Education loans for advanced nursing degrees come in the following categories: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan; Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan; Nursing Student Loan; and Private Education Loan. Federal Direct Student Loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid with interest. Grad PLUS is a federal loan also funded by the Department of Education; its benefits are similar to those of Federal Direct Loans. Students should check with the financial aid office of their institution to determine whether the institution offers its own nursing student loan program. Private education loans are nonfederal loans made by a private lender such as a bank, credit union, or state agency, and there are no federal forms to complete. Graduate students who consider using private education loans often also consider using a personal residence or home equity loan to finance their education. Borrowing from retirement accounts also may be considered as a source for college funding.