Federal Student Loan Interest Rates 2025-26 and 2026-27 (Real ED Rates)
Sources & Methodology
- Federal Student Aid, Interest Rates and Fees for Federal Student Loans (studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates)
- Federal Student Aid, Interest Rates for New Direct Loans (studentaid.gov/announcements-events/interest-rates-for-new-direct-loans)
- U.S. Department of Education / Federal Register, Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Fixed-Rate Federal Student Loans (Federal Register 2026-04065, published Mar 2, 2026)
All figures are estimates based on publicly available data. Use the linked calculators to model your own situation.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the federal undergraduate student loan rate for 2025-26?▼
For loans first disbursed July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the fixed undergraduate Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized rate is 6.39%. The 2024-25 rate was 6.53%, not 2025-26.
Do federal student loan rates change after I borrow?▼
No. Each federal Direct Loan has a fixed rate for the life of the loan, set by the disbursement date. New loans made in a later award year get that year's rate.
Where do I find the official rates?▼
Federal Student Aid publishes them at StudentAid.gov and they are announced each spring by the U.S. Department of Education.