The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program is the U.S. Department of Education's federal student loan program. The U.S. Department of Education is the lender under this program. Eligible parents of dependent undergraduate may use Direct PLUS loans to fund their child's college education. Direct PLUS loans are also called Parent PLUS loans when the parent is the borrower.
Important updates
One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3) impact on borrowers. Learn about the impacts to current and future federal direct loan borrowers due to the Big Beautiful Bill Act. As federal regulations, policies, and procedures are still pending from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, federal grants and loan offers may be adjusted. Federal systems and vendor software updates are pending; amounts may be adjusted once specifications are finalized and institutional systems are updated. Students will be notified promptly if adjustments are required. Read more about OB3.
Parent PLUS borrowing requirements, loan limits and interest rates
To receive Parent PLUS Loans, parents must be the adoptive or biological parent (or stepparent) of dependent, undergraduate students who are enrolled in at least half-time at the University.
Not possess an adverse credit history
Meet the eligibility requirements for federal financial aid
Students must be enrolled at least half-time (six credits) each semester
Must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (夜色视频) on file.
Unless they have legally adopted the dependent student, legal guardians or grandparents are not eligible for Parent PLUS Loans.
The maximum Parent PLUS Loan amount that can be borrowed is the University's cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance the student receives. For example, if the student budget (tuition, fees, books and supplies and room and board) is $20,000 and the student was offered $8,000 in other financial aid/scholarships, the parent could borrow up to $12,000 from the Federal PLUS loan.
The Financial Aid Offer Letter identifies the student budget and all available financial aid/scholarships. Students may view their most recent Financial Aid Offer Letter via .
In addition to interest on the loan, parent borrowers must pay fees on the total loan amount. Called the "loan fee," it is a percentage of the loan amount deducted proportionally each time a loan disbursement is made. The loan fee percentage varies, based on when the loan is first disbursed.
Parent PLUS Loans offer a fixed interest rate. Interest starts to accrue from the date the first disbursement is made until the loan is fully repaid. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships maintains a table of current interest rates for federal loans.
All federal aid programs start with the submission of your annual 夜色视频 form. Please visit to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Parent PLUS loans may be requested online through , an office of the U.S. Department of Education. You may log-in with your parent FSA ID username, email or mobile phone and associated password.
The Master Promissory Note is a legal document that explains the terms and conditions of your loan and where you agree to repay your loan(s), including any fees or interests to the U.S. Department of Education.
You may sign your Master Promissory Note through , an office of the U.S. Department of Education.
The U.S. Department of Education will check your credit history to determine your eligibility for a Direct PLUS Loan. If the loan is approved, parent borrowers receive a "Disclosure Notice" via email from the Direct Loan Servicing Center, which identifies approximate dates for the electronic disbursement of funds.
If the loan is denied because of a credit check, you may still be eligible to receive a Direct PLUS loan. If the loan is denied because of a credit check, you may still be eligible to receive a Direct Parent PLUS Loan if you meet additional requirements.
Disbursement of Direct PLUS Loan funds
Once your Direct Parent PLUS Loan is approved, the Direct Loan Servicing Center will electronically disburse the funds to the University once it has been originated. The total loan for the term, minus fees, is disbursed each semester. The funds are used to pay all outstanding obligations to the University.
When funds are received, our office will review your student’s financial aid eligibility, including Satisfactory Academic Progress. If your student is eligible and enrolled in the required number of credits, the funds will be applied to your student’s account. Federal regulations prohibit disbursement earlier than 10 days before the start of classes each semester.
Credit requirements by enrollment funding status
Enrollment funding status
Undergraduate or teaching certificate
Graduate (must be graduate-level courses; GA and TA students are not exempt)
Full-time
12 or more credits
9 or more credits
Three-quarter time
9 to 11 credits
7 to 8 credits
Half-time
6 to 8 credits
5 to 6 credits
Our office notifies your student in writing each time loan funds are disbursed into your student's account. Your student is encouraged to utilize to check on the status of their financial aid.
After all institutional charges are paid, any remaining funds are issued to the borrower by the Cashier’s Office to the address listed in MyNEVADA. Note: Parent PLUS loan refunds will be sent to the mailing address indicated on the PLUS loan application if the parent indicated that residual funds are to be returned to the parent.
Parent borrowers are legally responsible for repaying the loan to the U.S. Department of Education and loan payments cannot be transferred to the student. Repayment begins when the loan is fully paid out (disbursed) and applied to the student’s balance. The service lender will notify the borrower when the first payment is due. To find out who your lender is, please visit.
Parent borrowers may request a deferment, allowing for payments to be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half-time, as well as for an additional six months after the student leaves school, graduates or drops below half-time enrollment. You may request a deferment during the loan request process or contact the loan servicer directly to request a deferment on your Direct PLUS Loan. For more information, please visit.
Canceling a Direct PLUS Loan
Before the loan funds are disbursed, you may cancel a portion or all of the loan by submitting a Financial Aid Cancelation Request.
After the Direct PLUS Loan has been disbursed, you may cancel a portion or all of the loan by completing the Federal Funds Return form within 14 calendar days of your student being notified of the loan disbursement via MyNevada and the student’s preferred email address. If you decide to cancel the loan, all charges must be paid by the semester fee payment deadline.
To access the Financial Aid Cancelation Request or Federal Funds Return form, please visit the Financial Aid Forms page.
Direct PLUS loan denials
The U.S. Department of Education will notify the parent borrower if they are denied the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan. If denied, the parent may still have other options available.
Option 1: A credit-worthy co-signer can endorse the borrower’s Direct PLUS Loan. If approved, the borrower must complete the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Entrance Counseling before loan disbursement. For more information, visit the page.
Option 2: The borrower may appeal the denial through the U.S. Department of Education. If approved, the borrower must complete the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Entrance Counseling before loan disbursement. For more information, visit the page.
Option 3: If the borrower is denied the Direct Parent PLUS Loan and cannot obtain a co-signer or appeal, the student may be eligible to receive an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The borrower may request the additional loan through the Parent PLUS loan application, or the student may request and submit the Federal Direct Loan Activation Form. The student must first accept all Federal Direct loan(s) offered in their MyNevada account for the current aid year before receiving the additional unsubsidized loan.
