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Federal Plus Loans

Federal PLUS Loans (PLUS loans) are credit-based federal government loans that must be repaid with interest. The U.S. Department of Education is the lender. Students are required to be enrolled at least half time (6 hours for undergraduate students and 5 hours for graduate students). Students must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to qualify. For more information visit the Federal Student Aid page about Federal PLUS Loans. 

 

FEDERAL PLUS LOAN FAQS

Yes. Although the FAFSA must be completed, PLUS borrowers must also complete a Federal PLUS Loan application. An FSA ID will be required for this process.

A Federal PLUS Loan borrower must be:
  • a U.S. citizen AND
  • a legal parent (or step-parent listed on the FAFSA) of a dependent student OR
  • a graduate student
NOTE: Legal parents of dependent students may borrow a Federal Parent PLUS Loan. Graduate students may borrow a Graduate Federal PLUS Loan (Grad PLUS loan). 

  1. Complete the FAFSA.
  2. Visit the Federal Student Loan website.
  3. Sign in using your FSA ID.
  4. Click Request Federal PLUS Loan.
    • Click Parent PLUS if you are the legal parent of a dependent student
    • Click Graduate PLUS if you are a graduate student
  5. Complete the PLUS application.
  6. You will be notified immediately if you have been denied due to adverse credit history.
  7. Complete the PLUS Master Promissory Note.
  8. Complete the PLUS entrance counseling ONLY if you are applying for a Grad PLUS loan.
NOTE: Credit checks and Federal PLUS Loan approval are only valid for 180 days.

A “soft” credit check will be performed by the U.S. Department of Education upon PLUS application submission. A borrower can be denied if they have an adverse credit history. However, the credit check for a Federal PLUS Loan will be more lenient than a traditional credit check. If the borrower is a graduate student, that borrower must meet the standard eligibility criteria for federal aid. If the borrower is a legal parent of a dependent student, that student must meet the standard eligibility for federal aid.

You may choose to seek an endorser. If you choose to pursue this option, your endorser must create an FSA ID to electronically complete the Endorser Addendum. The Federal PLUS Loan may only be awarded up to the endorsed amount. You may also choose to appeal the credit decision. Contact information and instructions for appealing the credit decision will be provided in the denial notification. If a legal parent of a dependent student is denied a Federal Parent PLUS Loan due to adverse credit history (and does not wish to pursue an endorser or appeal the credit decision) or lack of U.S. citizenship, that student may request additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds up to the independent student limits. This is typically up to an additional $4,000 for the academic year. See Federal Direct Loansfor more details.
 
If a graduate student borrower is denied, no additional federal funding is available.

Yes, there is an annual limit. However, the limit depends on the student’s Cost of Attendance (COA) and any other aid the student may be receiving. A student may receive Federal PLUS Loan funds up to their COA minus any other aid the student is receiving. For more information the student may visit their My.UAFS account for their specific COA and to view their current financial aid award package. There are no aggregate limits to how much a PLUS borrower may borrow.
 
NOTE: For more information about federal loans, visit the Private Federal Student Loans page or visit the UAFS Financial Aid Office

Federal PLUS Loans enter repayment 60 days after the last disbursement of that PLUS loan UNLESS the borrower requests an In-School Deferment. This is an option on the PLUS application. The PLUS borrower may also request a grace period. This will appear as an option on the PLUS application if the borrower chooses an In-School Deferment. If the PLUS borrower chooses the In-School Deferment and the grace period options on the PLUS application, repayment for the PLUS loan will operate just as the Federal Direct Loans.


 

Although you may select or be assigned a repayment plan when you first begin repaying your student loan, you can change repayment plans at any time for free. Contact your loan servicer if you would like to discuss repayment plan options or change your repayment plan. 
 
You can get information about all of the federal student loans you have received and find the servicer for your loans by logging in to "My Federal Student Aid" through the Federal Student Aid website. If you have loans with more than one servicer or any outstanding FFEL loans, you may also consider consolidating your federal loans. 
 
You'll find some of the most common repayment plans listed below. 
 
Repayment Plan Eligible Loans Monthly Payment and Timeframe Quick Comparison/Requirements
Standard Repayment Plan
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
All PLUS Loans
 Payments are a fixed amount of at least $50 per month for up to 10 years You pay less interest for your loan over time under this plan.
Graduated Repayment Plan
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
All PLUS Loans
 Payments are lower at first and then generally increase every two years for up to 10 years You pay more for your loan over time than under the 10-year standard plan
Extended Repayment Plan
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
All PLUS Loans made to students 
 Payments may be fixed or graduated for up to 25 years
Your monthly payments are lower than the 10-year standard plan, but you will pay more over time than you will under the 10-year standard plan.
If you are a direct loan borrower or FFEL borrower, you must have more than $30,000 in outstanding direct loans and be a new borrower.
Income-Based Repayment Plan
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
All PLUS Loans made to students
Consolidation Loans (Direct or FFEL) that do not include Direct or FFEL PLUS Loans made to parents
 Maximum monthly payments will be 15 percent of discretionary income.** Payments will adjust with your income for up to 25 years.
You must have a partial financial hardship.
Your monthly payments will be lower than payments under the 10-year standard plan.
You'll pay more for your loan over time than under the 10-year standard plan.
If you have not repaid your loan in full after making the equivalent of 25 years of qualifying monthly payments, any outstanding loan balance will be forgiven, although you may have to pay income tax on the forgiven amount.

**Difference between adjusted gross income and 150 percent of the poverty guideline for your family size and state of residence (Other conditions may apply.

 

UAFS partners with Great Lakes Educational Loan Services to provide access to FastChoice, an easy-to-use educational loan search engine. FastChoice does not provide an exhaustive list of all alternative loan lenders, nor a preferred lender list.

UAFS does not guarantee your satisfaction with the services and products provided by any lender. Loan product disclosures can be found on each lender's application/website. If the lender has provided UAFS with a copy of its disclosure, it can be found on My.UAFS.

You, the student, are not required to use one of the lenders on this list. If you prefer to use a different lender, you will have to contact them directly to determine what the application process is for their institution.

If you elect to use a different lender, they may send certification requests to FinAid@uafs.edu or by fax at 479-788-7095.

Sections 34 CFR 601.1(d) and 34 CFR 668.14(b)(29) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 states that alternative lenders and institutions of higher education must provide you with a copy of the self-certification form. Most lenders include this in their application, or you can download it here.