Description

This is a low-interest loan for graduate and professional students.  Graduate PLUS Loan help pay for education expenses up to the cost of attendance minus all other financial assistance. Interest is charged during all periods.  The lender is the U.S. Department of Education.

Amount

The annual limit cannot exceed UNTD Cost of Attendance minus the other financial aid the student receives.

Eligibility

  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed for Federal Direct PLUS eligibility to be determined.
  • You must be enrolled half-time and be admitted into a graduate level program.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE:  A credit check is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education to establish eligibility.  You cannot have an adverse credit history.

Payment

Loan funds will not disburse (pay) until all requested documentation has been submitted, and your aid application is considered to be complete. A note will be placed on your myUNTDallas "To Do List" if additional steps are required before disbursement. If the financial aid file is complete, disbursements can be made as early as ten days prior to the first day of a Fall or Spring fee payment (August/January) period. However, disbursements can also occur throughout an enrollment term upon completion of a file.

Interest Rate

The current interest rate is 6.84 percent.  All interest rates and fees are valid only from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.

Repayment

Repayment begins 60 days after the final disbursement for the loan period. Graduate students may defer payments while in school.  Deferments can be requested by contacting the U.S. Department of Education.

The Project on Student Debt works to increase public understanding of rising student debt. This initiative has compiled the top 10 tips for keeping your student loans under control. The tips can be reviewed here.

PayBackSmarter is a free tool to assist you in understanding your student loan repayment options. Their repayment calculator gives you a simple, visual way to review each different plan. Additional information is available here.

For more information regarding repayment, please visit Direct Loan Repayment Plans. For information regarding deferment or forebareance please visit Direct Loan Deferment and Forbearance.

Repayment Length

Between 10 and 25 years to repay, depending on the amount owed and repayment plan selected.

Additional Information

  • If the loanis credit approved, borrowers must electronically sign a Federal Direct Loan Graduate PLUS Master Promissory Note.
  • Graduate PLUS borrowers at UNTD are required to complete Loan Entrance Counseling. Per federal regulations, Graduate PLUS borrowers must complete this Counseling even if they have completed it in the past. This requirement is also a step in UNTD's Default Aversion Plan; our goal is to ensure that each borrower understands how to manage their student loan and the commitment that comes with the acceptance of a student loan. Above all, borrowers must realize that student loans are not grants or scholarships; they require repayment. You may complete your Loan Entrance Counseling at StudentLoans.gov. You must complete the counseling before UNT can make any payment of your loan.
  • The U.S. Department of Education charges an origination fee of the total amount borrowed per loan.  This fee is deducted from the loan by the Department of Education before the proceeds are credited to a student's account.  Visit the Federal Student Aid site for more information.
  • Each Federal Direct Loan borrower at the University of North Texas is required to complete Student Exit Counseling shortly before completing a degree, leaving UNTD (i.e., withdrawing, graduation) or ceasing halft-time enrollment.  To complete this requirement, go to StudentLoans.gov, select Complete Counseling then Exit Counseling.