The U.S. Department of Education offers low-interest loans to eligible students to help cover the cost of college or career school. Students may be eligible to receive subsidized and unsubsidized loans based on their financial need.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized
1 Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students; there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need.  Your school determines the amount you can borrow based on your cost of attendance and other financial aid you receive.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized
Money borrowed to finance education or school related expenses. ... A loan that combines two or more federal education loans into ... A loan program that provides low-interest student loans to undergraduate ... A low-cost student loan offered to parents of students currently ...
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stafford-loan.asp
The maximum federal student loan eligibility per academic year. These amounts vary by type of loan and grade level. Your school will tell you how much you're eligible to receive each academic year. Specific amounts can be found at StudentAid.gov.
https://www.studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/glossary.action
1 Receive loan money, but don't enroll at least half-time at the school that determined you were eligible to receive the federal student loan;  Use your loan money to pay for anything other than expenses related to your education at the school that determined you were eligible to receive the federal student loan;
https://www.studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/glossary.action
Aggregate Loan Limit. A limit on the total amount of subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans that you may borrow for undergraduate and graduate study. If the total loan amount you receive over the course of your education reaches the aggregate loan limit, you're not eligible to receive additional loans.
https://www.studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/glossary.action
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. Subsidized and unsubsidized loans are federal student loans for eligible students to help cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized
DEFINITION of 'Stafford Loan '. A type of federal, fixed-rate student loan that was available to college and university undergraduate and graduate students attending college at least half-time.
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stafford-loan.asp
The aggregate loan limits include any Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans or Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans you may have previously received under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. As a result of legislation that took effect July 1, 2010, no further loans are being made under the FFEL Program.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized
Direct Consolidation Loan. A loan that combines two or more federal education loans into ... A loan program that provides low-interest student loans to undergraduate ... A low-cost student loan offered to parents of students currently ...
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stafford-loan.asp
federal stafford loans definition
Federal Stafford loans are a type of federal, fixed-rate student loan that was available to college and university undergraduate and graduate students attending college at least half-time.