Direct PLUS Loan Information for Parents

Federal Direct Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans available to eligible parents of dependent undergraduate students. To borrow a parent PLUS loan, the parent borrower must:

• be the biological, legal adoptive parent, or step-parent of a dependent undergraduate student
• not have an adverse credit history(unless you meet certain additional requirements); and

The dependent undergraduate student must meet the following criteria:

• enrolled at least half-time (6 credits)
• meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid

Note: Grandparents (unless they have legally adopted the dependent student) and legal guardians are not eligible to borrow parent PLUS loans, even if they’ve had primary responsibility for raising the student.

How to Apply

Before a parent can apply for a PLUS Loan, the student must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The parent will then access the Direct PLUS Loans for Parents page to complete:

1. Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Application–Click the “Log In to Start” button and log in with your parent FSA ID and password to access and complete the application.
2. Master Promissory Note(MPN)– The Direct PLUS Loan MPN explains the terms and conditions of Direct PLUS Loans and is your legally binding agreement to repay all Direct PLUS Loans you receive. You will need to log in with your parent FSA ID and password to complete this.

The maximum PLUS loan amount you can borrow is the cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance received.