Parent PLUS Loans typically have higher interest rates than a student's federal student loans. This means that over the life of the loan, you could end up paying significantly more in interest with a Parent PLUS Loan compared to a federal student loan taken out by a student.
A parent loan can cover 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance, minus other financial aid, or be as low as $1,000. This gives parents wide flexibility to find a loan that works for them. The biggest benefit of federal student loans is the fixed interest rate, which is controlled by Congress.
5. College Savings Plans. Families can plan ahead by saving for future college costs with a 529 plan. A savings account that provides several tax and financial aid advantages, a 529 plan allows families to plan ahead by saving for college tuition or additional expenses related to getting a degree.
Limited Eligibility for Private Loans: Most students have a thin or nonexistent credit history and cannot qualify for a private student loan on their own. More than 90% of private student loans to undergraduate students require a creditworthy cosigner, which is usually the parent.
Student loans taken out by parents, such as federal parent PLUS loans and private parent loans, affect only the credit of the person who took them out. So if a parent takes out a federal parent PLUS loan, for instance, to help you pay for school, it affects their credit.
PLUS loans.
Parent and grad PLUS loans allow you to borrow up to the total cost of attendance, and there's no income limit to qualify. PLUS loans are another type of unsubsidized loan.
But parent PLUS loans do have a credit check, and you won't qualify if you have adverse credit history. That can include negative line items on your credit report like payments that are 90 days late, tax liens and more. Check your credit for adverse information before applying for a parent PLUS loan.
If your parents or guardians refuse to pay for college, your best options may be to file the FAFSA as an independent. Independent filers are not required to include information about their parents' income or assets. As a result, your EFC will be very low and you will probably get a generous financial aid offer.
A student loan is borrowed by a student, while a parent loan is borrowed by a parent. While parents can cosign a student loan, the student remains the primary borrower.
For a private student loan, lenders have income and credit qualifications that must be met either by the applicant on their own, or with a co-signer. If parents are unable or unwilling to co-sign, you will need to show stable income as well as an established credit history to qualify on your own.
Financial aid can come from federal and state governments, colleges, and private organizations. Some help comes in the form of loans, which have to be paid back. Grants, scholarships and work-study programs do not have to be repaid. Broadly, there are two types of financial aid: need-based and merit.
The average family uses a few – or all – of the following to pay for college: Scholarships and Grants – Free money that does not have to be paid back. Financial Aid – Distributed by the government and/or colleges and comes in the form of grants, work study, or student loans.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to cover the cost of higher education, including scholarships, grants, work-study, part-time jobs, and federal student loans. If those options aren't enough, you can also look into private student loans. These are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders.
If you're a dependent student, the FAFSA will attempt to measure your family's financial strength to determine your expected family contribution. Therefore, your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as funds collected through unemployment or Social Security) should be entered into the FAFSA.
Student loans can help you finance your college education without paying much interest. If you're not careful, however, your student loan debt could eventually balloon and become a serious financial problem.
How much can I borrow? The maximum PLUS loan amount you can borrow is the cost of attendance at the school your child will attend minus any other financial assistance your child receives. The cost of attendance is determined by the school.
When the time comes to start making payments, only the student is obligated to repay these loans — not the parents. In fact, there's no co-signer. If the student defaults on a federal student loan, it will affect the student's credit and won't be reported on the parent's credit history.
Key Takeaways. PLUS loans are federal loans that parents can take out to cover their child's college costs. The parent, not the student, is responsible for repaying the PLUS loan. PLUS loans don't qualify for all of the income-driven repayment plans that student loans do.
Parental financial support can send a message about the importance of education and inspire a student to work harder. In addition, these experts suggest that paying for a child's education is an investment in a child's future — giving them a shot at better career options.
So, should parents pay for college? The answer isn't necessarily “yes” or “no” –– it could be somewhere in the middle. You may not feel like you should be expected to cover all the expenses associated with your kid's college, but the hard truth is that college tuition costs much more today than it used to.
Another pro is that there are no minimum credit score requirements. While there is a credit check, so long as parents meet the adverse credit requirements, they stand a reasonably good chance of being approved for a parent PLUS Loan.
Why a Parent PLUS Loan Might Be Denied. If your Parent PLUS Loan was rejected, it may be because you don't meet the credit requirements. PLUS borrowers can't have an adverse credit history, such as being at least 90 days overdue in making a debt payment or completing bankruptcy in the last five years.
To be eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan for parents, you must be a biological or adoptive parent (or in some cases a stepparent), not have an adverse credit history, and meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid (which the child must meet as well). Was this page helpful?