Parent PLUS Loan application for 2025-2026 not showing up in dropdown menu
Trying to get ahead on my daughter's college funding and hitting a roadblock with the Parent PLUS loan application. When I go to studentaid.gov and try to apply for a Parent PLUS loan, the dropdown menu for academic year only shows options up to 2024-2025, but nothing for 2025-2026. Has anyone else noticed this? Is there a specific date when they update the system for the next academic year? My daughter will be starting her sophomore year and I want to make sure we have everything lined up before the rush. Thanks!
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KylieRose
Same here!! Been trying since last week and the 2025-2026 option isnt there yet. Super frustrating when ur trying to plan ahead
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Aaliyah Jackson
•Glad I'm not the only one! Have you tried calling the FSA to ask about it? I tried once but gave up after being on hold for 30 minutes.
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Miguel Hernández
Parent PLUS loan applications for the 2025-2026 academic year typically become available after the FAFSA for that year has been processed. The FAFSA for 2025-2026 should be available October 1, 2024, and the Parent PLUS application usually follows a few weeks after. So you're actually pretty early in trying to access it now - it's not supposed to be available yet.
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Aaliyah Jackson
•Thank you for clarifying! That makes sense. So I should wait until after October to even look for it? I was worried because last year we had some issues with the PLUS loan application and I wanted to avoid last-minute problems.
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Sasha Ivanov
you can't apply for 2025-2026 loans until the FAFSA for that year is out. they don't put the year in the dropdown until the application is actually open for business. just how the system works
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Liam Murphy
•Actually the Parent PLUS loan application typically becomes available a few weeks AFTER the FAFSA opens, not on the exact same date. They stagger the releases to manage system load. Just to clarify.
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Amara Okafor
I worked in a college financial aid office for 8 years and I can confirm that the Parent PLUS loan application for the 2025-2026 academic year won't be available until after the FAFSA opens (Oct 1, 2024). However, even after the FAFSA is available, there's usually a delay of 3-4 weeks before the PLUS loan application is updated with the new year option. This is normal and happens every year. If you're concerned about planning ahead, what you CAN do now is check your credit reports to ensure there are no issues that might cause a PLUS loan denial. Also, gather your financial documents like tax returns that you'll need for both the FAFSA and PLUS applications.
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Aaliyah Jackson
•Thank you so much for the detailed explanation! That's very helpful. I'll definitely check my credit reports in the meantime. Do you happen to know if they've made any significant changes to the Parent PLUS application process for 2025-2026 compared to previous years?
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Amara Okafor
•As of now, there haven't been any announced major changes to the Parent PLUS application process for 2025-2026. The basic requirements (credit check, relationship to student, FAFSA completion) should remain the same. However, with the FAFSA Simplification Act changes still rolling out, there could be some adjustments to the interface or process. I'd recommend checking studentaid.gov periodically for announcements.
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CaptainAwesome
i had this EXACT problem last year trying to get my sons plus loan!!! the whole system is designed to make us fail i swear. i spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone at FSA and when i finally did they just told me what everyone else is saying - you have to wait for the new application cycle. sooo annoying when youre trying to be responsible and plan ahead!!!!!
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Yuki Tanaka
•If you're having trouble reaching someone at Federal Student Aid by phone, you might want to try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I discovered it last semester when dealing with verification issues and it helped me get through to an actual person within minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ It's especially useful for time-sensitive issues like PLUS loan applications once they do become available. Just thought I'd share since the phone system is so frustrating!
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CaptainAwesome
•omg thank you!!! will check this out for sure. last time i literally had to take a day off work just to sit on hold 🤬
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Liam Murphy
To add some clarity here: The Parent PLUS loan application cycle follows the FAFSA cycle. For the 2025-2026 academic year: 1. FAFSA becomes available: October 1, 2024 2. Parent PLUS application typically becomes available: Late October/Early November 2024 3. Processing begins: Immediately upon submission The reason you don't see 2025-2026 in the dropdown is because the Department of Education hasn't opened that application period yet. This is intentional to prevent confusion with loans for different academic years. Your timeline is actually quite early - most parents don't begin the PLUS loan process until spring/summer before the academic year begins.
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Aaliyah Jackson
•This timeline is really helpful, thank you! I'm trying to be proactive this year since we had some issues with timing last year that caused stress for everyone. I'll mark my calendar for early November to check the PLUS loan application.
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KylieRose
Does anyone know if the intrest rates will be higher for 2025-2026? My son graduates next yr and we've already taken out 3 parent plus loans I'm worried the rates will go up again
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Amara Okafor
•Interest rates for federal student loans, including Parent PLUS loans, are set each year based on the 10-Year Treasury Note auction in May, plus a fixed add-on rate. The new rates take effect July 1 each year. For 2025-2026 loans, the rates won't be known until after the May 2025 auction. However, they are capped by law and cannot exceed 10.5% for Parent PLUS loans. Given current economic projections, there's speculation rates might stabilize, but no one can predict for certain.
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Aaliyah Jackson
Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better knowing this is just normal timing and not a glitch in the system. I'll wait until November to check again for the 2025-2026 option and focus on getting our financial documents organized in the meantime. I appreciate all your insights!
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Mateo Martinez
•You're so welcome! It's great to see someone being proactive about college funding. One additional tip - when the PLUS loan application does open in November, try to submit it as early as possible. Even though there's no deadline per se, processing times can get longer during peak periods (like right before school starts). Also, if you happen to get denied for any reason, you'll have more time to explore alternatives like getting an endorser or appealing the decision. Good luck with everything!
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Ezra Bates
Just wanted to chime in as another parent going through this process! I'm planning ahead for my twin daughters who will be juniors next year, and I was having the same confusion about the 2025-2026 option not being available. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there was such a specific timeline for when these applications open. I'm definitely going to use this time to get organized with all our financial documents and check our credit reports like Amara suggested. It's reassuring to know that being "early" is actually a good thing, even if it means waiting a few more months!
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Summer Green
•That's so smart to plan ahead for twins - I can only imagine the financial coordination that requires! One thing I learned from going through this process is to also consider setting up FSA IDs for both daughters if you haven't already (they'll need their own separate ones). It can take a few days to get them verified, so doing it now while you're in planning mode could save time later when the applications actually open.
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