Education loans are long-term funds that enable students and parents to pay educational expenses. When you accept a loan, you are legally obligated to repay the loan according to the terms of the promissory note.

UC Santa Cruz students who submit a FAFSA and complete any additional requirmenets posted on their MyUCSC To Do List will be automatically considered for the all Federal Direct Loans including parent loans.

The best loans for students and their parents are the Federal Direct Loans which are available regardless of family income; loans with the best terms are offered to students who demonstrate financial need.  All federal loans have better terms than most private/bank loans. Most bank loans have high interest rates and do not have provisions for deferment that exist for federal loans. Loan repayments for Federal Direct Loans can be deferred until the student is no longer enrolled half time or more as an undergraduate or graduate student. Other deferment options are available while you are repaying a loan.

See the loan links on the left for more information about each type of loan.

UC Santa Cruz also administers a Short Term Loan for students.  Currently enrolled, registered UCSC students experiencing temporary difficulties meeting their financial obligations may be eligible to apply for a Short Term Loan. These loans are typically for small amounts - usually less than $500 - and normally must be repaid within 30 days. There is a maximum of two Short Term Loans per academic year.