<p>I was wondering…what criteria does the government use when you apply for a financial aid loan? Do they use the same information that the banks do? Is it easier to get a Financial Aid Loan than it is to get one from a bank?</p>
<p>Stafford Loans do not use the same criteria that banks use when determining eligibility. Instead, the criteria is quite simple: They do not perform credit checks to establish eligibility for student Stafford Loans (credit checks are performed for Parent PLUS Loans, though.)</p>
<p>Is there a complete credit check for plus loans?</p>
<p>They run a credit check, like any other lender, but each PLUS loan lender reviews the information differently.</p>