Loan Limit
You do not have to demonstrate financial need to borrow a PLUS Loan. The maximum amount you can borrow through the PLUS program equals the cost of attendance (COA) minus any other financial aid awarded to your son or daughter for the current academic year. If you are approved for a PLUS loan, UMGC will offer a loan in the amount of $10,000 or the difference between the COA and all other awarded financial aid, whichever is lower.
Note: You do not have to borrow the full amount of the PLUS Loan offered. If you would like to decrease the amount of the loan, your son or daughter can do so through MyUMGC.
Loan Terms
The interest rate for PLUS loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2023, and on or before June 30, 2024, is 8.05 percent. A 4.228 percent origination fee will be deducted by the U.S. Department of Education from the total of your loan before it is disbursed to your student account.
Master Promissory Note
First-time PLUS borrowers are required to complete an MPN. You will only need to complete this once, unless your loan is approved with an endorser. Endorsed loan borrowers must complete a new MPN for each new endorsed loan. Complete your MPN here.
Disbursement
The Bursar’s Office will credit loan proceeds to the student’s account to pay tuition and other university charges. Remaining funds will refund to you or (with your permission) directly to the student. If you would like to allow the refund to go directly to your son or daughter, you can indicate your preference at the time you complete the PLUS loan application.
Repayment
The repayment period for principal and interest begins after the loan has been fully disbursed. For example, a loan covering the fall and spring terms will enter repayment after the disbursement for the spring term. The first payment becomes due within 60 days after the final loan disbursement of loan proceeds for an academic year.
You will have three repayment options:
- The standard repayment plan requires even monthly payments of at least $50 over a fixed period of up to 10 years. This plan usually results in the lowest total interest paid because the repayment period is shorter than under the other plans.
- The extended repayment plan allows loan repayment over a period of up to 25 years, depending on the total amount borrowed. You still pay a fixed amount each month (at least $50), but the monthly payments usually will be less than under the standard repayment plan. This may make the repayment more manageable; however, usually you will pay more interest because the repayment period is longer.
- The graduated repayment plan allows payments to start out low and increase every two years. Your monthly payments must be at least half of what you would pay under standard repayment. The repayment period is up to 10 years, depending on the total amount borrowed. Again, you may find it easier to manage the lower monthly payments; however, you will pay more interest because the repayment period will be longer.
Note: You can prepay all or a portion of your loan at any time without penalty.
Deferment
If your Direct PLUS loan was first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008, you may defer payment on the loan while the student for whom you obtained it is enrolled at least half time, and for an additional six months after the student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment. You must request each deferment period separately.
If you're a parent PLUS borrower who is also a student, you can defer repayment while you're enrolled in school at least half time for an additional six months after you graduate or drop below half-time enrollment for Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008.
Additional Information on Borrowing
You can estimate your monthly payments with various repayment plans using repayment calculators available online from the U.S. Department of Education. The site also contains information on consolidating your PLUS loan(s) with other personal loans or discharging your loan under specific circumstances.
If you need additional information about the terms and conditions of borrowing a PLUS loan, please visit the Department of Education. You can also call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243.