ABOUT THE DIRECT PLUS LOAN

The Direct PLUS Loan is unsubsidized, meaning that interest accrues while the student is enrolled at least half-time and during deferment periods. Eligibility is not based on financial need, and graduate students and parents of undergraduates may borrow up to the amount of the student’s Cost of Attendance minus any other financial assistance a student receives.

The Direct PLUS Loan may be of particular interest to students and parents who:

are not eligible for other types of financial aid,
have unusual costs above the standard student expense budgets,
have remaining financial need after other forms of financial aid have been awarded, or
wish to borrow all or part of their Expected Family Contribution.

PLUS Loans offer advantages when compared with private education loans, including the stability of federal funding, the fixed interest rate, and repayment and deferment options. See Eligibility, Loan Terms, and Requirements below and the Comparing Supplemental Loans page for more details.

ELIGIBILITY, LOAN TERMS, AND REQUIREMENTS

Students (or their parents) must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when applying for a PLUS or Grad PLUS Loan.

Borrowers must have an acceptable credit history or an endorser (someone who agrees to repay the loan if you do not pay it) with an acceptable credit history. Families with adverse credit histories are sometimes allowed to borrow if they are able to document extenuating circumstances for their credit situation. ... More