When can we apply for Parent PLUS and Direct loans for Fall 2025 after completing FAFSA?

jst finished mine too! pretty sure u cant do the plus loan til later like spring maybe? my older kid did college last yr and we had to wait for the school to send something first b4 we could do the loans part

You actually can't apply for Parent PLUS or Direct Loans until your daughter receives her financial aid package from the schools she's applied to. Here's the general timeline: 1. Complete FAFSA (which you've done) 2. Wait for schools to calculate financial aid packages (typically March-April 2025) 3. Review aid packages and determine how much you need to borrow 4. THEN apply for the loans through studentaid.gov The loan application process for 2025-2026 typically opens around May-June 2025. You'll need your daughter's school to confirm her Cost of Attendance first, as this determines maximum loan eligibility.

WAIT SO ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE AFTER FAFSA????? i thought the FAFSA *WAS* the loan application!!! omg no one tells you ANYTHING about this process!!! my son's going to college next fall and i'm completely LOST on what we're supposed to be doing!

My daughter started college last year, and we had to wait until June to apply for the Parent PLUS loan. The timing was actually perfect because by then we knew exactly how much we needed to borrow after scholarships and grants were applied. The actual application only took like 15 minutes online.

Yes, there's a credit check for the Parent PLUS loan, but it's done instantly online when you apply. As long as you don't have adverse credit history, you should be approved right away. Just make sure you're logged into studentaid.gov with YOUR account (parent's), not your student's account when you apply for PLUS loans.

If a parent is denied for the PLUS loan due to adverse credit history (which generally means things like accounts in collections, bankruptcy, or severely delinquent payments in the last 2 years), there are two options: 1. Use an endorser (similar to a co-signer) 2. Appeal by documenting extenuating circumstances If neither works, your student becomes eligible for additional Unsubsidized Direct Loan amounts. They'd need to contact their financial aid office to request this increased eligibility. The best approach is to complete the FAFSA early (which you've done), then wait for aid offers, and apply for loans about 3-4 months before the fall term starts.

Just wanted to add - if anyone is struggling with getting through to FSA agents on the phone about any of this, I recently used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual human. Saved me hours of hold time and disconnected calls. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with confirmed that Parent PLUS applications for Fall 2025 will open around May/June 2025, and they recommended waiting until you have your financial aid award letters before applying.

One important thing nobody mentioned - make sure you and your daughter know the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized Direct loans! My son didn't understand this at first and it makes a BIG difference. Subsidized = no interest while in school. Unsubsidized = interest accumulates the whole time. Parent PLUS loans always accumulate interest from day one and have the highest rates of all federal loans.

ya n also the interest rates for next yr might b different right? does ne1 know when they announce the new rates for fall 2025 loans?