The PLUS stands for Parent Loan for Undergrad Students (which makes referring to it as a Parent PLUS Loan a little redundant, we know). It's determined by the cost of attending the school, less any other financial aid that is applied first.
Since most grants and loans have limits on the amount of money awarded, the Parent PLUS Loan can be an excellent way to make sure students have what it takes to finish their degree programs.
For a parent to receive a PLUS Loan, his or her child must be a dependent undergraduate student with at least half-time status at an eligible school.
Your child will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to start the process and provide insights into available need-based and non-need-based financial assistance. The more the student can gain from grants, scholarships, and lower-interest student loans, the less debt you will incur in your PLUS loan. File the FAFSA® early to take advantage of timely opportunities.
Both you and your son or daughter can search for financial aid opportunities, whether from Pell Grants, federal Stafford Loans, or scholarships that can come from countless sources.
Keep in mind, too, that interest starts to accrue immediately with the Parent PLUS Loan. You can save money over the course of the loan by paying the interest while your child goes to school. At 7 percent interest, the PLUS Loan's current rate is the highest among federal student loanspare it to the need-based Federal Perkins Loan, which is currently at 5 percent interest.
Qualifications for PLUS Loans
The U.S. Department of Education is the lender for Parent PLUS Loans. Parents who seek to secure student financial aid for their children must not have adverse credit histories, but poor credit scores are not necessarily deal-breakers for parents. Read more