Loans

Loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid and can come from the federal government, the University and private lending sources.

Important updates

Student loan repayment resumes in October. Federal student loans will start accruing interest again on Sept. 1, and payments will be due starting in October.
Fresh Start program
Do you want to return to school and receive federal aid but have defaulted on your preexisting federal student loans? On April 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education announced an initiative called "Fresh Start" to help eligible borrowers in default.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) waiver
The limited PSLF waiver refers to the time-limited changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program rules that allow borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF. This opportunity ends on October 31, 2022.

Federal loans

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program is the U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan program. The U.S. Department of Education acts as the loan lender and there are several available loan types for undergraduate students, graduate students, professional students and parents.

Direct Subsidized Loan

The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is a federally-sponsored "need-based" loan available to undergraduate students only.

Learn about Direct Loans

Direct Unsubsidized Loan

The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students, but is not based on financial need.

Learn about Direct Loans

Direct PLUS (Parents)

Direct PLUS loans are made to parents of dependent undergraduate students and has specific eligibility requirements and is not based on financial need.

Learn about Direct PLUS (Parent) loans

Direct PLUS (Grad)

Direct PLUS loans are made to graduate and professional school students and has specific eligibility requirements and is not based on financial need.

Learn about Direct PLUS (Grad) loans

Institutional Loans

Institutional loans come from the University of Nevada Reno and offer students a variety of additional funding options for their college education.

Garvey-Rhodes and Blundell Undergraduate loans

Garvey-Rhodes (GRLN) and Blundell Undergraduate (BLUN) are need-based loans for undergraduates funded from institutional endowments that each offer low interest (5%), long-term loans.

Learn about undergraduate loans

Federal Nursing Student Loan (NSL)

The Federal Nursing Student Loan (NSL) is a need-based, long-term, low interest (5%) federal loan specifically for students admitted into the Orvis School of Nursing. There are no processing fees. Interest does not accrue and there is no repayment while you remain enrolled at less than half-time. The standard repayment term is ten years.

Learn about Nursing Student Loans

Other types of student loans

Private loans

A private loan is a consumer-based, non-need-based loan. The interest rate for a private loan is usually considerably higher than the rate for a federal loan.

Learn about private loans

Nursing Student Loans

The Nursing Loan (NSL) is a need-based, long-term, low interest (5%) federal loan specifically for students admitted into the Orvis School of Nursing.

Repayment Readiness

Loan repayment options

Even though most borrowers are assigned a standard repayment plan when you first begin repayment, you can change your repayment plan with your federal loan servicer to fit your needs. For more information on each type of repayment plan, please visit the Federal Student Aid website Repayment Plan List.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

To qualify for PSLF, you must

Be employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or non-for-profit organization (federal service includes U.S. military service);
Work full-time for that agency or organization
Have Direct Loans (or consolidate other federal student loans into a Direct Loan);
Repayment your loans under an income-driven repayment plan; and
Make 120 qualifying payments.

Exit counseling

Are you about graduate or dropping below half-time enrollment? Exit counseling is a course to ensure you understand the loan repayment obligations when your 6 month grace period ends.

View the exit counseling course

Loan simulator

Use this tool to calculate your specific federal loan repayment options based on the different repayment plans available.

View the loan simulator tool

Default rates

In September of 2023, the U.S. Department of Education released the FY official 3-year cohort default rates (CDRs). The FY 2020 3-year cohort default rate is the percentage of federal student loan borrowers who entered repayment on FY 2019 and defaulted within the following three years. The University’s FY 2020 3-year CDR is 0.0%.