Loans are often a component of financial aid and are one way students and families can chose to finance a Gettysburg education.
Find out about other financing options available to families at Gettysburg, including an interest-free monthly payment plan. The Office of Financial Aid can answer any questions about loans and financing options at Gettysburg.
Federal Direct Student Loan Information
Filing a FAFSA is required to be considered for Federal loans.
Direct Subsidized Loan (need-based) – interest paid by the government while students are enrolled at least half-time.
Direct Unsubsidized Loan (non need-based) – interest accrues during the in-school period.
- Federal Direct Student Loan Instructions
- If you wish to decline or reduce the amount of the Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan listed on your financial aid notification, please indicate your requested change(s) by emailing finaidloans@gettysburg.edu.
- First-time borrowers: Complete Entrance Counseling and a Loan Agreement (MPN) at https://studentaid.gov
- Graduating Seniors: Complete Exit Counseling at https://studentaid.gov
Federal Direct Student Loan Eligibility Amounts
| Grade Level |
Base Direct Loan Amount (Subsidized or Unsubsidized) |
Additional Unsubsidized Direct Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year | $3,500 | $2,000 |
| Sophomore | $4,500 | $2,000 |
| Junior or Senior | $5,500 | $2,000 |
Graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 in unsubsidized direct loans with an aggregate loan limit of $138,500. Federal legislation limits the maximum undergraduate Federal Direct Loan borrowing to $31,000 through the Federal Student Loan Program (unless the student is an independent student or a parent cannot borrow through the Federal PLUS Loan Program). Independent students and students whose parents are unable to obtain a Plus Loan are eligible for additional Unsubsidized Direct Loan funds.
Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan
A parent or step-parent may choose to borrow through this government sponsored program as one way to finance college costs. This is a non need-based loan.
- Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan Information
- Complete a PLUS application or Loan Agreement (MPN) at https://studentaid.gov
Federal Direct Grad Plus Loan
A graduate student may choose to borrow through this government sponsored program as one way to finance college costs. This is a non need-based loan.
- Federal Direct Grad Plus Loan Information
- Complete a PLUS application or Loan Agreement (MPN) at https://studentaid.gov
Gettysburg College Institutional Loans
Gettysburg College Institutional Loan programs are designed to assist qualified students with paying for the cost of education. These loan funds are part of the Financial Aid process and are awarded to eligible students based upon financial need. Details are provided with financial aid packages to eligible students each year.
Gettysburg College Loans include Nafey, Powers, Pape and Anderson Loans. College Loans are managed by Gettysburg's Student Accounts Office and Loan Instructions will be provided by email through the loan servicer ECSI.
Keeping Track of Loan Information
Applicants and Accepted Students: First-year applicants can confirm the receipt of their financial aid materials through their admissions portal.
Current Students: Current students can access financial aid information online via Campus Experience. Enter your user ID and password and select Sign In.
Institutions are required to submit data related to Federal Direct and PLUS Loans to NSLDS. This information will also be accessible by loan servicers, guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions that are determined to be authorized users of the data system. You can log into My AID at https://studentaid.gov/ to see your Federal loan information.
Loan Repayment Information and Calculators
Review various monthly student loan payment amounts or use this simple tool from YouCanDealWithIt to estimate the monthly repayment obligations for any type of student or parent loan.
Also, check out the personalized Loan Simulator via studentloans.gov which will connect your Federal loan history.
Federal Grant Programs
Before applying for a loan, Gettysburg College wants to be sure you are aware of all federal grant programs that may be available to help meet your educational expenses. These grants are awarded based upon financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Listed below are the federal programs at Gettysburg College and the maximum amounts available for the 2025–26 academic year.
- Federal Pell Grant- $7,395
- Federal FSEOG Grant- $1,000
Many states also have grant or scholarship programs. Check with your state agency as to the availability of such funds.
States that have most recently made grant awards to students attending Gettysburg College are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Alternative Educational Loans
Alternative Loans (sometimes referred to as private loans) are available through various lending institutions and are not guaranteed by the federal government. Some families chose to utilize alternative educational loans after all other resources have been exhausted.
To get started, use a search engine on the web to look for “alternative education loans.” Eligibility is based on the creditworthiness of the borrower or co-signer.
Graduating from Gettysburg?
Students who borrow through the Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Program at any time during their enrollment at Gettysburg must complete Direct Loan Exit Counseling prior to graduation (or after dropping to less than half-time enrollment).
Other useful information
- Find out about federal student loan repayment options at https://studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans
- Learn about loan servicers at https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers
Consolidating Loans
Recent Gettysburg graduates and parents should investigate if they are eligible to consolidate (combine) their educational loans, resulting in one loan and a single monthly payment instead of multiple payments.
For graduates who intend to pursue careers with lower salaries, such as careers in public service, we recommend investigating if an Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plan or Income-Based Repayment (ICB) Plan would be appropriate. More information.