Can I get a Parent PLUS loan if not listed on financial aid offer? FAFSA confusion

The school doesn't decide if you can apply for a Parent PLUS loan - any biological or adoptive parent of a dependent undergraduate student can apply for one, regardless of whether it's listed in the aid package. Parent PLUS loans are federal loans that require a separate application process through studentaid.gov. The school's financial aid offer typically shows what you've qualified for through the FAFSA automatically, but PLUS loans require that additional step since they involve a credit check.\n\nIf you need the additional $14,000, you should definitely contact the financial aid office to let them know you plan to apply for a Parent PLUS loan. They can guide you through their specific process, but generally you'll need to:\n1. Complete a Parent PLUS loan application on studentaid.gov\n2. Complete a Parent PLUS loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)\n3. Notify the school's financial aid office of your application\n\nDon't assume you don't qualify just because it wasn't listed!

Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. I was panicking thinking we wouldn't be able to afford it after all. I'll get on studentaid.gov today and start the application. Should I wait until I'm approved before I contact the financial aid office, or let them know I'm applying?

OMG NO the school doesnt decide this!!! my son goes to state university and we had to ASK for the parent plus loan it wasnt even in his aid letter!!!! you apply separate on the fafsa website and then tell the school. don't worry!!

Thanks for letting me know! Did you have any issues with the application process? How long did it take to get approved?

it was pretty easy took like 20 mins maybe?? got approved right away since we have ok credit. just make sure you do the credit check part and then the promisary note part. both r required!!

Financial aid counselor here. To clarify what others have said: Parent PLUS loans are not automatically included in aid packages because they require a separate credit check and application. Some schools include them in packages as

Thank you for the detailed information! I wasn't aware of the origination fee - that's good to know so we can plan accordingly. I'll call the financial aid office tomorrow.

just wanted to add that we had the same issue w my daughters school last year. we called the fin aid office and they said to just apply on studentiad.gov and then they would process it when it came through. worked fine but took like 3 weeks to show up in her account which was stressful since tuition was due! so apply early

I had such a frustrating experience with this exact situation. My son's school didn't include Parent PLUS loans on his aid package, and when I tried calling the financial aid office to ask about it, I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to anyone. Constant busy signals, voicemails that were never returned, and automated systems that just disconnected me.\n\nI finally discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it was a game changer. They got me connected to a real person at the financial aid office within 10 minutes. The agent explained everything about the Parent PLUS loan process and even helped me start the application. There's a video that shows how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nAfter getting the right information, I was able to apply for the loan and get approved within 48 hours. The school processed it quickly once they knew I was applying. Don't waste days trying to reach financial aid offices like I did!

That sounds like exactly what I need! I've already tried calling once today and got stuck in the automated system for 20 minutes before giving up. I'll check out Claimyr - thanks for the recommendation!

BE CAREFUL with Parent PLUS loans!!! The interest rates are INSANE compared to student loans. We took one out last year and regret it so much. You might qualify for private loans with better rates depending on your credit score. Plus, if your daughter doesn't graduate for some reason, YOU'RE still responsible for the full amount. Just make sure you understand what you're signing up for.

This is a valid concern. Parent PLUS loans do have higher interest rates than Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans for students. However, they also come with federal protections that private loans don't offer, such as income-contingent repayment options (through consolidation), potential loan forgiveness programs, and deferment/forbearance options.\n\nAny borrowing decision should definitely involve comparing all available options. Some families may indeed find better rates through private lenders, especially if they have excellent credit.

Thank you for the warning. We'll definitely look into private loan options as well to compare rates. Did you try to refinance your PLUS loan after taking it out?

One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you get denied for the Parent PLUS loan due to adverse credit history, your daughter becomes eligible for additional unsubsidized loans in her own name (usually $4,000-$5,000 more per year depending on grade level). Some parents with bad credit actually intentionally apply and get rejected for this reason. Just thought I'd share another strategy!

also check if the school has a payment plan option! we use that + a smaller parent plus loan so we didnt have to borrow the full amount. its usualy 10 months of payments with no interest

That's a great idea! I'll definitely ask about payment plans when I talk to the financial aid office. Anything to reduce the amount we need to borrow would be helpful.

Just circling back to your original question - it's important to understand that there are two separate processes at work here:\n\n1. The FAFSA generates your SAI (Student Aid Index), which determines eligibility for grants, work-study, and direct student loans\n\n2. Parent PLUS loans require a separate application and credit check regardless of your FAFSA results\n\nWhile schools have discretion in how they award some aid types, Parent PLUS loans are available to virtually all parents of dependent undergraduates who don't have adverse credit history. The application is controlled by Federal Student Aid, not the individual school.\n\nI recommend applying as soon as possible so you have time to explore alternatives if needed. The process isn't difficult, but it does take time for all the paperwork to process through both Federal Student Aid and your daughter's school.

Thank you for the clarification! I feel much better now understanding that we have options. I'm going to start the application process today.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this exact situation last year! We were also confused when the Parent PLUS loan wasn't listed on our daughter's initial financial aid package. After applying through studentaid.gov (which really was straightforward), I'd recommend a few additional tips: 1. Apply early in the process - even before you've committed to the school if possible. The earlier you apply, the more time you have to explore other options if needed. 2. Keep copies of everything! The MPN (Master Promissory Note) and all confirmation emails. Our school's financial aid office asked for documentation multiple times. 3. Consider borrowing slightly less than the full gap amount if possible. We borrowed $12K instead of the full $15K we were short and found ways to cover the difference through work-study earnings and small family contributions. The whole process took about 2 weeks from application to having the funds show up in our daughter's student account. Don't stress too much - Parent PLUS loans are designed to help bridge exactly this kind of funding gap! Good luck with everything.

