The Federal Parent PLUS Loan, Private Student Loan, and Private Parent Loan comparison chart
Understanding gap financing options
The Federal Parent PLUS Loan, private student loans, and private parent loans
Many families are considering financing their student’s education with either a Federal Parent PLUS Loan or a private education loan. This comparison chart will help you understand the features and benefits of each.
Interest rates and fees for private loans vary between lenders and are typically based on the credit of the individual borrower and cosigner. We recommend that you apply for one or more private loans and compare your options before deciding which type is best for you. Remember, applying for a private loan doesn’t obligate you to accept it.
Federal PLUS Loan for Parents1 |
School-Certified Private Student Loan2 |
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| Primary borrower | Parent. | Student. |
| Credit check required | Yes, a parent with an adverse credit history may obtain an endorser or meet additional requirements to qualify. | Yes. Loan approval and pricing are generally based on creditworthiness. Lenders may also consider other factors. |
| Cosigner requirement | No, but a parent with adverse credit history may obtain an endorser. | No, but a student with little or no credit history may have a better chance of getting a loan by applying with a creditworthy cosigner. |
| Cosigner release option | This loan does not require a cosigner. | Many lenders provide a cosigner release option where the student can apply to release the cosigner after they graduate,make a specified number of on-time payments, and meet underwriting requirements. |
| Interest rate | For loans first disbursed on or after July 1,2020, and before July 1, 2021, the interest rate is 5.30%. | Most lenders offer fixed interest rates ranging from 5.75% to 14.24%. Some lenders may also offer variable rates,which start from 3.59% to 13.99%. Rates are generally based on the applicant’s creditworthiness; other factors such as income and repayment term may also be considered. |
| Origination/disbursement fees | 4.236% for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2019 and before October 1, 2020.
4.228% for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2021. |
0% Offered by most lenders, but can vary. |
| Minimum payment amount while the student is enrolled in school | Loans will automatically be placed in principal and interest repayment. The borrower can apply to have the PLUS loan payments deferred while the student is in school and for six months after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment (interest continues to accrue during this time and unpaid interest is added to the loan’s principal amount when the deferment period ends). | Varies by lender; many lenders allow private loan payments to be deferred while in school (interest accrues during this time and unpaid interest is added to the loan’s principal amount when the deferment period ends). Many lenders offer options to make interest payments during the in-school period. |
| Repayment term | 10 – 25 years of principal and interest payments. | Varies by lender; typically terms of 5 – 15 years of principal and interest payments are offered. |
| Payment flexibility | PLUS loans are eligible for multiple repayment plans including standard, graduated, and extended repayment options, federal consolidation, and some public service loan forgiveness options. See studentaid.ed.gov for more information. | Most lenders will work directly with the borrower to assess repayment options.Some lenders offer graduated repayment options. |
| Responsibility to pay | Parent and endorser (if applicable). | Student and cosigner. |
| Loan limits | Up to 100% of the school-certified expenses, minus other financial aid received. | Generally, up to 100% of the school-certified expenses, minus other financialaid received; lenders can have different loan limits for different loan programs and may base the limits on various factors. |
| Minimum enrollment status | At least half-time. | Varies by lender; some offer loans to borrowers who are attending school less than half-time. |
| Application process | Online with the Department of Education through the FAFSA process but some schools have different application processes. | Online with lender or other potential application options, e.g., applying over the phone. |
| Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required | Yes. | No. |
| Borrower benefits | 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction for automatic debit enrollment. | Most lenders offer a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction for automatic debit enrollment. Additional benefits vary by lender. |
| Death and disability loan forgiveness | Yes, if the parent dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled or if the student beneficiary dies and certain conditions are met, then the loan will be discharged. | Varies by lender; some lenders waive the remaining balance in the event of the student’s death or permanent and total disability. |
| Ability to consolidate through the Department of Education | Yes, parents can consolidate with other federal loans in their name (not the student’s). | No. |
| Options for denied loans | If the parent is unable to obtain the loan,the student may be eligible for additional unsubsidized loans. | Student can apply with a different cosigner if the cosigner is denied. |
| Tax deduction for interest paid2 | The interest paid on the loan may be deductible subject to IRS guidelines. | The interest paid on the loan may be deductible subject to IRS guidelines. |
Also See:
Disclosure:
This information is provided by Sallie Mae for your reference.
Borrow responsibly
We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Students and families should evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.
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Federal student loan rate and fee information is based on a May 15, 2020 Electronic Announcement from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education. Other federal student loan information was gathered on June 30, 2020 from studentaid.ed.gov.
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Interest rates, fees, terms, and borrower benefits based on a June 30, 2020 review of national school-certified private loan programs offered by publicly-traded companies or subsidiaries thereof. Private loans that have variable rates may go up or down based on the changes of an underlying interest rate index.
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This information is not meant to provide tax advice. Consult with a tax advisor for education tax credit and deduction eligibility. For more information, see IRS Publication 970.
Explore federal loans and compare to ensure you understand the terms and features. Private loans that have variable rates can go up over the life of the loan. Federal student loans are required by law to provide a range of flexible repayment options, including, but not limited to, Graduated Repayment and Extended Repayment plans, and loan forgiveness and deferment benefits, which other student loans are not required to provide. Federal loans generally have origination fees, but are available to students regardless of income.
This information valid as of July 9, 2020.
Commerce Bank does not provide, and these materials are not meant to convey, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult your own attorney or tax advisor about your specific circumstances. ©2020 Commerce Bancshares, Inc. MKT15422 0720
