Question

Parent PLUS Loan Eligibility Requirements?

Answer 1

The federal government offers Parent PLUS loans as a supplement to grants, scholarships, and Stafford loans. Thankfully, unlike some private loans, the eligibility requirements are simple, straightforward, and fairly easy to meet. First, the student usually has to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), depending on the institution. Parent PLUS loan eligibility is not determined by family income, so while the FAFSA may be required by the institution, a higher Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) will not bar a family from eligibility. The second requirement for PLUS loan eligibility is that the person applying is the legal guardian of a dependent undergraduate student. This phrasing is important. It means three things: first, the student must be pursuing undergraduate, not graduate, work. Second, the student must be a dependent of the applicant as defined by the FAFSA, which is ages 21 and under. If the student is over 21 or has been emancipated from the parents, the parents are no longer eligible for the loan. The easy way to know whether or not the student is a dependent is if he or she had to fill in the parent's information on the FAFSA form. Yes means the student is a dependent; no means the student is not. Third, the person applying must be able to verify legal guardianship over the student. After filling out the application, which can be found at the Parent PLUS loan website, the only eligibility requirement is passing a credit check. While this credit check is fairly forgiving, it is possible to be declined on the basis of serious adverse credit history, including cases of foreclosure, Title IV debt, or failure to pay on debt for more than 90 days. Parent PLUS loans are a great low-interest way to fund a student's higher education. Because they aren't need-based, they are accessible to most families who do not qualified for other income-based grants and loans. Since eligibility requirements are easy to understand and meet, they provide a safe way to pay for college when other financial aid doesn't cut it.