By Will Geiger
Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.
Reviewed by Annie Trout
Annie has spent the past 18+ years educating students about college admissions opportunities and coaching them through building a financial aid package. She has worked in college access and college admissions for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, Middle Tennessee State University, and Austin Peay State University.
Edited by Maria Geiger
Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Updated: August 6th, 2024
Parent PLUS loans, also known as Direct PLUS Loans, are a type of student loan that the federal government offers. However, unlike Direct Stafford Loans , PLUS loans are taken out by parents to pay for their child’s postsecondary education.
In this guide, we’ll be talking about:
Overall, PLUS loans are less ideal than Direct Stafford Loans because they tend to have higher interest rates and less favorable repayment options.
To be eligible for Direct PLUS Loans, students must complete and submit the FAFSA . Similar to Direct Stafford Loans, students must be attending a postsecondary college or certificate-granting program on at least a half-time basis.
Next, parents will have to complete a supplementary PLUS Loan application on the Department of Education website. One component of the application process is a credit check, as credit history is a component of PLUS Loan consideration. If a PLUS loan is denied due to a parental credit report, students might be eligible for a larger unsubsidized amount. In this case, students should reach out to their financial aid officer for more information.
The only other requirement is that the person taking out the PLUS Loan must be a biological or adoptive parent. In some cases, a stepparent is eligible to take out the loan, but this is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Because the Parent PLUS Loan requires the FAFSA, students should follow the appropriate FAFSA deadline (which can vary depending on your college and when you apply).
The FAFSA opens on October 1st every year for the upcoming (next) school year. It closes on June 30 of the school year the FAFSA is used for.
Remember, the Parent PLUS loan includes the extra step of the supplementary application, so keep that in mind!
Unlike subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans, there is no borrowing limit for PLUS loans. This means that families can borrow up to the cost of attendance (minus any other financial aid and scholarships that you receive).
This can be useful if a student’s financial aid package does not completely cover everything or if you can’t meet the college’s Student Aid Index (SAI) number.
However, students and parents should be wary of taking on too much debt. Just because you can take out loans does not mean that it is a good idea. Remember, you will have to pay back your student loans upon graduation.
The Department of Education has a useful Loan Simulation Tool to help you estimate repayment on potential student loans. This is a great way to see what your student loan debt will look like as far as future monthly payments.
Since July 1, 2024, the interest rate on a Parent PLUS Loan is 9.08%. PLUS Loans are offered at a fixed interest rate which is set by the federal government each year. Keep in mind that there is also an origination fee of 4.228% on PLUS Loans This fee is deducted before the loan is applied to student financial accounts.
Like other federal student loans, Parent PLUS loans are eligible for a variety of repayment plans including:
Different repayment plans will have different tradeoffs depending on your goals and financial situation.
PLUS Loans can be a good option if you have a financial aid gap or if your family is not able to afford the Student Aid Index number (SAI). However, there are some alternatives that students and families can consider instead of PLUS Loans including:
If these alternatives are not enough to pay your way through college, there are additional ways that students can fill their financial aid gap in order to minimize debt. You can also check out our list of top student loans for students which is updated monthly.
As you make financial aid decisions, there are many factors to weigh against one another. Students who find that their financial aid isn’t enough should consider writing a financial aid appeal letter. You might also be able to make college a more tenable expense through local scholarships. You should also remember that federal loans may qualify for forgiveness through programs such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. If you’re planning to go into nursing, public schooling, or other related fields, you may be able to afford more in federal student debt than you think.
Good luck with your financial planning and be sure to check back as any additional questions arise!
