FAFSA orphan status denied private loans without cosigner - any options?

omg this happened to my cousin!! his dad died and mom wasnt in the picture. have you tried going to the financial aid office at the school?? sometimes they have emergency funds or special scholarships for situations like this

First, I'm very sorry about your niece's situation. There are a few options you should explore: 1. Make sure she's truly maximized her federal aid. As a student with documented orphan status, she should qualify for maximum Pell Grant and direct subsidized/unsubsidized loans without parental information. The financial aid office should have processed her as an independent student which increases loan limits significantly. 2. For private loans without a cosigner, look specifically at Ascent, Funding U, and A.M. Money which all offer no-cosigner options for juniors/seniors with good academics. However, they typically have higher interest rates. 3. Have the financial aid office review her SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation - sometimes orphan status doesn't get properly coded and she might be eligible for more aid. 4. Consider having her start at a community college for prerequisite courses which would be much more affordable, then transfer to complete the nursing program.

The whole systems rigged. My daughter had same problem but different cause - I'm alive but can't cosign cause of bankruptcy. Private lenders are VULTURES who dont care about your situation. They just want guarenteed money. Your niece should look at trade schools instead, way cheaper and better jobs IMO.

There's actually a special consideration in the FAFSA for orphans that you should verify was properly processed. When you log into studentaid.gov and view her SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation, look for the "Dependency Status" section. It should explicitly state she's Independent due to orphan status. For private loans, there are a few options designed specifically for students in her situation: - MPower Financing: Specializes in loans without cosigners or credit history, particularly good for high-performing students - Stride Funding: Offers Income Share Agreements rather than traditional loans, no cosigner needed - GradGuard: Has some special provisions for students with deceased parents Also, check if her school participates in the Orphan Foundation of America scholarship program.

Has she considered applying for dependency override? In cases where both parents are deceased, financial aid administrators have the authority to use professional judgment to adjust her financial aid package. This won't help with private loans directly, but it can potentially increase her institutional aid. Also, make sure she's applied for ALL possible scholarships. There are several specifically for students who have lost parents: - The Life Happens: Life Lessons Scholarship Program - The Orphan Foundation of America - Kids' Chance (if her parents' deaths were work-related) Beyond that, I'd recommend calling Federal Student Aid directly to discuss her specific situation. There may be additional programs or guidance they can provide that the school's financial aid office might not be aware of.

I went through something similar with my younger brother after our mom passed (dad wasn't in the picture). We spent HOURS trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid to get specialized help with his situation. The regular phone line was useless - always on hold for 2+ hours then disconnected. What finally worked was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual FSA agent. They have a system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. The agent we spoke with identified additional aid options specific to his orphan status that the school hadn't mentioned. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once we got proper guidance from FSA, the school's financial aid office was able to process additional aid that covered almost all his expenses. Definitely worth trying.

One more important thing to check: has your niece completed the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA? Many private schools use this for institutional aid, and they often have special provisions for students without parents. Unlike FAFSA, CSS Profile schools sometimes have discretionary funds specifically for hardship cases. Also, for nursing specifically, check into the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program and the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. Both are federal programs that can provide substantial funding in exchange for working in high-need areas after graduation. Lastly, some hospitals offer tuition reimbursement if she works for them part-time while in school. It might delay her graduation a bit, but could solve the funding issue.