2019-2020 Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
Application & Credit Authorization
Borrower Information
Loan Amount Request
If you wish to borrow a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan for the 2019-2020 academic year, please note the following:
You must le a FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov for the 2019-2020 year and meet all federal eligibility requirements.
You must complete this application to initiate the processing of the Graduate PLUS loan. Your complete application can be mailed,
faxed or delivered to our ofce.
• The information provided on this application will be sent to Direct Loans to initiate a credit check.
• In the event that your loan is denied, Direct Loans will notify you of your options.
• You must provide an original signature on the application.
Privacy Act Disclosure Notice
The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires that the following notice be provided to you. The authority for collecting the information
requested on this form is §451 et seq. of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Your disclosure of this information is voluntary.
However, if you do not provide this information, you cannot be considered for a Direct PLUS. The information on this form will be used
to determine your eligibility for a Direct PLUS. The information in your le may be disclosed to third parties as authorized under routine
uses in the Privacy Act notices called “Title IV Program Files” (originally published on April 12, 1994, Federal Register, Vol. 59 p. 17351)
and “National Student Loan Data System” (originally published on December 20, 1994, Federal Register, Vol. 59 p. 65532). Thus, this
information may be disclosed to federal and state agencies, private parties such as relatives, present and former employers and creditors,
and contractors of the Department of Education for purposes of administration of the student nancial assistance program, for enforcement
purposes, for litigation where such disclosure is compatible with the purposes for which the records were collected, for use by federal, state,
local, or foreign agencies in connection with employment matters or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benet, for use in any employee
grievance or discipline proceeding in which the Federal Government is a party, for use in connection with audits or other investigations, for
research purposes, for purposes of determining whether particular records are required to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information
Act, and to a Member of Congress in response to an inquiry from the congressional ofce made at your written request.
Because we request your social security number (SSN), we must inform you that we collect your SSN on a voluntary basis, but section
484(a)(4) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1091 (a)(4)) provides that, in order to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance under Title IV of the HEA,
a student must provide his or her SSN. Your SSN is used to verify your identity, and as an account number (identier) throughout the life of
your loan(s) so that data may be recorded accurately.
FINA 2045 12/18
The requested loan amount cannot exceed the annual cost of attendance less any nancial aid. Review your Notication of Award for
your maximum eligibility. The loan funds will be distributed equally among terms.
Loan Amount Requested $ ________________ (Note: There is an origination fee withheld from the loan amount requested.)
Authorization for credit check/Consent to obtain credit report
I consent to the U.S. Department of Education and its agents obtaining a report of my credit record and using the information from that
report in determining whether to make a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan to me. I understand that I will be notied in writing of the
results of the credit check with respect to my loan application.
Last Name First Name Student ID Number
Phone Number
Borrower Signature (original signature required) Date
DGPA20
University of St. Thomas
Financial Aid Ofce - Mail 5007
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1078
Telephone (651) 962-6550
Fax (651) 962-6599
University of St. Thomas
Graduate Financial Aid Ofce
Terrence Murphy Hall, Suite 251
1000 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Scan completed form and e-mail to nancialaid@stthomas.edu
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please keep this information sheet with your other important nancial aid papers.
How will I know if I am eligible?
After the attached form is processed, you will be notied by the Direct Loan Servicer of your loan eligibility. Generally,
you are eligible if:
- you led the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for this academic year
- you do not have an adverse credit history (a credit review will be completed)
- you are not in default on a federal student loan
- you meet the other eligibility requirements outlined on your loan application
What is a Master Promissory Note (MPN)?
A promissory note is a binding legal document that lists the conditions of your loan and the terms of repayment. Instead
of completing a promissory note every year, a Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a multi-year promissory note that only
has to be completed once while you are attending the University of St. Thomas. The MPN will simplify the processing of
your loan(s).
How do I sign an MPN?
If you do not have a valid Graduate PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) on le, you may electronically complete a
Master Promissory Note (MPN) at https://studentloans.gov.
How do I know if I have a valid MPN on le?
You have met the requirements for a MPN if you had an approved Graduate PLUS loan and signed a MPN for a previous
academic year and the MPN did not have an endorser. If the MPN had an endorser, you will be required to complete a
new promissory note.
If I already have a Graduate PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) on le with the University
of St. Thomas, what else is required?
A signed and completed Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Application/Credit Authorization must be submitted to our
ofce as conrmation that you wish to pursue a loan for this academic year. We will send your application to the U.S.
