Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

• Complete the FAFSA for that academic year
• Meet all federal aid eligibility requirements
• Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program
• Be enrolled in at least 1.5 Dickinson College credits
• Meet all requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

• Be the biological, adoptive, or stepparent of a qualifying dependent undergraduate student. 
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (permanent resident). 
• Not have any adverse credit history and remain in good standing on any federal aid. 
  • If you do have adverse credit history, additional qualifications may be required. 
• Meet all the general eligibility requirements set forth by the Department of Education.

Once your application is approved and processed by Federal Student Aid (FSA), it will be sent directly to us. First-time parent borrowers are required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan. The note must be signed before the loan can be disbursed onto the student's account. More information on the Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan approval and application process can be found here. 

If your Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan is denied, here are four options you may consider:

• Obtain an Endorser

  • If you get an adverse credit result, you can still qualify for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan if you get an endorser. If you go this route, you'll also have to complete PLUS Credit Counseling. 
    • An Endorser is someone who does not have adverse credit history and agrees to pay back the loan if you do not. 

• File an Appeal

  • If you get an adverse credit result, you can file an appeal to ask for additional review. If you go this route, you'll also have to complete PLUS Credit Counseling. 
    • Appeal reasons:
      • An error was made
      • Important information was missing
      • The data used to determine your approval was out of date. 

    • These kinds of situations are called “extenuating circumstances.” For example, maybe there were errors in your credit reporting data. Or maybe your adverse credit result was based on accounts that don’t belong to you. Or you could have been a victim of identity theft. Find more examples of what counts as an extenuating circumstance.

      When you file your appeal, you’ll need to provide documents to support your case. These documents should prove your extenuating circumstances and show that you’re taking steps to resolve your adverse accounts. You can find explanations of what kinds of documents you’d need under each example of an extenuating circumstance at the link above.

      You can file an appeal online. If you can’t file online, reach out to our contact center at 1-800-433-3243. If your appeal is approved and you complete PLUS Credit Counseling, your school will let you know if you are eligible for a loan.

• Get additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

  • If you’re a parent and you’re unable to get a Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan, your child may be able to get additional unsubsidized loan funds.

    Normally, a dependent student can’t get as much unsubsidized loan funding as an independent student can. But when you’re denied for a parent PLUS loan, the school may offer your child the higher maximum amount of unsubsidized loans that is otherwise available only to independent students. Find info about Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and how they differ from subsidized loans.

• Talk to the Office of Financial Aid at Dickinson College about other options

  • Schedule a meeting with your student's financial aid counselor. We may be able to provide additional options to assist with your billed costs.