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Paying for college
See what Parent PLUS loans could cover at a college, and what all your children's college years add up to, year by year.
Steps
- Tap Colleges, then a college on a child's list.
- Under "Paying with Parent PLUS", see each year's cost after grants, the most Parent PLUS allows, and what's left. Tap a year to see how it was worked out.
- To use this college in your family's totals, tap "Plan around this college".
- Tap Overview. Under "Your family's college years", see each school year's total for all your children. Tap a year to see each child's part.
Good to know
Parent PLUS limits
For loans made from July 2026 on, parents can borrow up to $20,000 a year and $65,000 in all for each student, and never more than the cost minus other aid.
Which college counts
The college you chose with "Plan around this college". If you haven't chosen one, the one furthest along: enrolled, then admitted, then applied, then the first on the list.
Two in college at once
Years when two or more children are in college are marked. Many colleges' own aid takes this into account; the estimate for each college lists what it assumed.
The high end
Totals and the loan table use the high end of each estimate, so they don't understate what you may pay.
Estimates, not advice
These are scenarios, not a recommendation to borrow, and not an offer of aid. The FAFSA® is free at studentaid.gov.