Loan Process
Please Note: As of July 1st, 2026 there are new loan limits for all federal federal loans. If this is your first time borrowing loans, be sure to review the loan limits when calculating your cost of attendance.
How to Apply for a Federal Student Loan
All application steps must be completed at least 30 business days prior to the start of a term which the student wishes to receive aid for. This includes:
All loans require processing time before the funds will be ready to disburse. Students may receive loan funds for a term only if they are currently enrolled in that term at least half time and loan funds disburse prior to end of that term. If completion of required steps occurs after the 10 business days prior to the end of the term, the Office of Financial Aid cannot guarantee that loan(s) will be processed before the end of the eligible timeframe.
Loan Disclosure
Please note that the borrower has the right to cancel a portion of or the entirety of their loan within 14 days of either the first day of class or the disbursement of the funds to the student’s account, whichever is later. After which time it is the borrower’s responsibility to return any unwanted funds to the lender or federal loan servicer. To request a cancellation, please complete and submit a Loan Change Request Form within the appropriate timeframe.
Please Note: If a parent has not yet taken out a Parent PLUS Loan for their student prior to July 1, 2026, they must adhere to the new borrowing guidelines determined by the Department of Education. If a parent has already taken out a Parent PLUS Loan for their student prior to July 1, 2026, they may continue to borrow using the old guidelines for up to three (3) academic years or until their dependent student completes their program.
How to Apply for a Parent PLUS Loan
If your parent receives a denied credit decision
Option 1: Add a credit-worthy endorser
- Find a credit worthy endorser and provide them with your PLUS loan reference number
- The endorser must request an FSA ID with the Department of Education. They will then use that FSA ID to sign into www.Studentaid.gov
- Have the endorser complete an endorser addendum
- Complete a new PLUS MPN to include your endorser
Option 2: Appeal the credit decision
- Submit an appeal due to extentuating circumstances or incorrect information
- Your parent must include a statement along with documentation to support their claim. Visit https://studentaid.gov/appeal-credit/demo to get started,
- The Department of Education will notify you of their final decision
- If approved, our office will be notified
Option 3: Request an additional unsubsidized loan
- Once the denied Parent Plus loan is processed by the Financial Aid Office, an additional Unsubsidized Loan will be added to the aid offer and the student will be sent a revised aid offer notification email via their Cal Lutheran email address
- The student must accept the Additional Unsubsidized Loan in Financial Aid Self-Service
Additional Requirement When Pursuing Options 1 & 2:
PLUS loan applicants who successfully appeal their credit decision or obtain an endorser will be required to complete PLUS Credit Counseling.
- Complete online Plus Credit Counseling
- This will need to be completed before your loan can disburse. Please note this counseling must be completed in one sitting as there is no ‘save progress’ function.
- For questions about whether you need to complete this counseling or not please contact the Student Loan Support Center at 800-557-7394.
Loan Disclosure
Please note that the borrower has the right to cancel a portion of or the entirety of their loan within 14 days of either the first day of class or the disbursement of the funds to the student’s account, whichever is later. After which time it is the borrower’s responsibility to return any unwanted funds to the lender or federal loan servicer. To request a cancellation, please complete and submit a Loan Change Request Form within the appropriate timeframe.
Students are advised to exhaust their Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility before applying for a Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, as this loan requires a credit check and has a higher interest rate than the Direct Unsubsidized Loan interest rate.
Please Note: If you have not applied for a GRAD PLUS Loan prior to July 1st, 2026, you are not eligible to utilize this program. If you have already taken out a GRAD PLUS loan prior to July 1st, 2026, you may continue borrowing for up to three (3) more academic years (or until your program ends).
How to Apply for a Grad PLUS Loan
If you receive a denied credit decision
Option 1: Add a credit-worthy endorser
- Find a credit worthy endorser and provide them with your PLUS loan reference number
- The endorser must request an FSA ID with the Department of Education. They will then use that FSA ID to sign into www.Studentaid.gov
- Have the endorser complete an endorser addendum
- Complete a new PLUS MPN to include your endorser
Option 2: Appeal the credit decision
- Submit an appeal due to extentuating circumstances or incorrect information
- You must include a statement along with documentation to support your claim. Visit https://studentaid.gov/appeal-credit/demo to get started,
- The Department of Education will notify you of their final decision
- If approved, our office will be notified
Additional Requirement
- You or your endorser must complete online Plus Credit Counseling
- This will need to be completed before your loan can disburse. Please note this counseling must be completed in one sitting as there is no ‘save progress’ function.
- For questions about whether you need to complete this counseling or not please contact the Student Loan Support Center at 800-557-7394.
Loan Disclosure
Please note that the borrower has the right to cancel a portion of or the entirety of their loan within 14 days of either the first day of class or the disbursement of the funds to the student’s account, whichever is later. After which time it is the borrower’s responsibility to return any unwanted funds to the lender or federal loan servicer. To request a cancellation, please complete and submit a Loan Change Request Form within the appropriate timeframe.
How to Apply for a Private Student Loan
The student should contact the private loan lender to submit the self-certification form.
All self-certification forms must be sent to the private loan lender. If a private loan lender requires the self-certification form, the loan cannot be processed until the lender has received that completed self-certification form in addition to other disclosures that require the student’s signature. Cal Lutheran recommends that all students follow up with their private loan lender to be sure that they have completed all necessary steps.
Timeline
Creating an FSA Account
Steps involving StudentAid.gov will require a Department of Education FSA ID.
How to create an FSA ID