• Graduate PLUS loans are no longer available for new borrowers starting July 1, 2026. For more info, visit our Changes to Federal Financial Aid  webpage.

To receive a Direct PLUS Loan, you must:

• be a graduate or professional degree student enrolled at La Sierra University leading to a degree or certificate, or be the parent (biological, adoptive, or in some cases, stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time at La Sierra University; and
• meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid. If you are borrowing on behalf of your child, your child must also meet these requirements.

If you are eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan, you will be required to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN), agreeing to the terms of the loan. Graduate or professional students will also be required to complete entrance counseling before receiving a PLUS loan. 

Effective July 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill enacts a $257,500 lifetime borrowing limit on all federal student loans, total. Graduate PLUS loans will be included in the new $257,500 lifetime borrowing limit established through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This does not include Parent PLUS loans, which are borrowed by parents on their student’s behalf.

Parent PLUS Loan

All parents (combined) may borrow $20,000 per year per dependent student and a $65,000 aggregate limit per dependent student (without regard to amounts forgiven, repaid, or discharged). 

Limited Exception: Parents are not subject to the new PLUS loan limits (for up to three academic years or the remainder of the student's expected time to credential, whichever is less) if the student remains continuously enrolled in the same program of study at the same institution as they were enrolled as of June 30, 2026 and either the parent had a Parent PLUS Loan disbursed for that same program before July 1, 2026, or the student had a Direct Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized) disbursed for that same program before July 1, 2026. 

For Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2026, the interest rate is 8.94%.
 
These are fixed interest rates for the life of the loan.

Yes, there is a loan fee on all Direct PLUS Loans. The loan fee is a percentage of the loan amount and is proportionately deducted from each loan disbursement. The percentage varies depending on when the loan is first disbursed, as shown in the chart below. 

When you receive your Direct PLUS Loan, you will be contacted by your loan servicer. Your loan servicer will provide regular updates on the status of your Direct PLUS Loan and will provide you with information on how and when to repay your loan. Find more information about your loan servicer.

• while you or your child are enrolled at least half-time and
• for an additional six months after your child ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.