Refer to Federal Student Aid's Professional Students definition for details on which programs are considered Professional vs Graduate.

Refer to Federal Student Aid's Professional Students definition for details on which programs are considered Professional vs Graduate.

The Limited Exception information below is based on Federal Student Aid's Loan Limits Exception definition as of May 2026.

If you meet certain requirements, you’ll have a period of time after July 1, 2026, and before the new limits apply during which you might be eligible for a Direct Loan under the pre-OBBBA limits.

If you qualify for the limited exception, you’ll be exempt from certain loan limits and loan eligibility changes for the lesser of

• three academic years or
• the difference between the published length of the program of study you (or the child you’re borrowing for) are enrolled in and the period of time you (or your child) have completed in that program.

Undergraduate Students and Parent PLUS Borrowers
You may qualify as an eligible undergraduate student under the limited exception to allow your parent to receive a Direct PLUS Loan for parents if you

• were enrolled in a program of study at an institution as of June 30, 2026;
• received at least one Direct Loan, or your parent received a Direct PLUS Loan on your behalf, for such program of study, before July 1, 2026; and
• are enrolled at the same institution and are seeking the same credential after July 1, 2026, and have not ceased to be enrolled seeking the same credential at the same institution at any point on or after July 1, 2026. An approved leave of absence is not considered to be a break in enrollment.

“Credential” refers to the degree you’re seeking, for example, a bachelor’s or associate degree. You can’t change credential level and maintain eligibility for the exception, but you can change majors within your credential.

Graduate and Professional Students
You may qualify as an eligible graduate or professional student under the limited exception only if you

• were enrolled in a program of study at an institution as of June 30, 2026;
• received at least one Direct Loan for such program of study prior to July 1, 2026; and
• are currently enrolled at the same institution in the same program of study and have not ceased to be enrolled in the same program at the same institution at any point on or after July 1, 2026. An approved leave of absence is not considered to be a break in enrollment.

Borrowers apply for the PLUS Loan directly through the Department of Education. The credit decision is determined solely by the Department of Education, is displayed to borrowers during the application process, and is valid for 180 days.

In addition to completing the FAFSA, all of the following must be completed.

• PLUS Loan Application for Parents
• PLUS Master Promissory Note for Parents (Must use your own FSA ID to login, not your student's)
• Title IV Authorization Form to instruct Brown University on how to apply your federal funds toward charges on your student's account. This MUST be completed by the PLUS Loan borrower.
• Parents who are initially denied and later approved, must also complete the PLUS Loan Credit Counseling.

PLUS application tips:

• Refer to our Tuition & Fees pages to estimate your education expenses for the year.  Increases to existing PLUS Loans may require a new credit check.
• The Origination Fee is deducted from each loan disbursement. You may wish to factor the origination fee in when determining how much to borrow. (Example: To receive $10,000 and include the 1.057% origination fee; calculate $10,000 x 0.01057 = $105.70.  Request a total loan amount of $10,105.70.)

Your completed PLUS Application and completed loan requirements will be sent electronically from the U.S. Department of Education to Brown's Student Financial Services.

Borrowers apply for the PLUS Loan directly through the Department of Education. The credit decision is determined solely by the Department of Education, is displayed to borrowers during the application process, and is valid for 180 days.

In addition to completing the FAFSA, all of the following must be completed.

• Apply for AND accept your maximum Unsubsidized Loan (required before PLUS will be processed).
• PLUS Loan Application for Graduate/Professional Students
• Grad PLUS Master Promissory Note
• Grad PLUS Entrance Counseling
• Students who are initially denied and later approved, must also complete the PLUS Loan Credit Counseling.

PLUS application tips:

• Refer to our Tuition & Fees pages to estimate your education expenses for the year.  Increases to existing PLUS Loans may require a new credit check.
• The Origination Fee is deducted from each loan disbursement. You may wish to factor the origination fee in when determining how much to borrow. (Example: To receive $10,000 and include the 1.057% origination fee; calculate $10,000 x 0.01057 = $105.70.  Request a total loan amount of $10,105.70.)

Your completed PLUS Application and completed loan requirements will be sent electronically from the U.S. Department of Education to Brown's Student Financial Services.

A credit check will be performed by the Department of Education during the application process. Brown University only receives the credit decision (approval or denial) and we do not have access to any details regarding borrowers credit history or the reason for the credit decision. 

If you have an adverse credit history and receive a credit decision denial, you may still receive a PLUS loan through one of these two options: 

1. Obtaining an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the PLUS loan if you do not repay it. The endorser cannot be the child on whose behalf you are borrowing.
2. Documenting to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances relating to your adverse credit history.

With either option 1 or option 2, you also must complete credit counseling for PLUS loan borrowers. You may also wish to read this article to learn more about what to do if you are denied a PLUS loan based on an adverse credit history.

Parents: If you are unable to obtain a parent PLUS loan, your child may be eligible for additional unsubsidized loans. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Graduate/Professional Students: The credit counseling is separate from the entrance counseling that is required for Graduate/Professional Student borrowers and does not satisfy the entrance counseling requirement in any way.

The loan fee/origination fee is subtracted proportionately from each loan disbursement.

The loan fee/origination fee is subtracted proportionately from each loan disbursement.