Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Qualifying master's and doctoral students.

Please note that students MUST exhaust all federal eligibility through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program before applying for a Graduate PLUS loan. The yearly limit on a Graduate PLUS Loan is equal to your cost of attendance (determined by school) minus any other financial aid you receive. For example, if your cost of attendance is $60,000 and you receive $40,000 in other financial aid (scholarships, fellowships, Unsubsidized loan) you could borrow up to, but no more than $20,000.

A qualified Graduate PLUS Loan borrower does not have an adverse credit history (defined in regulations as being 90 days or more delinquent on any debt, or having a credit report that shows default, discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment or write-off of a Title IV debt during the five years preceding the date of the credit report). Note that Graduate PLUS loans do not use any kind of a debt-to-income ratio or FICO® score, unlike private education loans.

Graduate students with good credit should not need a co-signer to apply for the loan. You might need a co-signer if your credit is insufficient.  If you are denied, you can appeal the decision or you can re-apply with a co-signer.

Yes. You are not required to take this loan, and if you would like us to cancel it and make other arrangements for your bill, please notify Monique Howell at mhowell@brandeis.edu or 781-736-3403.

For loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2021 and before July 1, 2022, the interest rate is 6.28%. Graduate PLUS Loan rates are fixed at 5.30% for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2020 and before July 1, 2021.   

Interest is charged on the loan from the date the first disbursement is made until the loan is paid in full.

For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2022, the origination fee is 4.228%. For Graduate PLUS loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2019 and before October 1, 2020, the origination fee is 4.236%. The origination fee is deducted proportionately each time a loan disbursement is made. 

1. Complete Unsubsidized Loan and Graduate PLUS Loan Entrance Counseling by logging on to the U.S. Department of Education's Direct Loan Servicing website and click on the Complete Counseling link. After selecting Start Entrance Counseling (the first option), Add Brandeis University as a school to notify, and select the student type that reads "I am completing entrance counseling to receive Direct Loans as a graduate or professional student."

2. Complete TWO Master Promissory Notes, one for your Direct Loan and one for your Graduate PLUS Loan. You will need your FSA ID (if you have not already created an FSA ID, you should do so first) to complete this step in the process.