How to Get Student Loans for Spring Semester 2025 (Federal and Private)

By Kassondra Cloos | Published on October 21, 2025

)

This blog contains links to external pages and resources not managed by Earnest

If you find yourself in a position where you know you’re going to run out of money before spring semester, don’t panic: You have options.

The first thing you should do is ask your financial aid office for more help in the form of grants or scholarships you don’t have to pay back. The worst thing they can say is no. If they can’t help, student loans can be a solid backup plan.

Here’s what you need to know about filling out student loan applications for spring semester.

When should I submit student loan applications for spring semester?

You should always fill out the FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as you know you’re going to college, even if you don’t think you’ll need loans. Some federal aid from the U.S. Department of Education and your university are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and you could miss out if you wait too long.

FAFSA deadlines

The last day to submit the FAFSA for the 2023-24 academic year was June 30, 2024. You can fill it out and request loans at any point before then. However, it’s worth checking in with your school to find out if they have their own deadlines, as it can take several weeks for your loan funds to be disbursed — it takes longer when you’re a first-time borrower.

There will be a new FAFSA form for the 2024-2025 academic year, which will be available by the end of December.

Private loan deadlines

Tuition deadlines are generally at the beginning of each term or semester, rather than once for the full school year. So, ask your lender whether you should apply for one loan that can be separated into two disbursements for fall and spring, or for two smaller loans at the beginning of each semester. The lender will usually send your funds directly to the university, and you should only pay interest once the funds have been transferred.

Private loan applications are usually fast and you can get approval within a day or less, but sometimes it takes longer¹. It’s worth contacting your specific lender to clarify their expected disbursement timeline so that you can make sure that you don’t pay unnecessary interest by applying too soon, and that your tuition payment won’t be late.

How to get federal student loans for spring semester

Universities have their own disbursement schedules, based on the dates of their semesters, and you won’t pay interest on loans that haven’t been disbursed yet. So, you can apply for loans for the spring term or summer term in the previous year — as soon as you know you’ll need them.

Here’s what you need to do.

Fill out the FAFSA

The FAFSA is the federal government’s application for student aid, which determines how much need-based aid you’ll be able to receive (including student loans). The first step is to sign up for an FSA ID at StudentAid.gov — this is the account you need to submit the application.

You’ll need tax returns for yourself and your parents, if you’re a dependent, in order to complete the form. You’ll also need to know the value of cash assets and investments in your name (and/or your parents’, if applicable).

Accept or reject your offer

After you fill out the FAFSA, you’ll get a Student Aid Report, or SAR, which explains your eligibility for need-based aid programs like subsidized loans and federal grant money you don’t have to pay back.

Each college you apply for will eventually send you an individual aid package after they accept you. You can appeal and request more help if you need it. They might say no, but it’s always worth asking.

You’ll have the option to accept or reject federal loans, and you are not required to accept what’s offered to you. You can always apply for more loans later if you don’t need them now.

Before your loans are disbursed, you’ll need to sign a master promissory note and complete loan counseling from the Department of Education to ensure that you understand the responsibility.

Types of federal loans

Each type of federal loan has a different interest rate, which is set for the beginning of the academic year. Here are the current loan limits, which vary based on which year of school you’re in and whether you’re an independent or dependent student:

• Federal Direct Subsidized — Interest on these loans won’t accrue until after the end of your six-month grace period after graduation. The limit is $3,500 – $5,500 per year.
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized — Interest on these loans starts accruing immediately upon disbursement. The limit is $5,500 – $12,500 per year ($20,500 for graduate students).
• Federal PLUS loans — These loans can be borrowed by independent students, parents of undergraduate students, or graduate students. The limit is the full cost of attendance set by the university, minus other aid.

Consider a PLUS loan

You can borrow a PLUS loan amount up to the full cost of attendance set by your university — so potentially up to tens of thousands of dollars per year. While these loans have the same protections as Federal Direct loans for undergraduate and graduate students, PLUS loans have higher interest rates compared to other options. For the current academic year (first disbursed on or after July 1, 2024, and before July 1, 2025), the rate is set at 9.08%.

