Parent Plus Loan Question - Paying it off now or later?

[mommdc]

There is an exception listed on Penn State’s aid page for graduating seniors.
https://studentaid.psu.edu/types-of-aid/grants/for-pennsylvania-residents

quote:

PA State Grant for Graduating Seniors

If you are graduating or are in your next-to-last semester, enrolled for 9 to 11 credits, and receiving the PA State Grant you may be eligible for a full-time grant.

This is an exception intended to permit continued eligibility to students who normally enroll full-time, but only need to complete 9 to 11 credits during one of the terms of their final year of study. This exception is not applicable to part-time students.

If you would like to be considered for this PA State Grant exception, please complete the form for the appropriate semester:

https://studentaid.psu.edu/pdfs/pa-state-grant-9-11-fall-spring-form

So it seems to qualify for this, you would have to take and pass 12 credits (full time) for fall senior year and then you could petition to be allowed to take only 9 credits for spring senior year (half time), while still receiving the full state grant for spring.

I am no FA specialist, so I advise you to check with your FA office about this. Also your school grant might be affected by you taking fewer than 12 credits.