Need $20k beyond FAFSA Direct Loans - where to find additional college funding?

Parent Plus loans. Thats what most people use to fill the gap. Your parents will need to apply for them though.

When your parents are denied for Parent PLUS loans, you automatically become eligible for additional unsubsidized loans. You should be able to borrow up to $9,500 total as a freshman (instead of just $5,500). Contact your school's financial aid office immediately and tell them about the PLUS loan denial - they need to adjust your aid package. This won't cover everything, but it helps with that gap. Beyond that, look into these options: 1. School payment plans (most colleges offer monthly payment options with small or no fees) 2. Private scholarships (check FastWeb, Scholly, and your community organizations) 3. Work-study if you qualified (check your SAI notification) 4. Part-time job on/near campus Have you submitted the CSS Profile too? Some schools require both FAFSA and CSS for institutional aid.

OMG i literally had the exact same thing happen!!! my dad got denied for plus and i had no idea what to do. ended up working full time one semester and only taking 2 classes. took me forever to graduate but i didnt have any other choice

Financial aid counselor here. You have several options when there's a significant gap between your aid package and total cost: 1. **Professional Judgment Review**: If your family has unusual circumstances (medical expenses qualify!), you can request your financial aid office conduct a Professional Judgment review. Bring documentation of your sister's medical expenses. 2. **Additional Unsubsidized Loans**: As someone mentioned, when parents are denied for PLUS loans, you automatically qualify for additional unsubsidized loans. For freshmen, this increases your limit from $5,500 to $9,500. 3. **Private Loans Without Cosigner**: Some lenders offer student loans without cosigners based on your future earning potential. Look into Ascent, Funding U, or A.M. Money. These typically have higher interest rates. 4. **Income Share Agreements (ISAs)**: Some schools now offer ISAs where you pay a percentage of your income after graduation instead of traditional loans. 5. **School-specific Emergency Funds**: Many institutions have emergency funds or completion grants for students facing financial hardships. Start by contacting your financial aid office about the Parent PLUS denial and requesting a Professional Judgment review based on your sister's medical expenses. Bring documentation!

everyone says dont take provate loans but honestly what choice do we have?? i had to get private loans for my last 2 years and yes the interest is higher but atleast i got my degree. just try to find ones with the lowest rates and read ALL the fine print

Check with your university's financial aid office about institution-specific scholarships and grants. I discovered my school had departmental scholarships that weren't advertised widely. My biology department had three $5k scholarships for incoming freshmen that had separate applications. Also, have you received your full SAI calculation breakdown? Sometimes there are errors in the FAFSA that can be corrected through verification to increase eligibility. I also had a massive gap after my freshman year and ended up contacting Federal Student Aid directly to discuss my options, but it took me DAYS of calling to get through to someone who could actually help. I eventually used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through faster - they have a system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of waiting on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The FSA agent was able to help me understand all my federal options and directed me to resources I didn't know existed.

The entire system is DESIGNED to force students into crushing debt. It's not an accident that your parents make "too much" for aid but not enough to actually help. The schools, banks, and government are all in on it together. They WANT you desperate enough to sign whatever predatory loan they offer. I went through this same nightmare. Applied for 19 private scholarships and only got one for $500. Ended up with $95K in debt for a degree that got me a $42K job. Now I live with 3 roommates at age 31 and can't even think about buying a house or having kids. Honestly? Consider community college for 2 years then transfer. Or trade school. Or anything but signing your life away to loans that you CAN'T DISCHARGE EVEN IN BANKRUPTCY.

My cousin had this same situation and got something called a "dependency override" where they considered her independent from her parents income. might be worth asking about

Based on your comments, here's what you should do tomorrow: 1. Call your financial aid office first thing and tell them about the Parent PLUS denial. Request the additional unsubsidized loan amount immediately. 2. While on the phone, schedule an appointment for a Professional Judgment review based on your sister's medical expenses. Ask what documentation you need to bring. 3. Inquire about nursing-specific scholarships at your school and any emergency funds they might have available. 4. Request a detailed breakdown of your SAI calculation to check for possible errors. With the additional unsubsidized loans bringing you to $9,500, you'll still have a gap of around $15,500. A combination of professional judgment review, departmental scholarships, payment plans, and possibly a smaller private loan might get you through the first year. Then you can reassess and apply for external scholarships with more lead time for your sophomore year.

Also look into your state's financial aid programs! Many states have grant programs that aren't tied to FAFSA results or have different income thresholds. Some states also have loan forgiveness programs for certain majors like nursing. Since you mentioned you're going into nursing, definitely check if your state has any healthcare worker incentive programs - some will pay for school in exchange for working in underserved areas after graduation. Your state's higher education website should have a list of all available programs.