Federal Parent PLUS Loan Process

Parents wishing to borrow the Parent PLUS Loan must be U.S. citizens, may be biological, adoptive, or stepparent of the dependent student, and do not have to be the same parent used on the FAFSA – though they likely will become the FAFSA parent in subsequent years based on their support of the student's education.

Parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus all other financial aid the student will receive. The remaining cost of attendance is available through the Bearcat Portal that will move a student through Catalyst.

1. Go to the Financial Aid section of the Portal.
2. Hit "Manage Financial Aid" and then "View Financial Aid."
3. Select the year you wish to review.
4. Use the "Financial Aid Summary" link toward the bottom of the display to see your cost of attendance, aid summary, and remaining financial need. Your maximum PLUS eligibility is your cost of attendance minus your aid.

Families can use their bill with their financial aid offer to calculate a PLUS amount to meet billed costs. Also, you can contact Enrollment Services at 513-556-1000 or enrollmentservices@uc.edu to help determine a Parent PLUS Loan amount, particularly if you are targeting specific costs to be met with the loan.

Federal loans have an origination fee, and the loan's interest rate is set annually for the life of the loan and begins accruing on the date of the first loan disbursement. Repayment on the loan begins 60 days after the final payment of that year's loan, though a deferment option can be exercised. Further information about repayment and deferment options will be sent to you from the assigned Direct Loan Servicer.

The Federal Parent PLUS Loan, unlike student loans, is credit-based. The borrower will be reviewed for adverse credit including past credit on-time payment history.  

The Federal Parent PLUS Loan process begins at studentaid.gov where the parent will log on using their Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. 

1. Complete credit check for loan approval.
   • Click on the tab that says "Parent" and select "Apply for a PLUS Loan." 
   • Fill out the application and submit. 
   • For amount you can specify an amount to borrow for the year or indicate "maximum eligibility."
   • Credit check information is only valid for 90 days.  
   • Limited options are available if the loan is denied based on credit. 
     
     
2. Sign a PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN)*.
   • When approved, follow the links for the MPN, or go to studentaid.gov and tab "Parent" to use the link that says "Complete a Master Promissory Note for a Parent PLUS Loan."
   • Complete the MPN providing all required information.
   • Electronically sign your MPN using your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. 
     

UC will be informed of your loan approval and completion of the MPN. Student Financial Aid will then process the Parent PLUS Loan that will show as part of the student's award offer. The amount of the loan will be based on the amount requested on the MPN or the maximum eligibility, whichever is lower. It is then certified by UC and set for disbursement at the appropriate time. This process of awarding and certifying the loan can take up to 10 business days following the completion of the parent's process at studentaid.gov.

In cases of increases or decreases to a Parent PLUS Loan already certified by UC and showing on the award offer, please contact Enrollment Services.

PLUS credit counseling is available at studentaid.gov.  PLUS credit counseling may be completed voluntarily at any time by the parent borrower. 

PLUS credit counseling is required if the U.S. Department of Education has informed you that you have an adverse credit history and you obtained an endorser or documented to the satisfaction of the Department that there are extenuating circumstances related to your adverse credit history. In these cases, your Parent PLUS Loan will not disburse until the counseling requirement is met.

This additional federal counseling is to help new borrowers understand the conditions of their loan and for existing borrowers to acknowledge their current balance on federal loans prior to taking out additional loans. It is not a requirement but can be very helpful for borrowers.

The annual student loan acknowledgement is available to complete at studentaid.gov/asla/.

* Because an MPN is a multi-year loan agreement, parent borrowers who have an active MPN on file with that student will not need to complete a new MPN following new loan approval.