Federal Stafford Loan. A program that aliows students to borrow money for education directly from the federal government.
Subsidized Stafford loans are offered by
colleges based on need. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans while the borrower is in college. Unsubsidized Stafford loans are non-need-based; anyone may apply for one, regardless of their ability to pay for college. The interest on unsubsidized loans begins accumulating immediately. For both programs, the amounts that may be borrowed depend  on the student's year  in school.