(a) Rates to be consistent for borrower’s entire debtWith respect to any loan to cover the cost of instruction for any period of instruction beginning on or after January 1, 1981, the rate of interest applicable to any borrower shall—(1) not exceed 7 percent per year on the unpaid principal balance of the loan in the case of any borrower who, on the date of entering into the note or other written evidence of that loan, has an outstanding balance of principal or interest on any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this part, for which the interest rate does not exceed 7 percent;
(2) except as provided in paragraph (3), be 9 percent per year on the unpaid principal balance of the loan in the case of any borrower who, on the date of entering into the note or other written evidence of that loan, has no outstanding balance of principal or interest on any loan described in paragraph (1) or any loan for which the interest rate is determined under paragraph (1); or
(3) be 8 percent per year on the unpaid principal balance of the loan for a loan to cover the cost of education for any period of enrollment beginning on or after a date which is 3 months after a determination made under subsection (b) in the case of any borrower who, on the date of entering into the note or other written evidence of the loan, has no outstanding balance of principal or interest on any loan for which the interest rate is determined under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection.
(i) Treatment of excess interest payments on new borrower accounts resulting from decline in Treasury bill rates(1) Excess interest on 10 percent loansIf, with respect to a loan for which the applicable interest rate is 10 percent under subsection (d) of this section at the close of any calendar quarter, the sum of the average of the bond equivalent rates of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned for that quarter and 3.25 percent is less than 10 percent, then an adjustment shall be made to a borrower’s account—(A) by calculating excess interest in the amount computed under paragraph (2) of this subsection; and
(B)(i) during any period in which a student is eligible to have interest payments paid on his or her behalf by the Government pursuant to section 1078(a) of this title, by crediting the excess interest to the Government; or
(ii) during any other period, by crediting such excess interest to the reduction of principal to the extent provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection.
(2) Amount of adjustment for 10 percent loansThe amount of any adjustment of interest on a loan to be made under this subsection for any quarter shall be equal to—(A) 10 percent minus the sum of (i) the average of the bond equivalent rates of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned for such calendar quarter, and (ii) 3.25 percent; multiplied by
(B) the average daily principal balance of the loan (not including unearned interest added to principal) during such calendar quarter; divided by
(C) four.
(3) Excess interest on loans after 1992 amendments, to borrowers with outstanding balancesIf, with respect to a loan made on or after July 23, 1992, to a borrower, who on the date of entering into the note or other written evidence of the loan, has an outstanding balance of principal or interest on any other loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this part, the sum of the average of the bond equivalent rates of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned for that quarter and 3.1 percent is less than the applicable interest rate, then an adjustment shall be made—(A) by calculating excess interest in the amount computed under paragraph (4) of this subsection; and
(B)(i) during any period in which a student is eligible to have interest payments paid on his or her behalf by the Government pursuant to section 1078(a) of this title, by crediting the excess interest to the Government; or
(ii) during any other period, by crediting such excess interest to the reduction of principal to the extent provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection.
(4) Amount of adjustmentThe amount of any adjustment of interest on a loan to be made under this subsection for any quarter shall be equal to—(A) the applicable interest rate minus the sum of (i) the average of the bond equivalent rates of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned for such calendar quarter, and (ii) 3.1 percent; multiplied by
(B) the average daily principal balance of the loan (not including unearned interest added to principal) during such calendar quarter; divided by
(C) four.
(5) Annual adjustment of interest and borrower eligibility for creditAny adjustment amount computed pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (4) of this subsection for any quarter shall be credited, by the holder of the loan on the last day of the calendar year in which such quarter falls, to the loan account of the borrower so as to reduce the principal balance of such account. No such credit shall be made to the loan account of a borrower who on the last day of the calendar year is delinquent for more than 30 days in making a required payment on the loan, but the excess interest shall be calculated and credited to the Secretary. Any credit which is to be made to a borrower’s account pursuant to this subsection shall be made effective commencing no later than 30 days following the last day of the calendar year in which the quarter falls for which the credit is being made. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require refunding any repayment of a loan. At the option of the lender, the amount of such adjustment may be distributed to the borrower either by reduction in the amount of the periodic payment on loan, by reducing the number of payments that shall be made with respect to the loan, or by reducing the amount of the final payment of the loan. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require the lender to make additional disclosures pursuant to section 1083(b) of this title.
(6) Publication of Treasury bill rateFor the purpose of enabling holders of loans to make the determinations and adjustments provided for in this subsection, the Secretary shall for each calendar quarter commencing with the quarter beginning on July 1, 1987, publish a notice of the average of the bond equivalent rates of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned for such quarter. Such notice shall be published not later than 7 days after the end of the quarter to which the notice relates.
(7) Conversion to variable rate(A) Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), a lender or holder shall convert the interest rate on a loan that is made pursuant to this part and is subject to the provisions of this subsection to a variable rate. Such conversion shall occur not later than January 1, 1995, and, commencing on the date of conversion, the applicable interest rate for each 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30 shall be determined by the Secretary on the June 1 preceding each such 12-month period and be equal to the sum of (i) the bond equivalent rate of the 91-day Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction prior to such June 1; and (ii) 3.25 percent in the case of loans described in paragraph (1), or 3.10 percent in the case of loans described in paragraph (3).
