Parents of dependent students may apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan to help pay their child's education expenses if certain eligibility requirements are met. To be eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan for Parents:

  • The parent borrower must be the student's biological or adoptive parent. In some cases, the student's stepparentmay be eligible.
  • The student must be a dependent student who is enrolled at least half-time at a school that participates in the Direct Loan Program.  Generally, a student is considered dependent if he or she is under 24 years of age, has no dependents, and is not married.
  • The parent borrower must not have an adverse credit history (a credit check will be done). If the parent does not pass the credit check, the parent may still receive a loan if someone (such as a relative or friend who is able to pass the credit check) agrees to endorse the loan. The endorser promises to repay the loan if the parent fails to do so. The parent may also still receive a loan if he or she can demonstrate extenuating circumstances.

The student and parent 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, and must meet other general eligibility requirements for the federal student aid programs. For additional information on eligibility requirements, visit the Federal  page.

Applying for a Parent PLUS Loan

To apply for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan for your 麻豆官网首页入口免费 (MSUB) student, the following steps need to be taken:

  1. The student must be admitted as a degree-seeking student at MSUB
  2. The student must complete a  and be eligible to receive Federal student aid.
  3. Must be enrolled in at least 6 credits per semester to be eligible.
  4. The parent borrower must complete a  each year. Applications can be completed online at .
  5. A  (MPN) must be on file with the Department of Education.  To complete a Direct PLUS MPN, the parent borrower must sign in to  using his/her FSAID , select "Complete MPN" and "Parent PLUS."

One Big Beautiful Bill Act Changes

Beginning July 1, 2026, federal law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) introduces major changes to the Parent PLUS Loan program, including new borrowing limits and repayment restrictions. These changes will impact both new Parent PLUS borrowers and some existing borrowers who take out additional loans after this date. Major changes and considerations include:鈥� 

  • New Parent PLUS borrowing will now be capped at $20,000 annually and $65,000 total 
  • Some continuing students may qualify for temporary legacy borrowing limits 
  • Families may need strategic borrowing plans to maintain access across four years 
  • Repayment flexibility is significantly reduced 
  • Borrowing after July 1, 2026 may eliminate income-driven repayment and PSLF eligibility 

New Borrowing Limits 

Beginning July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS Loans will be subject to new statutory borrowing limits: 

  • Annual Limit: $20,000 per dependent student per year 
  • Aggregate Limit: $65,000 total per dependent student 

This will primarily impact brand new students who matriculate in Fall of 2026 or current students who have never used a Parent PLUS loan. If a parent borrows the maximum $20,000 annually, they will reach the $65,000 aggregate limit before a typical four-year program is complete. To ensure even eligibility across four years, families should consider borrowing smaller annual amounts (approximately $16,250 per year over four years). 

Legacy Borrowing Provisions 

Some families may continue borrowing under pre-July 1, 2026 limits if specific conditions are met. Students cannot opt out of legacy provisions if they qualify.鈥� 

A parent may qualify for legacy borrowing if: 

  • The student was enrolled in the program on or before June 30, 2026 
  • A Direct Unsubsidized, Subsidized, or Parent PLUS Loan was disbursed before July 1, 2026 
  • The student remains enrolled in the same program of study at the same institution 

Legacy eligibility lasts for three years or until the end of the student's undergraduate program, whichever comes first.鈥� 

Students remain eligible under legacy limits if they: 

  • Change majors within the same degree type (e.g., BA 鈫� BA or BA 鈫� BS) 

Students lose legacy eligibility if they: 

  • Transfer to another institution 
  • Change degree type (e.g., certificate 鈫� associate or associate 鈫� bachelor鈥檚) 
  • Withdraw or cease enrollment in the program 

Repayment Plans 

Beginning July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS Loans borrowed on or after this date will only be eligible for the new Tiered Standard Repayment Plan, which is not eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and does not provide access to income-driven repayment plans. 

Parents who take out a new Parent PLUS Loan on or after July 1, 2026 will therefore lose access to income-driven repayment options and PSLF, even if they previously had Parent PLUS Loans in repayment under other plans, because all Parent PLUS Loans must then be repaid under the new Tiered Standard Plan. 

Parents who do not borrow additional Parent PLUS Loans after July 1, 2026 may continue repaying their existing loans under current repayment options, including the 10-year Standard, Extended, Graduated, or Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plans. However, ICR for Parent PLUS consolidation loans is expected to sunset on June 30, 2028, after which affected borrowers will transition to the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan.