Grad PLUS loans, like other federal student loans, come with certain benefits, but the interest rate is higher than the rate of other federal loans to students. Grad PLUS loans come with a loan fee, which is a percentage of the loan amount and is dependent on the date on which the loan is first disbursed. In terms of federal student loans, graduate and professional students have another option — the Direct Unsubsidized Loans — which carry a lower interest rate than Grad PLUS loans (7.94% vs. 8.94% for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2026).