Graduate PLUS Loans are similar to the Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (Parent PLUS Loans). The main difference is that Graduate PLUS Loans are granted to graduate and professional students, while Parent PLUS Loans are granted to parents of undergraduate students. Like Parent PLUS Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans are low-interest federal student loans that help pay all or partial education expenses. The entire costs may be covered if a student does not receive funds from other loan programs. Students who apply to Graduate PLUS Loans should have first applied to the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. If a student already receives assistance from other Federal Family Educational Loan Programs FFELP) or Federal Direct Loan Programs, then the remaining amount can be granted through the Graduate PLUS Loans. The Graduate PLUS Loan is not need-based; eligibility depends on credit history. Adequate credit standing is required. If a student does not have adequate credit history, he or she is allowed to present an endorser who does have satisfactory credit history and would be willing to repay the loan if the student fails to repay it. The terms are similar to Parent PLUS Loans. Repayment of the Graduate PLUS Loans begins on the date that the last disbursement is made. The Graduate PLUS Loans can be granted through Federal Family Educational Loan Programs FFELP) or Federal Direct Loan Programs—meaning that the lender can be a private entity or the US government. As in the case of the great majority of federal student loans, graduate and professional students may apply to the Graduate PLUS Loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).