Can students get loans without parents as co-signers for FAFSA?

Good news - Federal Direct Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized) don't require a credit check or co-signer! These are the main federal student loans available through FAFSA. Your daughter qualifies for these on her own as long as she's completed the FAFSA, even if your SAI is high. The current annual limits for dependent students are: - First year: $5,500 ($3,500 subsidized max) - Second year: $6,500 ($4,500 subsidized max) - Third year+: $7,500 ($5,500 subsidized max) The total undergraduate aggregate limit is $31,000 ($23,000 subsidized max). However, as you can see, these won't cover the full $32,000/year. For the remaining amount, she'd typically need either Parent PLUS loans (which DO require a credit check for parents) or private loans (which almost always require a co-signer for students).

Unfortunately, being considered independent for FAFSA purposes is VERY strict. Your daughter would need to meet one of these criteria: - 24+ years old - Married - Graduate/professional student - Veteran/military - Has dependents she supports - Orphan/ward of court/in foster care after age 13 - Emancipated minor - Homeless or at risk of homelessness Just having parents who can't/won't pay or co-sign doesn't qualify. It's one of the most frustrating parts of the system.

have u looked at community college for 2 yrs then transfer?? my son did this and saved like $50k total. his associates degree was like $6k a year and he lived at home. then transferred to state school for jr/sr year with all credits. got same bachelors degree as kids who paid 4x more lol

One option nobody's mentioned: if you apply for Parent PLUS loans and get denied due to your credit issues, your daughter automatically becomes eligible for additional unsubsidized federal loans. The additional amounts are: - First/second year: +$4,000/year - Third/fourth year: +$5,000/year So first year would be $5,500 (regular) + $4,000 (additional) = $9,500 total in federal loans without a co-signer. Still not enough for $32k/year, but it helps narrow the gap.

Has ur daughter applied for scholarships?? Thats wut my niece did, she got like 8 different ones from random places. Some were only like $500 but it added up to almost $10k per year! She did local business ones, ethnic ones, major-specific ones, everything she could find. Takes time to apply but worth it

I've been trying to reach Federal Student Aid for weeks about a similar situation with my son. The website just gives generic info, and the phone line is always busy or disconnects me! So frustrating when you need specific answers about your situation.

Have you considered a Parent PLUS loan denial strategy? Some parents INTENTIONALLY get denied for PLUS loans so their kids can access those additional unsubsidized loans mentioned above. Since you mentioned credit issues, you might naturally get denied, which actually helps in this case. Also, look into whether your daughter's school has an institutional loan program. Some colleges offer their own loans with better terms than private loans and don't require co-signers.

wat about her working during school?? my daughters roomate works 25hrs at campus bookstore and makes like $1200/month. not enough for everything but helps with expenses

To summarize your options without parent co-signing: 1. Federal Direct Loans ($5,500 first year) 2. Additional unsubsidized loans if PLUS denied ($4,000 more) 3. Scholarships (apply to as many as possible) 4. Work-study or part-time jobs 5. Ask about institutional loans from the college 6. Consider less expensive schools Also, have you appealed your financial aid offer? Many schools have a special circumstances form where you can explain your situation (medical debt, etc.) that isn't reflected in the FAFSA calculation. Sometimes they can adjust your aid package based on this information.

Another option to consider is having your daughter take a gap year to work and save money while also applying for more scholarships. I know it's not ideal, but hear me out - she could work full-time for a year, save every penny possible, and use that time to apply for hundreds of scholarships (there are new ones opening all the time). Plus, some students find they're more focused and mature when they start college at 19 instead of 18. During the gap year, she could also explore whether any of her preferred programs are available at more affordable schools, or if there are certificate programs that could give her a head start. Some employers even offer tuition assistance programs for part-time workers who commit to staying with the company. It's a tough decision, but sometimes delaying by one year can make the entire college experience more financially manageable and less stressful for the whole family.

One more strategy to consider - look into your state's 529 college savings plan. Even though your daughter is already 18, some states allow you to open a 529 and use it immediately for qualified education expenses. The benefit is that while you won't get the long-term tax-free growth, you might get a state tax deduction for contributions in the same year you withdraw for college costs. Also, check if your daughter qualifies for any federal tax credits like the American Opportunity Tax Credit - you can claim up to $2,500 per year for the first four years of college. While this doesn't reduce upfront costs, it can help with your tax situation and free up money for the following year's expenses. Finally, I'd strongly recommend having your daughter create profiles on scholarship search sites like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and College Board's BigFuture. Set aside time each week to apply for smaller scholarships ($500-$2,000) - they're less competitive than the big ones and can really add up. Some are as simple as writing a 250-word essay or submitting a photo. The key is consistency and volume of applications.