Can I get Parent PLUS loans for 2 kids in college at the same time? Ex-husband refusing to help

Yes, you can definitely get Parent PLUS loans for multiple children simultaneously! The annual limit for Parent PLUS loans is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received, so theoretically you can borrow enough for both kids. But be careful - interest rates are currently around 8.05% and they start accruing immediately. Make sure your children maximize their direct subsidized/unsubsidized loans first since those have better terms.

Thank you! That's a huge relief. Do you know if they'll check my debt-to-income ratio for the second loan? I'm worried that once I have the first Parent PLUS loan, I might not qualify for the second one for my son next year.

I did exactly this for my twins!! its totally possible but OMG the paperwork is CRAZY!!! make sure u get both FAFSAs done super early bc they'll need to process both kids separately... i messed up and did them too late last year and almost didn't get approved for the second one!

Oh that's helpful! I'll definitely submit early. Did you have to do separate credit checks for each child's loans?

yep they did a new credit check each year for each kid! so annoying lol. but as long as u dont have any defaults or 90-day late payments in last 2 yrs ur probably fine. they dont care about debt-to-income like regular loans do!!!

Let me clarify a few important points about Parent PLUS loans for multiple students:\n\n1. Yes, you can borrow for multiple children simultaneously\n2. The limit per child is the Cost of Attendance minus other aid\n3. There is NO aggregate limit for Parent PLUS loans\n4. Each loan requires a separate credit check\n5. They only check for adverse credit history (defaults, bankruptcies, foreclosures), not debt-to-income ratio\n\nHowever, I strongly recommend exploring other options first. Have your children completed the FAFSA to see what federal grants and subsidized loans they qualify for? Also, has your daughter applied for scholarships? Taking on Parent PLUS debt for multiple children can be financially devastating long-term.

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! Both kids have completed their FAFSAs, but we didn't qualify for much in grants. My daughter got a small merit scholarship from Berkeley, but it only covers about $8,000 per year. Both will take their full direct subsidized/unsubsidized loans, but that still leaves a big gap. I'm definitely worried about the long-term debt burden.

just want to say ur ex is a TOTAL JERK for not helping!! my ex pulled the same garbage and i ended up with 87K in parent plus loans while he bought a boat 🙄 make sure u get something in writing if he ever promises to help pay anything!!

Ugh, I'm sorry you went through that too. It's so frustrating! We actually do have something in our divorce agreement about splitting college costs, but he's claiming he

definitely talk to ur lawyer!! mine said i could take him back to court for violating our agreement but by then i was so tired of fighting i just gave up... don't be me lol

If I were u id make sure ur kids are maximizing their own loans first, the federal direct loans. Those are in THEIR names not yours. They each can get like $5,500 freshman yr, $6,500 soph yr, and $7,500 junior/senior yrs. Then only use Parent PLUS for whats left. My daughter graduated last yr and I'm still paying off her Parent PLUS loans... wish I'd made different choices tbh

This is excellent advice. I'd add that your children should also look into work-study programs if they qualify based on their FAFSA. Additionally, many schools have payment plans that allow you to spread the cost over the academic year instead of paying in lump sums, which might reduce how much you need to borrow.

Thank you both! Yes, my daughter already has work-study as part of her financial aid package, and they're both planning to take their maximum student loans. Berkeley does have a payment plan, but it still requires the full year's payment within 9 months, which is still too much for me to handle out of pocket.

Have you tried contacting the financial aid offices directly? When I had similar issues getting Parent PLUS loans for multiple children, I was incredibly frustrated with the automated systems and generic emails. After WEEKS of trying to get through on the phone to Federal Student Aid, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an actual human at the FSA office in less than 20 minutes! The agent was able to explain exactly how the Parent PLUS loan process works for multiple dependents and helped resolve my credit check issues. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

I hadn't heard of that service before! I've been trying to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid for days with no luck. I'll definitely check out Claimyr - at this point I just need to talk to a real person who can answer my specific questions. Thanks for the recommendation!

omg i wish i knew about this last year!!! spent HOURS on hold and got disconnected like 5 times trying to fix my parent plus application 😤

The system is COMPLETELY BROKEN when parents have to go into massive debt just to send their kids to college!!! I took out Parent PLUS loans for both my kids and now I'm 62 with $147,000 in debt and can't retire. They don't even qualify for most forgiveness programs! And the interest rates are CRIMINAL. Sorry for the rant but please think very carefully before you sign up for these loans.

That's terrifying. I'm 45 so I'd be paying these off well into my late 50s at least. Are there any forgiveness options at all for Parent PLUS? Or refinancing options that make sense?

There are very limited forgiveness options for Parent PLUS loans. They're not eligible for income-based repayment plans unless you consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan and then use Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR), which isn't as generous as the plans available for student borrowers. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is possible if you work in qualifying employment, but that requires 10 years of payments while working full-time in public service.

And even if you DO qualify for PSLF the paperwork is a NIGHTMARE and they reject people for the tiniest mistakes. I've been trying for 2 years to get mine approved.

One strategy to consider: have your children transfer to their target schools after doing 2 years at a community college. This could save you tens of thousands in Parent PLUS loans. The degree will still be from Berkeley or Oregon State, but the cost would be dramatically reduced. Community college credits transfer pretty seamlessly in both California and Oregon through their state systems.

That's actually a really smart idea for future reference. Unfortunately my daughter has already accepted at Berkeley and put down her deposit, and she received a merit scholarship that wouldn't be available if she transferred later. But I might talk to my son about this option since he hasn't started yet. Thank you!

Hey just checking in - were u able to figure this out? Did u try calling the FSA office?

Yes! I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid (used that Claimyr service someone recommended above - worked great). They confirmed I can get Parent PLUS loans for both kids as long as I pass the credit check each year. I also spoke with a financial aid counselor at Berkeley who suggested some additional scholarship opportunities my daughter can apply for. Still going to be expensive, but at least I understand the process better now. Thanks everyone for your help!

Glad to hear you got some clarity on the process! Just wanted to add one more thing for anyone else reading this thread - make sure to keep detailed records of all your Parent PLUS loan documents and payments. The servicers can be pretty disorganized and I've had friends who had to prove payments they'd already made. Also, if your financial situation changes significantly (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), you can request deferment or forbearance on Parent PLUS loans, though interest will keep accruing. It's not ideal but it's better than defaulting. Good luck with both kids' college journeys!

I'm new to navigating Parent PLUS loans and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that I found it useful to create a timeline/calendar for when to submit each application. Since the credit checks are valid for 180 days, timing can be important if you're applying for multiple children in different academic years. Also, for anyone worried about the debt burden (which is totally valid!), some schools offer emergency aid or additional institutional grants for families experiencing unexpected financial hardship - it's worth reaching out to the financial aid office to ask about these options. They're not always well-publicized but can sometimes bridge funding gaps without taking on more loan debt.