FAFSA for divorced parents - I make too much for grants but can't afford college (low credit score)

Your daughter can still get unsubsidized federal student loans even if your income is higher! Every student qualifies for those regardless of income. The current limit is $5,500 for freshman year, then $6,500 sophomore year, and $7,500 for junior and senior years. That's not going to cover everything but it's a start. The custodial parent HAS to be the one on the FAFSA, so you can't put her dad on it instead (they check). One thing though - with your income, she might still qualify for some aid depending on how many people are in your household. The new SAI system isn't just based on raw income.

my kid is in almost the exact same situation!! what i found out is that the school matters ALOT. some state schools have way better aid packages than others even in the same state. tell your daughter to call the financial aid office at each school shes applying to and ask specifically about their institutional aid for students in your income bracket. we found a school that gave my daughter a $8000 scholarship even though we didnt qualify for grants.

To address your specific questions: 1. Your daughter will qualify for federal Direct Loans in her own name (no cosigner needed) - up to $5,500 for her freshman year. 2. The custodial parent must complete the FAFSA, so you're correct that it should be you. Listing her father instead would be considered misrepresentation. 3. For Parent PLUS loans, either biological parent can apply regardless of who completed the FAFSA. So yes, her father could apply for the Parent PLUS loan if his credit is better than yours. 4. Has your daughter applied for merit scholarships? With the new FAFSA changes, more schools are shifting money to merit-based aid rather than need-based. 5. Also look into work-study programs and payment plans that might allow you to spread costs over 10-12 months instead of paying each semester. The combination of her federal loans, possibly her father taking Parent PLUS loans, merit scholarships, and payment plans could make this manageable.

just want to add that u should NEVER manipulate who fills out the FAFSA to try to get more aid. my neighbor did that and they got audited and had to pay back everything plus penalties. the system can see tax records and child custody agreements etc.

I went thru something similar last year. Trying to call and get answers from Federal Student Aid was A NIGHTMARE. I spent literally 3 days on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally I found Claimyr.com which got me through to an actual FSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have this system that holds your place in line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent confirmed that either parent can take out the Parent PLUS loans regardless of who fills out the FAFSA, which was super helpful in our situation since my ex-husband has better credit than me.

The whole system is RIDICULOUS!!! I make too much for aid but not enough to actually pay for college!!! And they expect us to take out massive loans that will cripple us forever just so our kids can get an education. The middle class gets SCREWED every time. My son ended up going to community college for 2 years then transferring to save money. Not what he wanted but the system forced our hand.

Based on your situation, here's a potential financial strategy: 1. Your daughter should accept the federal Direct Loans ($5,500 for freshman year) - these don't require a credit check 2. Have her father apply for Parent PLUS loans to cover additional costs (this requires credit approval but no specific income requirements) 3. If her father is denied for Parent PLUS loans due to adverse credit history, your daughter automatically becomes eligible for additional unsubsidized loans (up to $4,000 more per year) 4. Look into the specific state university's payment plans, which often allow monthly payments instead of lump sums 5. Check if the university has institutional scholarships specifically for students from single-parent households Don't rule out financial aid entirely - the new Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation considers more factors than just income. Complete the FAFSA as early as possible (October) for best results.

have u considerd having ur daughter take a gap year and work full time to save money? thats what my niece did and she saved almost 15k before starting college which helped alot. plus she got some good experience for her resume

also make sure ur daughter fills out the FAFSA as SOON as it opens in december!! last year we waited till february and missed out on some aid because the money was already gone. first come first served for some aid types!

One more thing to consider - many state schools have tuition discounts or reciprocity agreements with neighboring states. If your state university options are limited or expensive, look at schools in neighboring states that might offer reduced tuition rates that could be comparable to your in-state options. These agreements are often called things like "Good Neighbor Policy" or "Regional Student Program." Also, don't forget to look into outside scholarships from community organizations, religious groups, employers, and professional associations. While these are often smaller amounts ($500-$2,000), they can add up significantly if your daughter applies to many of them.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help! I just went through this exact situation with my daughter last year. One thing that really helped us was looking into work-study opportunities at her chosen school - these don't show up on the initial financial aid package but can provide $2,000-$4,000 per year in earnings that go directly toward school costs. Also, I'd recommend having your daughter apply to be a Resident Assistant (RA) in her sophomore year if possible. Most schools provide free room and board for RAs, which could save you around $10,000-$12,000 per year. It's competitive but worth applying for! Another tip - some schools have emergency financial aid funds for students who experience unexpected financial difficulties during the school year. These aren't widely advertised but can provide grants (not loans) of $500-$2,000 when families hit rough patches. The combination of federal loans, potential Parent PLUS through her father, work-study, and planning for the RA position really made college affordable for us. Don't give up hope - there are more options than it initially seems!