Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan is available to all students who are matriculated in a degree-granting program, have filed and met the FAFSA eligibility criteria and meet enrollment requirements. This loan requires a credit check to determine credit worthiness.

Details

Who is Eligible

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan is available to students who:

• are enrolled in a graduate/professional-level, degree-granting program, and
• have filed and met the FAFSA eligibility criteria, and
• meet the minimum enrollment required for each semester they are seeking assistance
  • Graduate students – enrolled at least half-time (5 or more credits)
  • Law students - enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credits)
  • Medical students - enrolled at least half-time
  • Credit worthiness is defined as having no credit, having good credit, or not having an adverse credit history
  • Students are notified by the Department of Education of their loan approval or denial. If denied, students will be advised of the process to appeal the credit decision or the steps to add a credit-worthy endorser (similar to a co-signer)

  Visit Annual Credit Report to learn more about your credit

  Interest Rates

  • For loans first disbursed between July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 the interest rate is fixed at 9.083%
  • Interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan
  • Rates are determined each year based on the 10-year Treasury note index plus a statutorily defined add-on

  Loan Fees

  • Current: 4.228%
  • Loan fees are deducted from loan proceeds prior to the disbursement of funds and borrowers are responsible for repayment of all such fees.

  Repayment Plans

  Repayment on the loan begins 180 days after a student falls below part-time status, graduates or stops attending school. Students have over seven different repayment terms to select, some of which are income-driven.

  Refunds and Credit Balances

  For accounts that reflect a credit balance, a refund check will be generated within 14 days of school beginning and/or the funds coming to the university. One Stop will process any credit refunds by direct deposit to the bank account provided in the Self-Service portal or by mailing a check to a student’s permanent address.

  How to Apply

  Graduate Student Application Process

  Graduate student applicants should:

  Complete the QU Graduate PLUS Loan request sheet and return it to our office for processing. You will be notified electronically if you have been approved or denied.
  Download Graduate PLUS loan request

  Once you have completed the above, our office will be notified all steps have been completed and funds will be issued to the university on your behalf at the start of the school semester.