FAFSA Parent PLUS Loan application only showing 2023-2024 option - can't find 2024-2025
I'm trying to help my daughter complete her financial aid by applying for a Parent PLUS loan, but I'm stuck. When I log into studentaid.gov and go to apply for the PLUS loan, I can only select the 2023-2024 academic year. There's no option anywhere for 2024-2025! I've checked everywhere in my account and even tried logging out and back in again. Anyone else having this problem or know how to access the application for next year? Her college is sending emails about deadlines coming up soon, so I'm getting really nervous about missing something important.
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Nia Davis
The 2024-2025 Parent PLUS loan application typically opens around May 1st, so it's not available yet. Don't worry - your daughter's college is probably just sending early reminders so you'll be prepared. You'll need to wait a few weeks before the new application year becomes available on studentaid.gov. Just make sure you have an FSA ID set up for both you and your daughter, and that your daughter has completed her FAFSA for 2024-2025 already.
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Luca Ferrari
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. Her school's email made it sound urgent, so I was panicking. She has completed her FAFSA, but I wasn't sure about the next steps. So I just need to wait until May?
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Mateo Martinez
I had the exact same issue last year! The timing for the PLUS loan applications is different from the FAFSA submission dates. The Department of Education staggers the releases to manage their system load. Your daughter's school is probably sending early notifications because some parents don't realize the PLUS loan is a separate application from the FAFSA. Just keep checking back in late April/early May.
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QuantumQueen
•do we have to fill out the plus loan every year? my son is going to be a sophomore next year and i already did one last year
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Aisha Rahman
NOBODY TELLS YOU THIS STUFF!! Why do they make everything so complicated?? This is my third kid in college and I still get confused every single year with deadlines and which forms go where. The financial aid office at my daughter's school told me I needed to apply NOW or she wouldn't get her housing assignment. So frustrating!
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Ethan Wilson
•same experience here. my daughter's school said we needed everything done by March 15 but when i called they meant just the FAFSA part not the loans part. its so confusing!!!
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Yuki Sato
If you're trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid to confirm the exact date when the 2024-2025 Parent PLUS application will be available, good luck getting through on their regular number. After being disconnected three times, I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual FSA agent in about 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The agent confirmed that the new PLUS loan application will open April 28th this year, earlier than the usual May 1st. Apparently they're trying to space things out better.
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Luca Ferrari
•Thank you for that specific date! I'll mark it on my calendar. And thanks for the tip about Claimyr - I've been trying to call FSA about another issue with my daughter's verification process and keep getting disconnected too.
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Carmen Flores
Just to add some important details about Parent PLUS loans that often cause confusion: 1. You must complete a new application EACH academic year 2. The Parent PLUS application requires a credit check (unlike the regular FAFSA) 3. If approved, you'll need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) separately 4. The Parent PLUS loan is in the PARENT'S name only, not the student's 5. Disbursement dates are determined by your specific school Also worth noting that interest rates may change for 2024-2025 loans compared to previous years. Current projections suggest rates could be around 8.05%, though this hasn't been officially announced yet.
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Luca Ferrari
•This is super helpful! I didn't realize we'd need to do a new credit check each year. Do you know if they look at the same credit criteria every time? My credit score has dropped a bit because we just bought a new car.
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QuantumQueen
i went thru this last month for my son at state university. his school financial aid office told me they need the fafsa NOW but the plus loan later. the email they sent was super confusing tho!!!!! also make sure you know what your efc/sai is before you apply for the plus because you might not need as much as you think
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Nia Davis
•Great point about checking your SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) first. The amount you're eligible to borrow through Parent PLUS can be up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received, but you shouldn't borrow more than necessary given the interest rates.
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Mateo Martinez
Update from my daughter's financial aid office: They told me the 2024-2025 Parent PLUS application will be available starting April 28th, 2024. So just a couple more weeks to wait. I also asked about whether my daughter needed to complete any additional forms for her school specifically, and they said yes - many schools have their own supplemental forms beyond the federal requirements, so it's worth checking your portal or contacting your financial aid office directly.
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Luca Ferrari
•This is super helpful! I just checked her student portal and there IS a school-specific financial aid form that wasn't mentioned in any of the emails. Going to complete that today - thank you for the reminder!
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