Federal Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students (domestic students only)

For Graduate/Professional Borrowers at Notre Dame with disbursed Federal Direct Loans prior to July 1, 2026: If you previously borrowed a Federal Direct Loan for your current academic program at Notre Dame, you may be able to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, minus all other financial aid.

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan provides a borrowing option for Graduate and Professional students in excess of the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Based upon your credit history, you may borrow through this federally guaranteed, non-need-based loan program.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Graduate PLUS Loan, the following criteria must be met:

  • Program and Borrowing History: This loan is only available to students who are/will be continuing in the same academic program at the University of Notre Dame and who have previously borrowed a Federal Direct Loan for that specific program prior to July 1, 2026.

  • General Federal Aid Criteria: You must meet general federal student aid eligibility requirements. This includes being a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen and being enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program.

  • FAFSA: You must have a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file for the current academic year.

  • Credit History: You must not have an adverse credit history. The U.S. Department of Education will perform a credit check to determine eligibility. If you have concerns about what qualifies as "adverse," you can find detailed information on credit requirements at StudentAid.gov.

Annual Borrowing Limits

If you meet the eligibility criteria above, you could borrow up to the full cost of attendance, minus all other financial aid (including Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans).

Terms and Repayment

We strongly encourage students to exhaust their Federal Direct Student Unsubsidized Loan eligibility prior to borrowing from the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan program, as the Unsubsidized Loan has more favorable terms.

  • Interest Rate: 9.07% fixed during repayment (for loans first disbursed July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027).

  • Origination Fee: 4.228% (for loans with a first disbursement date on or after October 1, 2020).

  • Repayment: Usually begins within 60 days of the final disbursement. However, Graduate PLUS borrowers are generally eligible for an in-school deferment while enrolled at least half-time, and for an additional six-month deferment after ceasing at least half-time enrollment.

How to Apply

Borrowers who wish to utilize the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Program should complete the steps below as soon as possible to ensure Notre Dame can begin processing your loan.

STEP 1. Apply for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Visit studentaid.gov.

“Log In” using the student's FSA ID (Federal Student Aid username and password).

Select "Apply for a Grad PLUS Loan."

Complete the loan application through the Department of Education. Applications will automatically be sent to the school within a few business days.

STEP 2. Complete Entrance Counseling (First-time Borrowers)

Select “Complete Entrance Counseling.”

The interactive entrance counseling session helps you to understand your loan responsibilities and provides tools to develop a budget for managing educational expenses. Entrance counseling takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and requires your FSA ID (used to complete your FAFSA).

STEP 3. Complete Master Promissory Note (First-time Borrowers)

Complete/Submit "Master Promissory Note."

Select "MPN for Graduate/Professional Students."

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. The MPN also offers details on the terms and conditions of the loan. Completion of the MPN takes up to 30 minutes and requires the following:

  • The names, addresses, and phone numbers of two references

  • Your driver’s license number (if applicable)

Federal Loan Processing Overview

The U.S. Department of Education will notify Notre Dame after you have completed entrance counseling and signed your MPN.

You will receive a disclosure statement from the U.S. Department of Education providing specific information about your loan, including loan amount, fees, and the expected disbursement dates.

To ensure your loan disbursement is credited to your University account for the start of the fall term, complete the two steps above as soon as you are able. Loans are processed starting in June as soon as the steps above are completed.

The Office of Financial Aid will notify you via email when your loan funds have been disbursed to your University account.

Loan applications cannot be processed after the academic year ends or if the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.

The timely repayment of your student loans is important to maintaining a good credit history, especially if you wish to consider applying for future consumer or student loans. Therefore, it is important to know who owns your loan, when your payments are due, how to make a payment and your total amount of indebtedness. Federal regulations require that all students who have borrowed from the federal loan programs receive exit loan counseling. Exit loan counseling provides details regarding a borrower’s rights and responsibilities for student loan repayment, deferment options, and loan consolidation benefits.

Learn more about the Federal Direct Loan Program

Learn more about repayment options for Federal Direct Loans

Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group

The Ombudsman Group is dedicated to helping resolve disputes related to Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, and Guaranteed Student Loans. If you’ve completed the steps to resolve your loan dispute and you still are not satisfied, you may need to contact the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman Group of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The Ombudsman Group is a neutral, informal, and confidential resource to help resolve disputes about your federal student loans.

Additional information on the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group is available from the Department of Education.