Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan is designed to help pay for educational expenses not covered by other financial aid. Texas A&M advises students to use their federal, direct loans first before utilizing Graduate PLUS loans. Award amounts are not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Students are eligible for this loan up to their Cost of Attendance less any other aid already accepted.

Eligibility

How to Apply

The 2024-2025 Graduate PLUS loan application is currently available on the Federal Student Aid website.

Graduate PLUS loans are based on credit, therefore in order to apply:

Log onto the Federal Student Aid website.
Sign in using your FSA ID.
Under “Apply for Aid”, Click on "Apply for a Plus Loan".
Select Direct PLUS Loan Request for Graduate/Professional Student Borrowers.
Follow through all steps of the application and submit.
You will receive an instant credit decision after submitting the application.

If approved:

Complete the PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Graduate/Professional Students on the Federal Student Aid website.
Complete Graduate/Professional Direct Loan Entrance Counseling on the Federal Student Aid website.
Texas A&M University will receive your approved application and award the Graduate PLUS Loan.

If denied:

You can appeal the denial on the Federal Student Aid website.
You can obtain an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history.
- If your loan is later approved, Texas A&M University will receive your approved application and award the Graduate PLUS Loan upon completion of the required Endorser Addendum, Plus Credit Counseling, and Plus Loan (MPN).

Interest Rates and Origination Fees

The Department of Education announces the interest rates for federal PLUS loans by July 1 of each year. Interest rates could be different each year for any new loans. The interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan.

Interest rates for Direct Graduate PLUS loans

First Disbursement Date	Fixed Interest Rate
On July 1, 2024, and before July 1, 2025	9.08%

Origination Fees for Direct Graduate PLUS loans

First Disbursement Date	Origination Fee
On or after October 1, 2024, and before October 1, 2025	4.228%

How to Request an Increase

To increase your Graduate PLUS loan, you will need to follow these steps:

Login to the Federal Student Aid website.
Sign in using FSA ID
Under "Apply for Aid", select “Apply for a Grad PLUS Loan”
Start application
Select award year
Under reason for Direct PLUS Loan request, select “Change”.
Select the PLUS loan application you want to increase.
Enter new total loan amount
- Example: If your original loan was for $5,000, and you need an additional $2,000, you need to enter $7,000 as the new total. If you enter a number that is LESS than your existing loan, this will be processed as a DECREASE.
Submit request

Once submitted, the request will be processed within 1-3 business days. If submitted within 180 days of the original application, a new credit check will not be required.

Repayment

...