Families looking for long-term financing may wish to consider the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to finance their child's education.

qualification

The student must:

• Be considered a dependent for the purposes of receiving federal need-based aid;
• Be enrolled at least half-time in undergraduate status;
• Be enrolled in the number of units indicated in your Financial Aid Summary;
• Submit all required documents; and
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

The loan is for undergraduate students only, but must be taken out in the parent’s name. It is not based on the student’s financial need. No collateral is required.

The Federal Direct Loan Servicer will perform a credit check to ensure the parent meets the federally established credit criteria. Parents who do not meet the criteria can apply with an endorser (co-signer) who does.

The parent and student must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. The parent must be the biological or adoptive parent, or stepparent, of the student and the parent's credit must be free of the following adverse items:

• Currently 90 days or more delinquent on repayment on any debt.
• Debt discharged in bankruptcy during the past five years.
• Evidence of a default, foreclosure, tax lien, repossession, wage garnishment, or write-off of a debt during the past five years.
• Collection Accounts or Charge Offs with a balance greater than ZERO.

If the parent is considered ineligible for the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan: The student may be able to borrow an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, up to $4,000 or $5,000. For more information, click here.

how to apply

• Submit a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Request form.
• If you did not apply for need-based aid, you must also submit a Supplemental Form. Log in to My Financial Aid and Documents and click on the Document Library to access the form.
• Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.

For document submission instructions, click here.

receiving your funds

Once the Financial Aid Office processes your Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan and notifies the Department of Education, we will e-mail you confirmation.

You will be able to sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN) online after your loan has been approved by the Department of Education at www.studentloans.gov.

• You and your parent will need the Personal Identification Number (PIN) issued to you by the Department of Education when you completed your FAFSA. If you need a PIN or have forgotten it, you can retrieve it through www.studentloans.gov.
• Your parent will not be required to complete a new MPN if:
  • He or she previously borrowed a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan for you at another school;
  • The existing MPN for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan  is not more than 10 years old; and
  • Your parent was approved for that loan without an endorser.

General Information

The interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent.  There is no penalty for early repayment.

A Federal Origination Fee of 4.0 percent will be deducted from your loan proceeds.

elements of the Federal Parent PLUS Loan

• You do not need to submit your tax returns to the Financial Aid Office.
• You can borrow up to the full cost of education, including tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, books and supplies, and even transportation, less other aid received.
• Either parent may apply for the loan, or both parents may apply for separate Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans.
• Low fixed interest rate.
• No prepayment penalty.
• No required income-to-debt ratio.
• Credit checks are less strict than those for private student loans.
• Parents who do not meet the credit requirements may apply with a co-signer (called an “endorser”).
• Parents can postpone payments up to 60 months while student is in school.
• Payment flexibility: Income-sensitive, graduated and extended payment options.
• Accrued interest capitalizes once at repayment.
• Federally insured against death and disability.