There is no deadline for the Parent PLUS loan (minus that it needs to be applied to prior to the end of the academic year). You can apply for the loan throughout the academic year. I would more check when the bill needs to be satisfied by, aka a plan (loan, payment plan, etc.) in place.
Completing the Online Application: (Note: The online PLUS application for 2024-2025 should not be submitted before June 1, 2024.) You may apply for a Direct PLUS Loan at www.studentaid.gov. If you have problems with the online application you can contact Direct Loan Applicant Services at 1-800-557-7394 for assistance.
If you're a parent or graduate student seeking a Direct PLUS Loan, one of the requirements to qualify is that you must not have an adverse credit history. If your application is denied because of an adverse credit history, don't give up. You still have options.
PLUS loans do not have a grace period; but if you received a PLUS loan as a graduate or professional student, you'll automatically get a six-month deferment after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. No payments are required during this six-month deferment period.
Repayment of Parent PLUS Loans begins once the loan is fully disbursed to the school. You can request deferment on repayment, but interest will accrue during that time. Refinancing could lower your interest rate and change your repayment length.
Parent PLUS loans can potentially be forgiven after 10 years under specific conditions, such as through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program after consolidation into a direct consolidation loan. Parent borrowers must enroll in the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan to qualify for PSLF.
How to Use the Double Consolidation Loophole: The key to using the double consolidation loophole is to consolidate each of your Parent PLUS Loans twice. In this scenario, a borrower can have as few as two Parent PLUS Loans.
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).
What Are Some Reasons to Avoid PLUS Loans? First, PLUS loans have no automatic grace period. Then there's the fact they aren't eligible for most IDR plans. Then, borrowing too much is easy to do, and finally, they're nearly impossible to get out of, even in bankruptcy.
Unlike all other federal student loans, there are no explicit borrowing limits for parent PLUS loans. Parents may borrow up to the full cost of attendance, which is determined by the institution, not the government, and includes books, travel and living expenses. There are no ability-to-repay standards for PLUS loans.
You, the parent borrower, are legally responsible for repaying the loan.
Earliest disbursement time
One-half of the Parent PLUS Loan is disbursed during the fall and the second half during the spring. Plan ahead and request the full amount you will need for the entire academic year. Increases are limited to one per semester.
(Note: The online PLUS application for 2025-2026 should not be submitted before June 1, 2025.) You may apply for a Direct PLUS Loan at studentaid.gov. If you have problems with the online application process you can contact Direct Loan Applicant Services at 1-800-433-3243 for assistance.
Note: You can request an increase in the amount of a Direct PLUS Loan you previously requested if it's for the same school, same award year, and same student. The loan can't exceed the cost of attendance (COA) minus other aid.
You must complete a Direct PLUS Application for each year you wish to receive a parent PLUS loan.
No minimum credit score is needed to get a parent PLUS loan. Federal loans aren't like private parent student loans, which use your credit score to determine whether you qualify and what interest rate you'll receive. But parent PLUS loans do have a credit check, and you won't qualify if you have adverse credit history.
Eligibility for Federal Parent PLUS Loans
Dependent student must be making satisfactory academic progress, such as maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in college. Parent and dependent student aren't in default on a federal student loan or grant overpayment.
The $100,000 Loophole.
With a larger below-market loan, the $100,000 loophole can save you from unwanted tax results. To qualify for this loophole, all outstanding loans between you and the borrower must aggregate to $100,000 or less.
If you've been denied a Parent PLUS loan because of an adverse credit history, you can qualify for the loan if you obtain an endorser. An endorser is like a cosigner. The endorser agrees to repay the PLUS loan if the parent defaults or is otherwise unable to repay the debt.
Parent PLUS Loan borrowers can have their debt forgiven after 10 years of working full-time for the government, nonprofit, or other qualifying employers. For the past year, retired public servants could submit an application to get retroactive credit towards the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Based on the information from Federal Student Aid, as of 2022, the average Parent PLUS Loan debt is $29,528. Although that might not sound like a huge amount, it depends on the parent's income.
What happens to my parent's PLUS loan if my parent dies or if I die? Your parent's PLUS loan will be discharged if your parent dies or if you (the student on whose behalf your parent obtained the loan) die.
Generally, you'll have from 10 to 25 years to repay your loan, depending on the repayment plan that you choose. Your required monthly payment amount will vary depending on how much you borrowed, the interest rates on your loans, and your repayment plan. Choose a repayment plan that best meets your needs.