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a similar situation with my son's financial aid package - no Parent PLUS loan mentioned and we need about $12,000 to cover the gap. Reading everyone's experiences has been so reassuring, especially knowing that the school doesn't control who can apply for these loans. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about applying through studentaid.gov first, then contacting the financial aid office. The tip about payment plans is something I hadn't considered either - that could really help reduce how much we need to borrow. It's amazing how confusing the whole financial aid process can be, but communities like this make it so much easier to navigate. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

As someone new to this community and the financial aid process, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly informative discussion! My daughter just received her aid package yesterday and I was panicking when I didn't see Parent PLUS loans listed anywhere. Like the original poster, we have about a $13,000 gap to cover. Reading through all these responses has been like getting a crash course in Parent PLUS loans. I had no idea that schools don't control eligibility and that it requires a separate application process. The step-by-step breakdown from Tasia was particularly helpful - I've bookmarked studentaid.gov and plan to start the application this weekend. I'm also really grateful for the warnings about interest rates and the suggestion to compare with private loans. It's clear that while Parent PLUS loans offer federal protections, they're not necessarily the cheapest option available. The tip about payment plans is brilliant too - I'll definitely be asking about that when I contact the financial aid office. One question for those who've been through this: is there an optimal time to submit the Parent PLUS application in relation to when tuition bills are due? I want to make sure everything processes in time but don't want to apply too early either.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to echo what others have said about how incredibly helpful this discussion has been! I'm in almost the exact same situation - my daughter's financial aid package came yesterday with a $15,000 gap and no mention of Parent PLUS loans anywhere. I was honestly starting to panic and wonder if we'd made a mistake encouraging her to choose her dream school. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief. I had no idea that Parent PLUS loans required a separate application process - I thought if they weren't listed in the aid package, we weren't eligible. The detailed explanations about the application process on studentaid.gov and the timeline expectations have been invaluable. I'm particularly grateful for the balanced perspective on interest rates and the suggestion to compare with private loan options. It's clear that while Parent PLUS loans offer important federal protections, it's worth shopping around to make sure we're getting the best deal possible for our family's situation. The tip about payment plans is something I definitely want to explore too. Even if we can reduce the amount we need to borrow by a few thousand dollars through monthly payments, that would make a significant difference in our long-term financial commitment. Thank you all for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences - communities like this make navigating these complex financial aid processes so much less overwhelming!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly valuable this entire discussion has been! I'm facing the exact same situation with my son's financial aid package - we received it last week with about a $16,000 gap and absolutely no mention of Parent PLUS loans anywhere. Like many others here, I was starting to panic thinking we weren't eligible or that the school was somehow indicating we didn't qualify. Reading through everyone's detailed explanations has been such a relief and education. I had completely misunderstood how Parent PLUS loans work - I thought they would automatically be included in aid packages if we were eligible. Learning that it's a completely separate application process through studentaid.gov makes so much more sense now. The step-by-step guidance from Tasia and the practical timeline advice from others has given me the confidence to move forward. I'm planning to start the application process this weekend, and I'll definitely be calling the financial aid office to ask about payment plan options too. The tip about potentially borrowing less than the full gap amount is something I want to explore as well. I'm also really appreciative of the balanced perspectives on interest rates and the reminder to compare with private loan options. It's clear this community values making informed financial decisions, not just finding quick solutions. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative space for navigating these complex financial aid processes!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my heartfelt thanks for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I literally just joined because I was desperately searching for answers about Parent PLUS loans after receiving my daughter's aid package yesterday. We have a $13,500 gap and like so many others here, I was confused and worried when there was no mention of Parent PLUS loans anywhere in the package. This thread has been like finding a goldmine of practical advice and real experiences. The clarification that schools don't control Parent PLUS loan eligibility and that it requires a separate application through studentaid.gov was exactly what I needed to hear. I've already bookmarked the site and plan to start the application process tomorrow morning. What I find most valuable is how everyone has shared not just the "how" but also the "when" and "what to watch out for." The timing advice about applying early, the reminder about origination fees, the suggestion to compare with private loans, and especially the tip about payment plans - all of this gives me a complete picture of our options rather than just rushing into the first solution. I'm also grateful for the balanced perspective on borrowing strategies. The idea of potentially borrowing slightly less than the full gap and finding other ways to cover some costs is something I definitely want to explore with our family. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment for navigating these financial challenges. Communities like this make such a difference when you're trying to make the best decisions for your child's future!

As a newcomer to this community, I can't express how grateful I am for stumbling upon this thread! I received my son's financial aid package just this morning and was completely bewildered when I saw a $11,800 gap with no Parent PLUS loan option listed anywhere. I was literally googling "why no parent plus loan on financial aid package" when I found this discussion. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring and educational. I had no idea that Parent PLUS loans require a separate application process - I genuinely thought if they weren't included in the aid package, it meant we didn't qualify or the school didn't want us to have one. Learning that any parent can apply regardless of what's listed in the package is such a relief! The detailed walkthrough of the studentaid.gov application process and the realistic timelines everyone has shared give me confidence to move forward. I'm also really appreciative of the warnings about interest rates and the suggestion to explore private loan options for comparison. The payment plan idea is brilliant too - I never would have thought to ask about that. What strikes me most about this community is how everyone shares not just solutions, but practical wisdom about timing, potential pitfalls, and strategic thinking about borrowing amounts. I'm planning to start the Parent PLUS application this week and will definitely be calling the financial aid office to discuss all our options. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space for navigating these complex financial decisions!