Direct Grad PLUS Loan

FIT participates in the William D Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Under the Federal Direct Loan Program, the funds for the Grad PLUS Loan come directly from the Federal Department of Education. Students enrolled in any of our graduate programs must first apply for their full Direct Stafford Loan eligibility before consideration.   

Academic Year 2024 - 2025 Interest Rate

The fixed interest rate is 9.08% for Federal Direct PLUS loans disbursed between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. There is also an origination fee of 4.228% (for loans disbursed after  October 1, 2020 and before October,1, 2025) charged by the Department of Education.

Eligibility

  1. You must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
  2. You must be admitted in a graduate degree program.
  3. Your FAFSA must be completed for that school year. You will need an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA electronically.
  4. You must be enrolled in at least six credit hours per term in a degree program to maintain eligibility.
  5. You must first be offered your full Direct Stafford Loan eligibility before consideration for a Graduate PLUS loan.

Before Applying

1. Decide how much to borrow. You can determine your loan limits by logging in to MyFIT.

  • Go to FIT Applicant or Student TAB
  • Under Financial Aid Resources go to My Financial Aid Checklist
  • Click on Award by Aid Year on the drop down choose the Academic Year
  • Select the appropriate Academic Year.
  • Click on the Award Overview Tab to you will see the total cost of attendance (COA) 

The full annual limit that a graduate student can borrow for the PLUS loan is the difference between the cost of attendance (COA) and all other financial aid awarded (including Direct Stafford Loans). You do not have to apply for the whole amount.

You will be subject to a credit check from the Department of Education. NOTE: You will not receive the full amount requested due to a origination fee of 4.228%  (for loans disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2025) is charged by the Department of Education. 

Your loan will be placed in deferment with repayment beginning six months after you drop below six credit hours or graduate. 

2. Determine the loan period. We suggest that you request the loan to cover the full academic year (August-May).

Apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan

Be sure to carefully review all information on this page before applying.

1. The Graduate borrower should log into Federal Student Aid with the their personal information and FSA ID.   If your PLUS loan is denied, you may your spouse, or someone else, as an endorser/cosigner. 

2.  Scroll down to  I am a Graduate or Professional Student and click on "Learn More"

3. If this is your first Graduate PLUS Loan, you must also complete the following steps: 

Frequently Asked Questions

You will be notified immediately of the credit check status. You will receive an email and an updated financial aid award letter displaying the amount for which the PLUS loan has been certified. 

The loan will NOT disburse until you have completed the following requirements:

If your PLUS loan is denied, you have the following options:

  • You may appeal the credit decision by contacting Direct Loan Originations at: (800) 557-7394 option 3 after holding through first options.
  • You may add your spouse or someone else as an endorser/cosigner. You will be sent a paper application for the endorser or the endorser can complete the endorser application online. To complete the application online, the endorser will need: the loan's reference or award ID number, which you should receive when you apply; an FSA ID; and the application at Endorse a Direct PLUS Loan.

If your appeal or endorser is approved, you must complete a new Graduate PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) and DIrect PLUS Loan Counseling. Both must be completed online before your loan is disbursed.

We electronically receive confirmation of your loan from the Department of Education. We determine the amount of PLUS funds for which you are eligible and send that information to the Department of Education.

If this is your first Federal Direct PLUS Loan or if you will be using an endorser/cosigner, you must complete a Graduate PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN). If this is your first Graduate PLUS loan, you must also complete a Graduate Loan Entrance Counseling session. Both of these processes take place online. Your loan funds will not be disbursed until both requirements are met.

If your appeal or endorser is approved, you will also need to complete PLUS Loan Counseling before your loan is disbursed.

Your loan will be placed in deferment with repayment beginning six (6) months after you drop below half-time enrollment or graduate.

Federal Direct PLUS funds are sent directly to the school. Funds in excess of what you owe to FIT will be refunded to you.

For questions about your Direct Federal PLUS loan and deferment, contact your loan servicer. To get your servicer's contact information, log into with your information and FSA ID.

If your loan has not disbursed, contact the Financial Aid Services office at [email protected].