Federal Parent Loans
What is a Federal Direct PLUS Loan?
The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is an unsubsidized loan that allows parents to borrow on their student’s behalf to help pay for educational expenses when their student is enrolled half time (6+ credits) or more in required coursework. PLUS loans are federal loans through the U.S. Department of Education. The Direct PLUS Loan application must be completed annually. Borrowers are encouraged to consider their potential loan repayment and total loan indebtedness before utilizing loans to assist with their educational costs. The Federal Student Loan Repayment Simulator can assist in helping to estimate future repayments of federal student loans.
Parent PLUS Loan Information and Limits
Parent PLUS Loan Program
Parent borrowers whose dependent undergraduate students did not receive a disbursement of Federal Direct Loan prior to July 1, 2026, are subject to the new annual and lifetime loan limits for the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan program.
Legacy Provisions-Parent PLUS Legacy provisions apply to undergraduate students who have received a disbursement of Federal Direct loans at Western Washington University prior to July 1, 2026 (Subsidized, Unsubsidized or Parent PLUS Loan Loan). These students are not subject to a PLUS Loan annual or lifetime limit for up to 3 years or until they complete their current program, whichever comes first. Parent PLUS Loans cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Changes to the program or breaks in enrollment will discontinue access to legacy provisions. Transfer students are ineligible for legacy provisions.
Annual & Aggregate Limits:
Annual Limits- For each dependent student, the total maximum amount of Parent PLUS Loan that all parent borrowers (combined) can borrow per year on behalf of the student is $20,000 unless the borrower and/or student fall within the legacy provision (no annual limit not to exceed cost of attendance).
Aggregate Limits-For each dependent student, the total maximum amount of Parent PLUS Loan that all parent borrowers (combined) can borrow on behalf of a student is $65,000 (without regard to amounts forgiven, repaid, canceled or discharged) unless the student or borrower falls within the legacy provision.
NEW: Changes to Federal Loans including Parent PLUS Loans
There are important changes for Federal Student Loans, including the Parent PLUS Loan, based on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. All current and future loan borrowers are encouraged to review this information and contact our office with any questions.
Interest Rates & Origination Fee Adjustments
PLUS Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2025 and before July 1, 2026 have an interest rate of 8.94%.
PLUS Loans disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2026 have a loan origination fee of 4.228%.
Loan origination fees are deducted from each loan disbursement. Use the loan fee calculator to determine the net loan amount.
How to apply for PLUS Loan
You must complete a PLUS Application annually and Master Promissory Note (MPN) once.
- Go to studentaid.gov
- Go to the Grants and Loans tab
- Select PLUS Loans (Grad PLUS & Parent PLUS)
- Select the "I am a parent of a student" borrower type
- Submit the PLUS Loan for Parents application
- Under Grants and Loans tab, select Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete the "I'm a parent of a an undergraduate student" PLUS MPN for Parents of Dependent Graduate Students.
You will be asked to authorize a credit check and the determination will be immediately available. You will be sent a disclosure statement when the loan is originated and when disbursements are made. The disclosure statement will include specific information including the loan amount, loan fees, and the expected loan disbursement dates.
On the application, borrowers will have the option to select deferment while the student is enrolled at least half time and for an additional 6 months after they graduate, leave school or drop below half time enrollment.
More Information for Parents
- Borrower must be the student's biological or adoptive parent, or the student's stepparent, if the biological or adoptive parent has remarried at the time of application.
- Parent PLUS Loan borrowers must not have an adverse credit history.
- Parents and their dependent student must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, must not be in default on any federal education loans, or owe an overpayment on a federal education grant.
The following options are available if the credit check is denied:
- Parent borrowers may wish to appeal the credit decision or
- Parent borrowers may obtain a credit-worthy endorser or
- Students may submit a Request for Additional Unsubsidized Direct Student Loan form available on the financial aid website or
- Students may pursue a private student loan
To cancel or change an undisbursed PLUS Loan, parent borrowers may either email financialaid@wwu.edu from the email address used on the Parent PLUS application detailing the change requested or they may complete the PLUS Loan Revision form available on the financial aid website.
To cancel a disbursed PLUS loan within 120 days of disbursement, contact the Student Business Office at (360) 650-2865. To cancel a disbursed PLUS loan after 120 days of disbursement: borrowers may contact their loan servicer directly about making payments.
Borrowers may contact their loan servicer to discuss various repayment plans available. Typically borrowers will have 10-25 years to repay the loan depending on the repayment plan.
PLUS loan disbursements are first applied to the balance on a student’s account including tuition and fees and on campus living expenses, if applicable. Additionally, they will be applied to other charges on the student’s account if an Authorization to Apply Financial Aid Funds form is on file with the Student Business Office. If the loan disbursement exceeds the student’s account balance, excess funds will be refunded to the parent borrower via check or to the student based on the preferences indicated on the PLUS Loan application.
The PLUS Loan enters repayment after the loan is fully disbursed (paid out). Borrowers can review the available repayment plans at studentaid.gov and can follow up with their loan servicers with any questions. Borrowers may wish to use the repayment estimator before borrowing.
Generally PLUS Loans can be deferred when the student is enrolled at least half-time, and for an additional six months after the student ceases to be enrolled half-time or more. If the PLUS loan is deferred, interest will accrue on the loan during deferment. Borrowers may choose to pay the accrued interest or allow the interest to capitalize when the deferment period ends.