How to Apply for the Parent PLUS Loan

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A Four-Step Process

Parents of dependent students who have submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) seek additional help in paying for their students' education, may borrow from the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Program.

Parents of new students may only apply for a Parent PLUS Loan

• After their student's Penn State Access Account has been activated (at FTCAP or through a Penn State Access Account Signature Station)
• And he or she grants the parent access to the Parent PLUS Request Form on eLion

Applying for a Parent PLUS Loan is a four-step process. The parent-borrower must:

1. Create a Friends of Penn State Account
2. Gain access to the PLUS Request Form
3. Complete the PLUS Request Form
4. Sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Step 1: Create a Friends of Penn State (FPS) Account

If you don’t already have one, create a FPS account at eLion.

Choose "Parent/Other" from the box on the left side, then "Create an account."

Fill out and submit the form to be assigned a Friends of Penn State User ID.

Step 2: Gain Access to the PLUS Request Form

Your student must grant you, the parent-borrower, access to the PLUS Request Form. He or she will need your FPS User ID.

Your student may give you access by:

1. Logging in to their eLion account
2. Selecting "Parent/Other Access” from the menu
3. Following the prompts

Step 3: Complete the PLUS Request Form

To complete the PLUS Request Form, log in to eLion with your (not your student's) FPS User ID and password.

Then select "PLUS Request Form" from the left-hand menu.

Complete all fields and click the “submit” button. Once submitted, you will receive a confirmation; however, keep in mind that you will not be able to immediately view the results of the Parent PLUS loan request.

Step 4: Sign a Master Promissory Note

The Parent PLUS Master Promissory Note is also known as the Parent PLUS MPN.

The parent-borrower who completes the PLUS Request Form must sign the MPN electronically at studentloans.gov.

Log in to studentloans.gov with your Federal Student Aid PIN (the one you use to sign your student's FAFSA).

Select the option "Complete Master Promissory Note," then "Parent PLUS."

Complete all four steps listed to sign the MPN and receive a confirmation.

Now that we’ve reviewed all four steps, let’s discuss some important information

Your credit decision will arrive by mail from the U.S. Department of Education within 7 to 10 days of submitting the PLUS Request Form.

If your Parent PLUS Loan is approved & processed, it may be used as estimated aid on the tuition bill.

To learn more about the tuition bill, including due dates, payment plans, and refunds, please visit the Office of the Bursar.