(B) In connection with the conversion specified in subparagraph (A) for any period prior to such conversion, and subject to paragraphs (C) and (D), a lender or holder shall convert the interest rate to a variable rate on a loan that is made pursuant to this part and is subject to the provisions of this subsection to a variable rate. The interest rates for such period shall be reset on a quarterly basis and the applicable interest rate for any quarter or portion thereof shall equal the sum of (i) the average of the bond equivalent rates of 91-Treasury bills auctioned for the preceding 3-month period, and (ii) 3.25 percent in the case of loans described in paragraph (1) or 3.10 percent in the case of loans described in paragraph (3). The rebate of excess interest derived through this conversion shall be provided to the borrower as specified in paragraph (5) for loans described in paragraph (1) or to the Government and borrower as specified in paragraph (3).
(C) A lender or holder of a loan being converted pursuant to this paragraph shall complete such conversion on or before January 1, 1995. The lender or holder shall notify the borrower that the loan shall be converted to a variable interest rate and provide a description of the rate to the borrower not later than 30 days prior to the conversion. The notice shall advise the borrower that such rate shall be calculated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph and shall provide the borrower with a substantially equivalent benefit as the adjustment otherwise provided for under this subsection. Such notice may be incorporated into the disclosure required under section 1083(b) of this title if such disclosure has not been previously made.
(D) The interest rate on a loan converted to a variable rate pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed the maximum interest rate applicable to the loan prior to such conversion.
(E) Loans on which the interest rate is converted in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B) shall not be subject to any other provisions of this subsection.
(k) Interest rates for new loans on or after October 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2006(1) In generalNotwithstanding subsection (h) and subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, with respect to any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this part (other than a loan made pursuant to section 1078–2 or 1078–3 of this title) for which the first disbursement is made on or after October 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2006, the applicable rate of interest shall, during any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to—(A) the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1; plus
(B) 2.3 percent,
except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
(2) In school and grace period rulesNotwithstanding subsection (h), with respect to any loan under this part (other than a loan made pursuant to section 1078–2 or 1078–3 of this title) for which the first disbursement is made on or after October 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2006, the applicable rate of interest for interest which accrues—(A) prior to the beginning of the repayment period of the loan; or
(B) during the period in which principal need not be paid (whether or not such principal is in fact paid) by reason of a provision described in section 1077(a)(2)(C) or 1078(b)(1)(M) of this title,
shall be determined under paragraph (1) by substituting “1.7 percent” for “2.3 percent”.
(3) PLUS loansNotwithstanding subsection (h), with respect to any loan under section 1078–2 of this title for which the first disbursement is made on or after October 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2006, the applicable rate of interest shall be determined under paragraph (1)—(A) by substituting “3.1 percent” for “2.3 percent”; and
(B) by substituting “9.0 percent” for “8.25 percent”.
(4) Consolidation loansWith respect to any consolidation loan under section 1078–3 of this title for which the application is received by an eligible lender on or after October 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2006, the applicable rate of interest shall be at an annual rate on the unpaid principal balance of the loan that is equal to the lesser of—(A) the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher one-eighth of 1 percent; or
(B) 8.25 percent.
(5) ConsultationThe Secretary shall determine the applicable rate of interest under this subsection after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and shall publish such rate in the Federal Register as soon as practicable after the date of determination.
(l) Interest rates for new loans on or after July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2010(1) In generalNotwithstanding subsection (h), with respect to any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this part (other than a loan made pursuant to section 1078–2 or 1078–3 of this title) for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2010, the applicable rate of interest shall be 6.8 percent on the unpaid principal balance of the loan.
(2) PLUS loansNotwithstanding subsection (h), with respect to any loan under section 1078–2 of this title for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2010, the applicable rate of interest shall be 8.5 percent on the unpaid principal balance of the loan.
(3) Consolidation loansWith respect to any consolidation loan under section 1078–3 of this title for which the application is received by an eligible lender on or after July 1, 2006, and that was disbursed before July 1, 2010, the applicable rate of interest shall be at an annual rate on the unpaid principal balance of the loan that is equal to the lesser of—(A) the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher one-eighth of 1 percent; or
(B) 8.25 percent.
(4) Reduced rates for undergraduate subsidized loansNotwithstanding subsection (h) and paragraph (1) of this subsection, with respect to any loan to an undergraduate student made, insured, or guaranteed under this part (other than a loan made pursuant to section 1078–2, 1078–3, or 1078–8 of this title) for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2010, the applicable rate of interest shall be as follows:(A) For a loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2008, 6.8 percent on the unpaid principal balance of the loan.
(B) For a loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2008, and before July 1, 2009, 6.0 percent on the unpaid principal balance of the loan.
(C) For a loan for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2010, 5.6 percent on the unpaid principal balance of the loan.
(n) DefinitionsFor the purpose of subsections (a) and (d) of this section—(1) the term “period of instruction” shall, at the discretion of the lender, be any academic year, semester, trimester, quarter, or other academic period; or shall be the period for which the loan is made as determined by the institution of higher education; and
(2) the term “period of enrollment” shall be the period for which the loan is made as determined by the institution of higher education and shall coincide with academic terms such as academic year, semester, trimester, quarter, or other academic period as defined by such institution.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 427A, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 402(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1364; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 10(d)(1), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 342; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 415, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 514; Pub. L. 103–66, title IV, § 4101, Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 364; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(c)(5)–(10), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2461; Pub. L. 105–178, title VIII, § 8301(a)(1), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 496; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 416(a)(1), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1679; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(1) [title III, § 318(a)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–49; Pub. L. 107–139, § 1(a)(1), (c), Feb. 8, 2002, 116 Stat. 8, 9; Pub. L. 109–171, title VIII, § 8006(a), Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 159; Pub. L. 110–84, title II, § 201(a)(1), Sept. 27, 2007, 121 Stat. 790; Pub. L. 111–152, title II, § 2203, Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1074.)