Department of Education for credit approval. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted
each academic year before a Graduate PLUS loan application can be processed.
When will the Graduate PLUS loan disburse?
In accordance with federal loan regulations and the University of St. Thomas’ disbursement schedule, the loan will be
applied to your account once all requirements are met. There is an origination fee deducted from each disbursement.
If enrolled fall and spring semesters, one-half of the loan will be disbursed at the beginning of fall semester and the
remaining half will be disbursed at the beginning of spring semester. If enrolled one semester only, the loan will disburse
in one disbursement at the beginning of the semester.
What if I want to reduce or cancel my PLUS loan?
If you wish to reduce or cancel the amount you borrowed with the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan, it is important that
you notify the Financial Aid Ofce in writing as soon as possible. You may cancel all or a portion of your loan after funds
have been credited to your University of St. Thomas student account by notifying us in writing within 14 days after the
date of your loan disbursement notice.
University of St. Thomas
Financial Aid Ofce - Mail 5007
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1078
Telephone (651) 962-6550
Fax (651) 962-6599
University of St. Thomas
Graduate Financial Aid Ofce
Terrence Murphy Hall, Suite 251
1000 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Scan completed form and e-mail to nancialaid@stthomas.edu
What if I want to apply for additional Graduate PLUS loan funds?
You may apply for additional Graduate PLUS loan funds by completing another Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan
application/credit authorization. The total amount of a Graduate PLUS loan may not exceed the cost of attendance minus
all other nancial aid. Please note that your credit history may be reviewed again to determine your eligibility.
What am I consenting to by signing the credit authorization?
Your consent veries that you have read the privacy act disclosure as follows and give the University of St.
Thomas permission to authorize the Department of Education to review your credit report:
The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires that the following notice be provided to you. The authority for
collecting the information requested on this form is §451 et seq. of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Your disclosure of this information is voluntary. However, if you do not provide this information, you cannot be
considered for a Direct PLUS. The information on this form will be used to determine your eligibility for a Direct
PLUS. The information in your le may be disclosed to third parties as authorized under routine uses in the Privacy
Act notices called “Title IV Program Files” (originally published on April 12, 1994, Federal Register, Vol. 59 p.
17351) and “National Student Loan Data System” (originally published on December 20, 1994, Federal Register,
Vol. 59 p. 65532). Thus, this information may be disclosed to federal and state agencies, private parties such as
relatives, present and former employers and creditors, and contractors of the Department of Education for purposes
of administration of the student nancial assistance program, for enforcement purposes, for litigation where such
disclosure is compatible with the purposes for which the records were collected, for use by federal, state, local,
or foreign agencies in connection with employment matters or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benet,
for use in any employee grievance or discipline proceeding in which the Federal Government is a party, for use
in connection with audits or other investigations, for research purposes, for purposes of determining whether
particular records are required to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act, and to a Member of Congress
in response to an inquiry from the congressional ofce made at your written request.
Because we request your social security number (SSN), we must inform you that we collect your SSN on a
voluntary basis, but section 484(a)(4) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1091 (a)(4)) provides that, in order to receive any
grant, loan, or work assistance under Title IV of the HEA, a student must provide his or her SSN. Your SSN is used
to verify your identity, and as an account number (identier) throughout the life of your loan(s) so that data may be
recorded accurately.
What if my credit is denied?
If your credit is denied, you will receive notication from the Direct Loan Servicer. You may choose from the following
options:
- You may try to have a credit status override completed by the servicer. Please contact the Direct Loan Servicer at
1-800-557-7394.
- You may provide documentation to the Direct Loan Servicer if you have extenuating circumstances. Your request for
a Graduate PLUS loan will be reviewed again by the servicer.
- You may have a third party endorser co-sign the PLUS loan application with you. In this case, please contact the Direct
Loan Servicer at 1-800-557-7394.
Is my loan deferred while I am in school?
Yes. While you are enrolled in school at least half-time, you are automatically placed in an in-school deferment status
that allows you to postpone payments on your Graduate PLUS loan until you graduate or drop below half-time.
University of St. Thomas
Financial Aid Ofce - Mail 5007
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1078
Telephone (651) 962-6550
Fax (651) 962-6599
University of St. Thomas
Graduate Financial Aid Ofce
Terrence Murphy Hall, Suite 251
1000 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Scan completed form and e-mail to nancialaid@stthomas.edu