Federal Direct PLUS Loans

Federal Direct PLUS Loans are loans that graduate students and parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay for college or career school. PLUS Loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.

PARENT PLUS LOANS FOR PARENTS OF DEPENDENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

In order for a parent to apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, the student must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to UTA (federal school code 003656). The student must also be a dependent undergraduate student.

Here are some things to keep in mind about Direct PLUS Loans:

• The U.S. Department of Education is your lender.
• You must not have an adverse credit history.
  • If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a Direct PLUS Loan through one of these two options:
    1. Obtaining an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the Direct PLUS Loan if you do not repay it (the endorser cannot be the child on whose behalf you are borrowing).
    2. Documenting to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances relating to your adverse credit history.
• The maximum loan amount is the cost of attendance (determined by the UTA Office of Financial Aid) minus any other financial aid received.
• The interest rate on Direct PLUS Loans is 8.05% for loans disbursed between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
• The interest rate on Direct PLUS Loans is 7.54% for loans disbursed between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.
• A Direct PLUS Loan cannot be transferred to the child; the parent is the borrower and is legally responsible for repaying the loan.
• If you are eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan, you will be required to sign a Master Promissory Note agreeing to the terms of the loan.

Parents can complete an application for a Parent PLUS Loan online at StudentAid.gov.

PARENT PLUS LOAN DENIALS

If a parent’s application for a Direct PLUS Loan is not approved, the student can request the UTA Office of Financial aid offer an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan for the current aid year. The student is the borrower on any Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans offered.

The amount of additional unsubsidized loans students are eligible to receive each year varies by grade level:

If your parent is denied a PLUS Loan, please forward the PLUS Loan denial letter to fao@uta.edu to request the UTA Office of Financial Aid review your account and determine your additional unsubsidized loan eligibility.

PLUS LOANS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

In order for a graduate student to apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, the student must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to UTA (federal school code 003656). Here are some things to keep in mind about Direct PLUS Loans:

• The U.S. Department of Education is your lender.
• You must not have an adverse credit history.
  • If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a Direct PLUS Loan through one of these two options:
    1. Obtaining an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the Direct PLUS Loan if you do not repay it.
    2. Documenting to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances relating to your adverse credit history. Find more information about the appeal process.
• The maximum loan amount is the cost of attendance (determined by the UTA Office of Financial Aid) minus any other financial aid received.
• The interest rate on Direct PLUS Loans is 8.05% for loans disbursed between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
• The interest rate on Direct PLUS Loans is 7.54% for loans disbursed between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.
• If you are eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan, you will be required to sign a Master Promissory Note agreeing to the terms of the loan. Graduate or professional students who haven't previously received a PLUS loan will also be required to complete entrance counseling.

Graduate students can complete an application for a Graduate PLUS Loan online at studentaid.gov.