FAFSA aid package leaves $14k gap - single mom needs alternatives to Parent PLUS loans

had the same thing happen w my son last yr. look into whether the school has a PLUS denial option - some schools offer additional unsubsidized loans when parents get denied for PLUS. my son got an extra $4k that way

When a parent is denied for PLUS, your daughter becomes eligible for additional unsubsidized Direct loan amounts (usually $4-5k more per year). It won't cover the full gap, but it's something. You should also immediately appeal your financial aid package - explain your single parent status and any financial hardships. Many schools have special funds set aside for situations exactly like yours. For the remaining balance, look into: 1. Payment plans (most schools offer monthly installments) 2. Outside scholarships (check FastWeb, Scholly, local community foundations) 3. Work-study if it wasn't already offered 4. Consider a less expensive school for the first two years Also request a SAI (Student Aid Index) reconsideration if your financial situation has changed since filing FAFSA.

My daughter went through this last year, the gap was around $17k for us. We ended up having to go with a private loan co-signed by her grandparent because my credit wasn't good enough. But honestly, make SURE you look at community college options first... we're in so much debt now and she could've gotten her gen eds done so much cheaper. Not worth the struggle we're in.

I've been working in college financing for 10+ years and I see this situation constantly. The FAFSA SAI calculation really doesn't account for single-parent households properly. Here's what you need to do: 1. File a special circumstances appeal immediately - specifically mention you're a single income household with full financial responsibility 2. Request the additional unsubsidized loan amount for PLUS denial (this is your right under federal regulations) 3. Ask specifically about institutional grants for PLUS-denied families - many schools have these but don't advertise them 4. Look into whether your state has any special programs for single parents Be VERY careful with private loans - the interest rates can be predatory compared to federal options.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST SINGLE PARENTS!!!! I went through EXACT same thing with my son. FAFSA expects me to contribute $22K to his education on a $55K salary?!?! AFTER I pay rent, utilities, food, car payment, insurance???? It's INSANE!!! The whole system assumes there's another parent or family member to help. I ended up having to tell my son he couldn't go to his dream school and it BROKE MY HEART. He's at community college now which is fine but the financial aid system is BROKEN!!!!

After spending hours trying to reach FSA and my daughter's school with no luck, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it was a game-changer for this exact situation. They connected me to a live FSA agent in under 30 minutes when I was trying to resolve PLUS loan denial issues. I was able to get clarity on additional funding options that the school hadn't mentioned. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Beyond that, definitely appeal the financial aid package. Ask specifically about: - Institutional grants for single-parent households - Additional unsubsidized loan eligibility due to PLUS denial - Any emergency or completion grants they offer Also check with your employer - some have educational assistance programs even for dependents.

have u checked if the school has any special scholarships? my niece got one for students from single parent homes, was like $5k per year. also some states have special grants for single parent families worth looking into

One more thing to consider - if your student is a strong academic performer, consider having them email professors in their intended department about any departmental scholarships. These are often different from the general financial aid pool and sometimes go unclaimed because students don't know to ask. My clients have had success with this approach even late in the process.

forgot to mention - check if your state has a college tuition tax credit program too. saved me about $2k last year which isnt huge but helps

Update: I just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I had a long talk with my daughter about our options. We're going to appeal the financial aid decision and request the additional unsubsidized loans since I was denied for PLUS. I also found two scholarships specifically for students from single-parent households she's going to apply for, and she's agreed to look into on-campus jobs. If we still can't close the gap enough, we're going to consider her starting at the local state university branch campus (much cheaper) and transferring after a year or two. It's not ideal, but I really don't want to take on private loans if we can avoid it.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might help - I recently learned that some colleges have emergency aid funds that they don't widely publicize. These are often for exactly situations like yours where there's an unexpected gap in funding. When you meet with financial aid for your appeal, specifically ask if they have any emergency grants or completion funds available. Also, I've heard that timing can matter with appeals - if you can get your appeal in before other families do (like right now), there may be more institutional aid available in their discretionary funds. Some schools also have alumni emergency scholarship funds that kick in later in the process. Your plan to consider the branch campus option shows really smart financial planning. Many students don't realize that the first two years of coursework are often identical regardless of which campus you attend, but the cost savings can be huge.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what worked for us in a similar situation. My daughter faced a $12k gap last year, and we were also denied for Parent PLUS. Here's what ultimately helped us close most of the gap: 1. The additional unsubsidized loan for PLUS denial gave us $4,000 more 2. We found a local credit union that offered student loans at much better rates than the private lenders the school suggested 3. Her school had a "gap grant" program specifically for families caught between middle-class income and actual ability to pay - we had to ask three different people before someone mentioned it 4. We set up a payment plan for the remaining balance, which made it more manageable The key was being persistent and asking very specific questions. Don't just accept the first "no" - keep asking about different types of institutional aid. Also, if your daughter has any special talents (art, music, leadership, etc.), some departments have small scholarships that aren't tied to the main financial aid office. Wishing you the best with your appeal process!