Plus Loans

A Parent Plus Loan can help pay for current or anticipated educational costs per academic year. Applications do have a cutoff date for the applicable quarter so please ensure you submit as timely as possible. You will need to complete the following steps for a PLUS Loan to be certified by BBCC:

    1. Student needs to have completed the FAFSA and have a complete financial aid file at BBCC.

    2. Log in to Federal Student Aid with your FSA ID (Chrome or Firefox recommended) and hover over Loans and Grants.

      • Click on PLUS Loans: Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS to complete the application** 

        • You’ll be looking for I’m a Parent of an Undergraduate Student before selecting Start button

      • Then hover over Loans and Grants again to select Master Promissory note 

    3. Complete the Direct PLUS Loan Request for the academic year you wish to receive the loan and submit it to the BBCC Financial Aid Office.

      • 2023-24 Academic Year (July 2023 – June 2024) Request Form
        Summer 2023 Deadline: August 4, 2023
        Fall 2023 Deadline: November 22, 2023
        Winter 2024 Deadline: March 7, 2024
        Spring 2024 Deadline: June 4, 2024
      • 2024-25 Academic Year (July 2024 – June 2025) Request Form
        Summer 2024 Deadline: July 26, 2024
        Fall 2024 Deadline: November 20, 2024
        Winter 2025 Deadline: March 7, 2025
        Spring 2025 Deadline: May 30, 2025

Once all of the above items have been completed,  BBCC will then certify your eligibility for a PLUS Loan. If you have any problems or questions, please call the BBCC Financial Aid Office at 509.793.2061.

**If you apply for a Direct PLUS Loan and are notified that you have an adverse credit history, you’ll be given detailed information from the Department of Education on the options for qualifying by obtaining an endorser or submitting documentation of extenuating circumstances, along with instructions on how to complete the required PLUS counseling.

WHAT IS A PLUS LOAN

A PLUS Loan (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) is a federal loan that a parent may use to help pay for their student’s educational expenses. The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans available to eligible borrowers through schools participating in the Direct Loan Program. Parents of students attending an eligible college at least half-time (6 or more credits) can use a PLUS Loan to assist in financing the cost of education, minus other financial aid.

Facts At A Glance

•Parent Borrower Eligibility (visit the FSA Website for more information)
To be eligible for a PLUS Loan, the parent must:
– Be the natural or adoptive parent of a dependent student or spouse of the natural or adoptive parent of a dependent student
– Be applying for the loan to pay the post-secondary educational costs for an eligible dependent undergraduate student who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at least half-time (6+ credits) at a participating school
– Not have an adverse credit history
– Be a U.S. citizen or national, or an eligible noncitizen
• FAFSA Required? Big Bend Community College does require a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education
•Interest Rate
8.05% for the 2023-2024 academic year
•Minimum Loan Amount
$200
•Annual Loan Limit
Cost of attendance (per child), minus other financial aid, as certified by the Financial Aid Office.
• Aggregate Loan Limit
None
•Grace Period
None; repayment begins after the final disbursement
•Repayment Terms
Up to 25 years from the beginning of repayment depending on your Repayment Plan
• Repayment Options
Standard, Graduated (including Interest-Only), Income-Sensitive, Income-Driven, and Extended