Parent PLUS Loans are borrowed funding that Parents of Dependent Undergraduate Students (23 or younger) can use to help pay for college or career school as provided by the U.S. Department Of Education. These Loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
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The application process of the actual Parent PLUS Loan which will require a credit approval in order to be eligible for the funds. |
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| A legally binding agreement in which the Parent promises repay all Direct PLUS Loans a they will receive under the designated MPN for the PLUS Loan. |
Manually accepted Loans will trigger additional items to complete on a student’s To Do List located in their SF State Gateway or Student Center. For Parent PLUS Loans, these are the items Parents must complete as they will appear on there.
As confirmed by Federal Student Aid (FSA), listed below are the Interest rates and Loan origination fees for the 2024-2025 school year (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, & Summer 2025).
What happens if my Parents PLUS application is denied?
- Appeal the decision by calling Direct Loan Servicing Center at 1 (800) 557-7394.
- If the appeal is approved, the student must complete an additional loan counseling known as PLUS Credit Counseling. This is a requirement if they had an adverse credit history but were able to document extenuating circumstances to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of Education.
- Go to studentaid.gov and log in with your student FSA User ID & Password.
- Once logged in, click on "Complete PLUS Credit Counseling."
- Secure an endorser willing to co-sign the Parent PLUS Loan.
- The endorser will create an FSA User ID & Password.
- Have the endorser complete an Endorser Addendum while logged in with their FSA credentials
- If the endorser is approved, the Parent (borrower) must complete an additional Loan counseling, known as PLUS Credit Counseling. This is a requirement if they had an adverse credit history but were able to obtain an endorser.
There are a few factors that can cause a Parent to be ineligible for a Parent PLUS Loan:
- Poor credit score/history
- Parent is a non-eligible citizen or permanent resident
- Parent filed for bankruptcy
If a Dependent student is in need of additional funding but the Parent PLUS Loan is no longer an option due to the reasons listed above, they may submit a request for an Additional Unsubsidized Loan amount so that they may receive more funding based on their academic level.
| Academic Level | Amount (For the year) |
|---|---|
| Freshmen/Sophomore | $4,000 |
| Junior/Senior | $5,000 |
We highly recommend speaking to a Financial Aid Counselor with our office first before submitting this form. Please click on the link provided down below to complete the document and make sure that it is submitted through our DocuSign portal.
No action will be taken by the school and the Parent PLUS Loan will never disburse for the designated school year.
Additional FAQs for Parent PLUS Loan Process
How to Apply for a Parent PLUS Loan:
- Complete a 2024-2025 FAFSA
- Make sure all financial aid related items on the student's To Do List on their SF State Gateway are completed and cleared
- Go to https://studentaid.gov/
- Borrower will need to complete a Direct PLUS Loan Application
- Borrower will also need to complete the appropriate PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN)
- Allow 2-3 weeks for the Loan application and MPN to be processed.
Unlike other types of financial aid, the Parent PLUS Loan is not need based. The maximum eligibility amount is determined by the Student's Cost of Attendance minus any financial aid that the student has been awarded and accepted. The Parent PLUS loan can replace all or a portion of the expected resources. If the student will not be receiving financial aid of any kind, the parent can borrow the full cost of attendance. On the other hand, the parent does not have to apply for the entire amount. The parent should calculate the amount they need. Please refer to the students Award Offer on the SF State Gateway for the amount of Parent PLUS Loan that you are eligible to borrow.
Approval of a Parent PLUS Loan application does not commit the parent to accepting the loan. If approved, the parent must contact Office of Student Financial Aid to cancel or reduce the accepted Parent PLUS Loan amount.
The Parent PLUS Loan is disbursed to the borrower (parent) or student depending on the refund preference selected on the Parent PLUS Loan Application. If the loan is a full year loan, the loan will be disbursed half in the Fall and the other half in the Spring semester. If the loan is for one-semester, the loan will be disbursed in one disbursement. If the student owes money to San Francisco State University, the university deducts all financial obligations and forwards the balance. A check is sent to the parent if the borrower (parent) is the refund preference. Otherwise, if the student is the refund preference, a check is sent to the student or direct deposit is initiated. We encourage students to sign up for direct deposit on the Student Center under the option to Enroll In Direct Deposit.
Repayment and interest will apply to funds after the loan has been disbursed. The first payment of interest and principal are due within 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. The parent may request an in-school deferment while the student is enrolled at least half time (6 undergraduate units). If the student drops to less than half time or withdraws during the period for which the loan was intended, the entire amount of the Parent PLUS Loan is immediately due.
A student may complete a Parent PLUS Loan Change Request Form to increase/decrease amounts, cancel undisbursed amounts, and any other related action items regarding the PLUS Loan. We highly recommend speaking to a Financial Aid Counselor with our office first before submitting this form. Please click on the link provided down below to complete the document and make sure that it is submitted through our DocuSign portal.