Graduate PLUS Loan

The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans available to eligible graduate or professional students. A Direct PLUS Loan is commonly referred to as a grad PLUS loan when made to a graduate or professional student. PLUS loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Details on the Grad PLUS Loan can be found at studentaid.gov. 

To receive a grad PLUS loan, you must

• be a graduate or professional student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school in a program leading to a graduate or professional degree or certificate;
• not have an adverse credit history (unless you meet certain additional eligibility requirements); and
• meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid.

A credit check will be required, which expires in 180 days, therefore, we ask that you do not complete the PLUS application until after May 1st. If borrowing a Direct Unsubsidized Loan for Summer, please be aware that you will need to complete a separate PLUS application for the Fall and Spring semesters. If you do not enroll in Summer courses, you can apply for the Grad PLUS once for the Fall/Spring academic year.

If you have placed a security freeze on your credit file, you must lift or remove the freeze at each credit bureau before you continue. Your application will not be processed if you have a security freeze on your credit file.

If approved for a Grad PLUS Loan, you will need to complete a PLUS MPN (using your FAFSA login information). If you are denied, you will have the option to obtain an endorser. If obtaining an endorser, you will also have to complete Credit Counseling.

The maximum PLUS loan amount you can borrow is the cost of attendance (determined by the Financial Aid Office) minus any other financial assistance you receive.

For Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2024, and before July 1, 2025, the interest rate is 9.08%. This is a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. There is also a loan fee of 4.228%, which will be deducted from the loan disbursement.

A new PLUS loan application will need to be completed each academic year.

The PLUS application will request the amount that you wish to borrow. If you choose the “maximum” amount, then we will determine the amount you are eligible for up to your Cost of Attendance and process that amount. We highly recommend borrowing as little as needed, but we do understand you may need the funds to assist with living expenses as well. If you need assistance calculating the exact amount that you need, please email the Financial Aid Office.

The PLUS application will also request the loan period for which you choose to borrow. Please be sure to enter the correct term that you are applying for. If you are borrowing for Fall 2025 – Spring 2026, please enter August 2025 – May 2026 (this is not an option if you are borrowing any Federal Direct Loans for the Summer – must be processed by term).

Once we have an approved PLUS application and PLUS MPN, we can process your loan amount requested and will send you a revised Financial Aid Offer Notification. The Financial Aid Office will reach out if there are any questions.