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Applying for Parent Aid

Parents interested in applying for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to help cover the cost of a dependent student’s education need to know the following:

  • This credit-based federal loan is available to parents of dependent undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half-time (6 credits per semester) in an eligible program leading to a degree or certificate.
  • The borrower must be the parent (custodial or non-custodial) or stepparent of the student. A legal guardian or another relative cannot apply.
  • The parent borrower must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • This loan is based on approved credit. The applicant cannot be 90 days or more delinquent on the repayment of any debt; or the subject of a default determination, bankruptcy discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment, or write-off of a Title IV debt during the last five years.
  • While the annual loan limit is the student's cost of attendance minus any estimated financial aid received, it is HIGHLY recommended to wait until the receipt of the student's first University bill in order to more accurately determine the amount to request. If borrowing a fall/spring loan, the amount requested may need to be doubled in order to accommodate both semesters.
  • For help with determining how much to borrow, please refer to the Gap guide.
  • For current interest rates and fee details, click here.
  • Repayment begins 60 days after final loan disbursement unless a deferment is granted through your assigned loan servicer. For more information, visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/plus.

 How to apply

  • Student must complete the FAFSA application (https://fafsa.ed.gov/).
  • Parent borrower applies for a PLUS loan by logging into www.studentloans.gov. Parent borrowers must log in using their unique FSA ID. The FSA ID is also used for a parent to sign the FAFSA. Parents who do not yet have a FSA ID can click here to create one.
  • Disbursement will not occur until the start of the term. Please visit the Your Aid & Your Bill section of our website for additional information.
  • Parent borrowers who decide to decrease or cancel their loan after the award has disbursed will need to submit a signed statement to our office.

Click here for more information on Federal Direct Parent Loan repayment options.

Parent Private Educational Loans 

Parents interested in applying for a Private Educational Loan to help cover the cost of a dependent student’s education should be aware that some lenders have loans available under a parent's name. If interested in borrowing a Parent Private Educational Loan, you may want to consider the following lenders:

Citizens Bank

Sallie Mae

Please contact the lenders directly for additional information.