at Studentaid.gov before loans can be disbursed to their account.

Federal Direct Subsidized & unsubsidized Loans

These are loans available to students from the U.S. Department of Education. A FAFSA must be filed at fafsa.gov to qualify for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. If a FAFSA is filed, these loans will automatically be added to a student's financial aid award package based on eligibility per federal regulations. 

• To learn more, visit gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized.
• To receive this funding, complete the following steps:
  • Accept the loans funds in MyBluffton on the financial aid window
  • Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at https://studentaid.gov/mpn/. Log in using your FSA ID
  • Complete Loan Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/. Log in using your FSA ID

Both the entrance counseling and MPN are only completed when borrowing Direct Loans for the first time and do not need to be completed again in subsequent years.

All first-time Direct Loan borrowers must complete Entrance Loan Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov. 

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

These are loans that a parent (or step-parent) can borrow on behalf of their student. A FAFSA must be filed at fafsa.gov in order to borrow a Direct Parent PLUS Loan. 

• To learn more, visit studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/plus.

• To apply, visit https://studentaid.gov/app/launchPLUS.action?plusType=parentPlus.
• You will use your parent FSA ID to log in. Once the application is complete you will also need to complete a Master Promissory Note at https://studentaid.gov/mpn/, selecting “I’m a Parent of an Undergraduate Student”

One parent must complete both the application and the Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov.

Questions? Contact Applicant Services for PLUS Loan Borrowers at 1-800-557-7394 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday through Friday.

PRIVATE education loan options for students and parents

• Private student education loans provide students an option for funding their education. To be considered for approval, the student must have a creditworthy cosigner.

• Private parent loans are private education loans that parents, family members, or other creditworthy individuals may borrow to assist undergraduate and graduate students who are attending school full time, half time or less than half time.  The student cannot be the borrower or the cosigner.

  To apply for a private education loan, please click on Elm Select for lender information and selection.