Parent PLUS Loan – This is a Federal loan in the parent’s name. The 2026-27 fixed interest rate is
9.07%. Interest rates are set each July 1st. If credit-denied, the student can receive
an additional unsubsidized loan ($4,000 as a freshman or sophomore or $5,000 as a
junior or senior). Parent needs to apply at studentaid.gov. Application is usually available beginning in early April. Changes for 26/27 - Federal regulations have changed for students first enrolling at Winthrop in Fall
2026. Parent PLUS Loan borrowing will be limited to $20,000 annually per student and $65,000 total over a student’s undergraduate career. Borrowing no more than $16,250 per year may help families spread eligibility across four years. Current students who borrowed
a federal loan prior to July 1, 2026 may be grandfathered into prior regulations for
up to 3 additional years provided they stay enrolled at Winthrop. Winthrop will review
each student to determine if they qualify for the limited exception.
Private Loan – Private Student Loans are in the student’s name and often need a credit-worthy
cosigner. Private Parent Loans are in the parent’s name (or any credit-worthy individual).
Payment Plan – Winthrop University is pleased to offer students a payment plan that breaks the
remaining balance into monthly payments for a small fee. Winthrop does not charge
interest on payment plans. Once you receive your Winthrop bill in July, contact Student
Account Services at sas@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2165 to sign up.
Student Employment – Students can search for on-campus jobs through the HR job posting website. For jobs that are marked as Federal Work-Study, only students who have been awarded
Federal Work-Study can apply for these jobs. The Center for Career Development and Internships (CDI) can help with off-campus jobs. The CDI posts positions through an online jobsite:
Handshake.
Private Scholarships – If you will be receiving a scholarship from an outside entity that is not currently
reflected on your awards (e.g. church), send a copy of the award notification or certificate
to the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@winthrop.edu, and we can list it as an estimated financial aid award.
Scholarships – Scholarships for incoming students are awarded by the Office of Admissions. Returning students to Winthrop are encouraged to search for department scholarships
in early Spring each year by checking each department's website.
Graduate PLUS – Unfortunately, as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3), Grad PLUS Loans have
been eliminated for most students beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year. Students
who submit a Grad PLUS Loan application will be reviewed under the new federal regulations
for eligibility per any applicable exceptions. If a student submits a Grad PLUS application,
Winthrop will notify them if they are not eligible. Students new to Winthrop in Fall
2026, or who never borrowed a federal loan before, will not qualify for any exceptions
and not be allowed to borrow a Grad PLUS Loan. Additional information is available
on our website: www.winthrop.edu/finaid/federal-updates-obbba.aspx.
Do not hesitate to contact your Admissions Counselor or the Office of Financial Aid with any questions.
