Interest on Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Federal loans are known for having some of the lowest interest rates available, especially compared to private lenders that may charge borrowers a double-digit APR. As of the 2020 to 2021 school year, both direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans carry a 2.75% APR for undergraduate students.
The APR on unsubsidized loans for graduate and professional students is 4.30%. And unlike some private student loans, those rates are fixed, meaning they don’t change over the life of the loan.3