Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Program

Direct PLUS Loans are loans available to graduate/professional students to help pay for educational expenses up to the cost of attendance minus all other financial assistance awarded. To be eligible, a student can’t have an adverse credit history.

This loan is for students that need additional loan funds once they have received the maximum amounts from their Stafford Loan Program. It offers a fixed interest rate and flexible loan limits. Graduate PLUS Loans are processed after the student’s aid package is completed.

Applying for a Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional Students Loan involves three steps:

1. The first step in getting student aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov You must do this every year.  

2. To obtain this loan, you should apply for a Direct PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional Students at studentaid.gov. You will use the same FSA ID used to sign your FAFSA to apply for this loan.  

3. Complete Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note) option for PLUS MPN for Graduate/Professional Students on the studentaid.gov website.

If you are declined a Graduate PLUS Loan, you have the following options:

You may either obtain an endorser, or you may choose to document to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances related to your adverse credit history. Once either of these courses of action have been completed you're also required to complete PLUS Credit Counseling on studentaid.gov.