
To be eligible for a Direct PLUS loan, you must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
Direct PLUS loans are available to graduate students and parents of undergraduate students who need to borrow money to help pay for their child's education.
You can only borrow a Direct PLUS loan for educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, room, and board.
The amount you can borrow with a Direct PLUS loan is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you're receiving.
Additional reading: Direct plus Loan Application for Graduate/professional Students Credit Decision
Eligibility and Application
To be eligible for a Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan or Parent PLUS Loan, you must have a good credit history. A credit check will be done on both loan types, and a loan applicant may be denied based on adverse credit history.
Grad PLUS Loan borrowers, on the other hand, can reapply each year, which includes a new credit check that is valid for 180 days from the date of application.
To be eligible for a Parent PLUS Loan, parents and their dependent child must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, and must not be in default on any federal education loans or owe an overpayment on a federal education grant.
Additional reading: PLUS Loan
Submit Federal Grad Application
To submit a Federal Grad PLUS Loan application, you'll need to reapply each year, which includes a new credit check that's valid for 180 days from the date of application.
A credit check is a crucial part of the application process, and if you're denied due to adverse credit history, you have options to reconsider your application.
If your Grad PLUS Loan is denied, you can try to obtain an endorser or file an appeal, and the Federal Student Aid website has more information on these denial options.
Students who are approved after obtaining an eligible endorser or appealing due to extenuating circumstances will need to complete PLUS Credit Counseling in addition to Entrance Counseling.
To apply for a Grad PLUS Loan, you'll need to complete the necessary steps, which start with submitting a Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan application.
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Federal Undergraduates
As a parent of a dependent undergraduate student, you may be eligible for the Federal Direct Parent Loan For Undergraduate Students (PLUS) to help cover educational expenses.
Discover more: Parent plus Loan Credit Check

The PLUS loan is a loan from the U.S. Department of Education, and your student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) with a valid FAFSA on file to qualify. Federal Aid, including loans, will be processed based on enrollment in courses applicable towards the student’s degree.
The maximum amount you may borrow is the cost of attendance minus all other financial assistance, which will be indicated on the MMC financial aid award letter.
How to Apply for Parent
To apply for a Parent PLUS Loan, you'll need to start by checking your credit history. The Department of Education will do a credit check, and you can't have an adverse credit history, including debts that are more than 90 days overdue totaling more than $2,085, or a collection or charge off.
You'll need to go to the Department of Education website and sign in with your FSA ID username and password. If you don't have an FSA ID or can't recall it, you can request one here.
Once you're signed in, click on the "Start PLUS process" button. If you're approved, you'll need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) to obtain the loan.
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Credit Check and Requirements
A credit check is a crucial part of the Direct PLUS Loan process.
To be eligible for a Parent PLUS loan, you cannot have an adverse credit history. This means you can't have debts that are more than 90 days overdue totaling more than $2,085, or a collection or charge off.
For the past two years, you can't have any debts that are more than 90 days overdue. If you do, you won't qualify for a Parent PLUS loan.
However, if you've had a loan default, a discharge of debts in bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment, or a write-off of a federal student aid debt in the past five years, you won't qualify either.
If your credit needs improvement, you can still get a Parent PLUS loan by providing documentation and getting approved. There are two ways to do this: by adding an endorser or by documenting extenuating circumstances.
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Here are the two options:
Regardless of the reason, it's essential to document the situation and show how it has improved. And if you're approved, you'll need to complete PLUS Loan credit counseling, which usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Application and Approval Process
The application and approval process for a Direct PLUS loan involves a credit check, which can affect your chances of approval. If you're a graduate student, you'll need to apply for a Grad PLUS Loan each year, which includes a new credit check.
The credit check for a Grad PLUS Loan is valid for 180 days from the date of application, so be sure to plan ahead. If you're denied, you may be able to appeal or obtain an endorser to help you qualify.
To apply for a Direct PLUS loan, you'll need to complete a few steps. First, you'll need to submit a Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan application, which requires a credit check. If you're a parent borrower, you'll need to go to the Department of Education website and click "Sign In" with your FSA ID username and password.
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If you don't have an FSA ID or can't recall it, you can request one on the Department of Education website. Once you're signed in, click on the "Start PLUS process" button to begin the application.
If you're approved, you'll need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) to finalize the loan. This is an additional step for borrowers who have been approved after appealing or obtaining an endorser.
Here's a quick rundown of the steps to apply for a Direct PLUS loan:
- Submit a Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan application (graduate students)
- Go to the Department of Education website and click "Sign In" (parent borrowers)
- Click on the "Start PLUS process" button (parent borrowers)
- Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) if approved (graduate students who appealed or obtained an endorser)
Fees and Expiration
The expiration date for Direct PLUS loan credit checks has been extended from 90 days to 180 days. This change affects borrowers who are denied a Direct PLUS loan due to credit issues and want to reapply after improving their credit report.
If you're planning to reapply for a Direct PLUS loan after being denied, keep in mind that a new credit check won't be performed if one was done within the last 180 days. This means you can focus on clearing up your credit report without worrying about an immediate recheck.
Fees

Fees are a crucial aspect to consider when borrowing money for education. Federal Direct PLUS loans are assessed an origination fee of 4.272% of the total loan.
This fee is determined by the U.S. Department of Education and will be deducted from the loan amount before it's credited to the student's account. The net disbursement will reflect these fees, so the amount credited to the student's account will be the gross amount of the loan less the origination fee.
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Expiration Date
The expiration date of a credit check can be a crucial factor in your financial journey. The expiration date for Direct PLUS loan credit checks has been extended from 90 days to 180 days.
If you've applied for a Direct PLUS loan and been denied due to credit issues, you'll have a bit more time to clear up your credit report before needing to reapply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum credit score for a PLUS loan?
There is no minimum credit score for a PLUS loan, but borrowers must have a good credit history to qualify. Learn more about the credit requirements for Parent PLUS Loans.
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