<p>Some background; my daughter is currently enrolled in a Nursing program at our local tech school. It is geared schedule wise to 'returning students' so spreads the 90 credit Associates Degree over a 4 year period with one semester off, which is the second half of the second year. Her semester off will be spring of this coming year. She IS already accepted into the Nursing Program (doing prereqs. right now) for the fall of 2013, which will be after her semester break.</p>
<p>I have read and heard various things that repayment on loans (Stafords) must start 'when a student is no longer enrolled at least half time'. So, does that mean she will need to start repayment during her 'non enrolled semester', or not since she is just following the schedule of the program as set up?</p>
<p>And I guess as a second question; IF she needs to start repayment, does that get 'deferred' when she is once again taking classes 6 months latter?</p>
<p>Stafford repayment begins 6 months after the student is no longer enrolled at least half time (the last day of classes or the date of withdrawal, if the student withdraws before the semester ends).</p>
<p>Just for a clarification, I am assuming that she would still be ‘enrolled’ even if there is that one semester break from class work then?</p>
<p>Another person suggested for her to do some other classes online that would pertain to her Bachelors Degree after she gets her Associates, but she really prefers ‘in person’ classes, or even classes here at the tech school that would not pertain to her degree (she will have taken most of those that pertain by then) just so she does not ‘loose’ her ‘enrolled’ status. Both of those seem less than ideal options if indeed she does not need to do them.</p>
<p>If she is simply on a scheduled “off” semester, it does count toward the time period for the loans … if she is not enrolled at least half time in classes or enrolled in some type of school program that is considered the equivalent of half time, the time off is counted toward her grace period. </p>
<p>When is her last day of classes, and when is the first day of classes for the following term in which she will take classes?</p>
<p>Also, note that if her loan is unsubsidized, deferring the start of payments increases the size of what she owes because interest started accruing when the loan became active. If that is the case, try to start paying the loan back now in order to save money in the future.</p>