Eligibility

The Parent borrower must be the student's biological or adoptive parent or the student's step-parent (if the step-parent information was provided on the FAFSA). Your child must be a dependent student who is enrolled at least half-time and making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).  In addition, parents and their child must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens with a domestic address.  PLUS Loans are not processed until the student's financial aid has been awarded.

To be eligible for a PLUS Loan, the parent must pass a credit check that indicates they do not have adverse credit history.  For the PLUS loan, adverse credit history is defined as being 90 or more days delinquent on any debt or having any debt within the past five years subjected to default determination, bankruptcy discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment, or write-off.

If a parent is denied a PLUS loan, the Financial Aid Office will proceed based on the parent's preference as indicated on the PLUS Loan application.  Parents may appeal the credit decision, find a co-signer, or the student may borrow additional Unsubsidized Loan based on annual loan limits.

Application Process

Parents must complete the PLUS Loan Request process for the appropriate aid year.  A new application must be completed every year the parent wishes to borrow a PLUS Loan.  Parents can now submit their PLUS Loan application online and receive an instant credit check decision.  (See below for instructions on How To Apply.)

Maximum PLUS Loan

On the application, parents must indicate the amount of loan you would like to borrow.  The maximum amount a parent is eligible to borrow is indicated on the student's Award Notification.  This amount is based on the student's Cost of Attendance minus other financial aid.  The Cost of Attendance includes expenses which every student will not incur, so it is important to formulate your own individual budget to calculate the amount of PLUS you need to borrow. 

How to Apply

1. Parents who wish to apply for the loan need to complete the PLUS Request Process online at www.studentloans.gov after determining the amount they would like to borrow. 
2. The parent will need to sign in using their own personal identification number (PIN) issued by the Department of Education. If you do not have a PIN, you can apply for one at www.pin.ed.gov.  Once you have signed in, select "Request Direct PLUS Loan" to begin the application.
3. Complete the application by filling in the requested information.  A credit check will be performed and results will be displayed immediately.  If your application is approved, proceed to "PLUS Loan Master Promissory  Note".  Your loan information will be sent to our office for additional processing.

Denied Credit Check Options

If your credit check has been denied, you will be given the following options:

1. Appeal the decision.  Details on how to appeal are given on the site.  Appeals are reviewed by the Department of Education.
2. Obtain an endorser (co-signer).  If you choose this option, the endorser must complete the "Endorse Direct PLUS Loan" section by signing in to www.studentloans.gov using his or her own PIN.
3. Not Pursue the PLUS Loan.  If you select this option, we will automatically offer your student additional Unsubsidized Direct Loan funds based on the maximum amount allowed. (Freshman/Sophomore - $4,000 max; Junior/Senior - $5,000 max.)

Master Promissory Note (MPN)

First time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN is a legal document in which the borrower promises to repay his/her loans and any accrued interest. It also explains the terms and conditions of the loan. If you are borrowing for more than one student, you must complete a separate MPN for each student. To complete an MPN online, the borrower will be required to use a Department of Education issued PIN number. If the borrower does not have a PIN number, they can apply for one at www.pin.ed.gov. The website for the MPN is studentloans.gov.

Interest Rate

PLUS Loans have a fixed interest rate of 7.9%.  The interest rate has not changed since July 1, 2006.  For loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2006, the interest rate is variable and published annually on July 1.

Loan Fees

Loan fees are deducted from each loan disbursement. The fee is currently 4% on PLUS Loans. This is scheduled to change to 4.204% due to federal budget cuts known as the sequester.

Repayment

After the Direct Loan is disbursed to the student, the loan is assigned to one of the Federal Direct Loan Servicers.  The Loan Servicer will send periodic statements to the borrower regarding their loan status.  Repayment begins 60 days after the funds are fully disbursed, and the standard repayment term is 10 years.  Parents have the option to defer payments on the PLUS loan while the student is in school and for a six-month grace period after the student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment.  Please be aware the interest continues to accrue while deferred and is capitalized when the loan enters repayment.  We recommend the parent at least pay the interest while in deferment.  For questions on deferment, forbearance, or loan payments, contact your Loan Servicer.  If you need help contacting your Loan Servicer, visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) website.

To estimate what your payments will be you may wish to use the following Repayment Calculator.