It’s worth considering other options, such as work-study programs that can help you pay down your school costs while you’re enrolled, before accepting such high-interest loans. Unlike Federal Direct loans, which are available to virtually all citizen and permanent resident students enrolled at least half-time, PLUS loans require a check to prove you have no adverse marks on your credit history. If you do, you may have to apply with an “endorser,” which is essentially the federal government’s version of a cosigner.

How to get private student loans for spring semester

Private student loans can help cover the difference between your financial need and your financial aid award. If you have the help of a cosigner with a great credit score, you may even be able to get a lower interest rate than you would from federal loans. Remember, though, that they don’t offer the same protections and flexible repayment options that federal loan servicers are required to provide.

Research lenders

Interest rates are one of the most important factors in choosing a lender, but they’re not the only thing to consider. Even if you expect to never need deferment or forbearance from making your monthly payments, it’s much better to have flexibility and not need it than vice-versa.

Consider:

• How easy it is to contact the customer service team. Are they kind and helpful, or does it take days to get a real person on the line?
• The grace period. Some lenders require immediate repayment, starting while you’re still enrolled in school. Earnest gives borrowers a 9-month grace period ².
• Whether the lender charges prepayment penalties or origination fees. Earnest doesn’t, though this varies from lender to lender.
• Repayment options. Earnest allows borrowers to choose their repayment term and loan type, giving you the option to get a lower payment for higher interest, and vice-versa.
• Hardship programs. If you fall on hard times, Earnest clients in good standing can request to skip a payment once per year³.
• Cosigner releases. While Earnest doesn’t allow a traditional cosigner release, you can apply to refinance 4 your loans on your own without your cosigner.

Get prequalified

You can avoid a hard credit check by getting prequalified for a loan. This is when you do a simple interest rate check and the lender determines whether you’re likely to be approved for a loan. A hard credit pull stays on your credit report for up to two years and can slightly lower your score, while prequalifying won’t impact it.

Submit an application

You can submit multiple applications for credit around the same time to avoid having multiple inquiries listed on your credit report, which protects your score from dropping as a result of shopping around.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to accept all the funds you’re offered. If you’re approved for a loan, you won’t start accruing interest until after you accept and the money is disbursed.

Can I get financial aid for just one semester?

Yes. If you apply for federal student loans in the fall semester and end up not needing a disbursement in the spring, you can request that the funds are returned to the servicer, which will then refund you for any fees or interest that had accrued. Likewise, if you don’t need loans in the fall, you can apply for funds in the spring.

You can request federal student loans at any time before the FAFSA deadline for the academic year. If you have maxed out the amount of Federal Direct loans you can borrow, you or your parents may be eligible for PLUS loans, which you can borrow up to the full cost of attendance determined by your university.

You can apply for private loans at any time.

When are student loans disbursed for spring semester?

Federal loans are usually disbursed twice per academic year. Private loans are disbursed after you apply for them and request payment to be made to your university.

How much can I get in student loans?

You can borrow federal student loans up to the full cost of attendance set by your college. This can be a combination of Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Unsubsidized Loans, and PLUS loans.

The amount you can borrow in Direct loans specifically — which have the lowest interest rate — ranges from $5,500 to $20,500 per academic year, depending on which year of school you’re in and whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student.

There’s no hard limit to private loans — it’s up to each individual lender to approve or deny what you request. You may be able to get loans from multiple lenders if needed, but it’s worth exhausting other options and appealing your financial aid package before borrowing too much.

Learn more about Earnest private student loans

Earnest offers low rates, flexible repayment options, and a grace period three months longer than other lenders on average. Find out how much you may be eligible for using our rate calculator. It’s fast, free, and won’t affect your credit score.

)

About the Author

Kassondra Cloos

Kassondra Cloos is a writer, editor, and former Earnest client. She refinanced her own student loans with Earnest after graduating and has first-hand experience with the refinancing process. She has been writing about personal finance and student loans since 2017. She also writes about sustainable travel and adventure for The Guardian, Outside, Backpacker, and many other publications. You can find more of her work via her travel newsletter, Out of Office.