Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

Interest: Low-interest loan from the federal government for parents of dependent undergraduate students. Interest rate adjusted yearly, but may not exceed 8.5 percent. The government does not subsidize the interest while the student is in school.

Repayment: Begins 60 days after check is disbursed.

Activation: The parent who applies for the PLUS loan must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen. If eligible, parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid the student receives.

1. Student must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate aid year.
2. The borrower (parent) must use a federal PIN number to sign the Master Promissory Note. The PIN is the same one the parent used to sign the FAFSA online.
3. Once signed in, select "Complete Master Promissory Note" then choose "Parent PLUS".
4. The borrower (parent) and student must complete a PLUS loan request form, which can be found under "Forms & Documents." Make sure you select the correct academic year. For example, 2018-2019 is for fall 2018, spring 2019 and summer 2019. Do not use the "Request PLUS Loan" link found at StudentLoans.gov; Northridge does not accept PLUS applications submitted through StudentLoans.gov.
5. Submit supplemental documents if the Financial Aid & Scholarship Department requests any additional material.
6. The Financial Aid & Scholarship Department electronically certifies PLUS loans. The PLUS award is subject to a credit decision by the Department of Education. If a PLUS loan is added to a student's award package, it does not guarantee loan approval.
7. After final approval, the Department of Education will transmit the PLUS funds electronically to the school. PLUS funds are applied toward any outstanding charges on the student's account. Excess funds will be mailed to the parent borrower. Disbursement begins 10 days prior to the start of each term. The student must be enrolled in at least six units for funds to disburse.