What are the major federal financial aid loan programs? Answer: The three major federal financial aid programs are Stafford, Perkins, and PLUS. Stafford Loans are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. These loans come in two forms, subsidized and unsubsidized. With a subsidized loan, the federal government pays the interest on the loan while you are in school, during any deferment periods, and for six months after you graduate, leave school, or reduce your course load to half-time. To qualify for the subsidized loan, you must demonstrate financial need. The unsubsidized version requires no such determination. However, if you select this option, you'll begin to accumulate interest immediately after the funds are disbursed, though no payments need be made until after you graduate. The Perkins Loan is a low-interest, federally guaranteed, and subsidized loan that is available to both undergraduate and graduate students with the lowest expected family contributions. Perkins Loans differ from Stafford Loans in that the school, not the federal government, distributes the money to the students. Each school is given a finite amount of money to distribute among its students. These loans are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are based strictly on financial need. Similar to a Stafford Loan, there is a grace period for the repayment of a Perkins Loan. Parental Loans for Undergraduate Students, or PLUS loans, are federally guaranteed, unsubsidized loans made to parents with good credit histories who want to help pay for their dependent child's undergraduate education. Like the unsubsidized Stafford Loans, PLUS loans are not based on financial need. Parents need only pass a credit check. PLUS interest rates are competitive, and the maximum interest rate allowed is 9 percent. Keep in mind that PLUS loans have no grace period. Once the funds are borrowed, parents must begin to repay within 60 days of the final loan disbursement. If you want to be considered for any of the federal financial aid programs, you'll need to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. FAFSA forms can be obtained on-line at the Department of Education's website, www.ed.gov. Or, you can contact your local high school, college, or public library for more information.