{"id":884,"date":"2015-06-30T17:17:35","date_gmt":"2015-07-01T00:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wou.edu\/new-finaid\/?page_id=884"},"modified":"2026-03-30T14:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T21:18:40","slug":"general-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/finaid\/parents-families\/general-information\/","title":{"rendered":"General Information"},"content":{"rendered":"

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PARENTS & FAMILIES<\/h1>\n

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General Information<\/h2>\n

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Financial Aid Requirements<\/h4>\n

Students interested in receiving federal student aid will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid<\/a> (FAFSA\u00ae) for each school year that they wish to be considered for federal aid. Federal student aid includes grants, work-study, and loans (student and parent loans). Therefore\u00a0it is necessary to file a FAFSA\u00ae if a parent wishes to apply for a Direct Parent PLUS loan to help cover the educational costs not paid for by the student\u2019s financial aid award.<\/p>\n

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Consent to Release Information<\/h4>\n

Federal privacy regulations do not allow student information to be shared without the student\u2019s consent, so students must complete a Consent to Release Information form to allow their financial aid information be shared with parents or other individuals. This form is located on the Home tab of the student\u2019s Financial Aid Dashboard. The consent to release confidential information is only valid for one academic year.<\/p>\n

PLEASE NOTE:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Accounting and Business Services (ABS) does not send bills to parents\/guardians or communicate with parents\/guardians directly.\u00a0<\/span>Students are responsible for their WOU charges, and any financial information must be passed from student to parent\/guardian.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>ABS employees may talk with parents\/guardians only after the student has completed a Consent to Release Confidential Information form each academic year. Even after the form is signed, ABS does not initiate contact with parents\/guardians.<\/i><\/p>\n

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**View the 2026-2027 Federal Financial Aid Changes<\/a> for recent updates.**<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parent PLUS Loan<\/h4>\n

Apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan starting April 1st.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/a>Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)<\/a> is a federal loan for parents to borrow on behalf of their dependent students. The Parent PLUS Loan has a moderately low fixed interest rate. For parents to be eligible to borrow this loan, students are required to be enrolled at least halftime (6+ credit hours). Parents must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen and pass a credit check.<\/p>\n

The maximum amount a parent can request in a PLUS Loan is the student\u2019s cost of attendance minus any other Financial Aid and\/or scholarships they are awarded. PLUS Loans do not become a final part of the award unless a parent chooses to apply and is approved for the PLUS Loan.<\/p>\n

Students must be offered an official award notification before a PLUS loan application will be processed.<\/strong> During the application processes parents must indicate the amount of PLUS loan, and the payment method you wish to use.<\/p>\n

Remaining funds, after a student\u2019s account balance has been paid, can be disbursed to either the student or to the parent.<\/strong> This is an option that parents select during the application process.<\/p>\n

Interested in Borrowing Parent PLUS Loan for the award year?<\/h4>\n

Go to\u00a0the Federal Student Aid<\/a> website no earlier than April 1st.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Click on \u201cParent\u201d tab.<\/li>\n
  2. Click on \u201cApply for a PLUS Loan\u201d.<\/li>\n
  3. Log in with\u00a0your\u00a0FSA ID and password.<\/li>\n
  4. If your application is approved, complete a Master Promissory Note for the PLUS Loan.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Parent applicants must log in using their\u00a0own FSA ID and password.<\/p>\n

    Do not use the student\u2019s FSA ID and password to apply for a Parent PLUS Loan.<\/p>\n

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    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    What happens if I am denied a Parent Plus Loan?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    A credit check will be performed during the application process. If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a parent PLUS loan through one of these two options:<\/p>\n