Federal PLUS Loan Instructions
All Federal Parent and Graduate PLUS Loan borrowers will need to complete a Federal Direct PLUS Loan request/application AND a new Master Promissory Note (MPN). In addition, all Graduate PLUS Loan borrowers will need to complete Entrance Counseling.
First-Time Borrowers
Those (parent or graduate student) planning on borrowing a Federal PLUS Loan for the first time should wait to complete the application process (displayed below) until receiving a financial aid award letter. The award letter will be necessary in helping to determine the amount of the request. Families should not apply for a PLUS Loan earlier than June 1 since the PLUS Loan requires a credit approval that is only valid for 180 days.
Renewal Borrowers
Those (parent or graduate student) who previously borrowed a Federal PLUS Loan at Carnegie Mellon and plan to borrow for the upcoming academic year are required to complete a new Federal Direct PLUS Loan application at https://StudentAid.gov (instructions are displayed below). A Master Promissory Note signature and Entrance Counseling completion are not required.
Step 1: Complete the PLUS Loan Request/Application at https://studentaid.gov
- Sign in using your Personal Identification Number (PIN) (www.pin.ed.gov) from the Department of Education
- Select “Request PLUS Loan” under PLUS Loan Process
- Select “Graduate PLUS Loan or Parent PLUS Loan” as the loan type
- Provide personal information (citizenship, driver’s license, address, telephone number, etc.)
- Provide employer information
- Provide student and loan information (name, SSN, date of birth)
- Select Pennsylvania as the School State in the drop down box
- Select “Carnegie Mellon University”
- Indicate the Loan Amount Requested
- Review your application
- Authorize a Credit Check and submit
Step 2: Complete the Master Promissory Note at https://studentaid.gov
- If you haven’t already done so, sign in using your FAFSA ID (fsaid.ed.gov)
- Select “Complete MPN” under Master Promissory Note
- Select “Graduate PLUS Loan or Parent PLUS Loan” as the loan type
- Provide personal information (citizenship, driver’s license, address, telephone number, etc.)
- Provide employer information
- Provide student and loan information (name, SSN, date of birth)
- Select “Carnegie Mellon University”
- Provide reference information
- Review Terms and Conditions, electronically sign and submit MPN
- Print a copy of your MPN for your records
Please Note:
- To view the https://studentaid.gov website, use one of the following supported browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer (versions 6 or higher), Mozilla Firefox (versions 2 or 3.6.3), Apple Safari (version 4.
- The entire MPN process must be completed in a single session, so be sure you have enough time to complete it. The MPN session takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
