Student Loans: How to Get the Funding You Need

Many times student loans are key to whether a young adult will be able to attend college. Without them, getting a higher education may remain an unattainable dream. Luckily, many people can get a student loan without a co-signer and even if your are not financially needy.

The first step to getting a student loan is to know how to apply for one. The very first thing you need to do is fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as the FAFSA. You can do this at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This application will help qualify or disqualify you for a federal Pell grant, which needs to be done for all students -- whether they will qualify or not -- before looking for any other student loans. The great thing about the FAFSA is that, even if you don't qualify for a Pell grant, it can help you qualify for a subsidized Stafford student loan where the US Department of Education pays all of the interest on the loan until repayment begins (6 months after you have left school -- whether it is because you graduated or dropped out). 

What kind of loan or grant you get, and how much you are offered, will depend on your Expected Family Contribution -- otherwise known as EFC. If you can get a grant for some of your expenses, but not all of them, you will likely be able to obtain either a subsidized or unsubsidized student loan to pay for the rest. Even if you do not think that you will qualify for a grant or subsidized loan, you can still be offered one that is unsubsidized. This means that you will have to pay the interest from the start of the loan, but it may be easier to obtain a loan this way rather than by going to a private lender -- especially if you are a young student who does not yet have a credit rating and no other adult will co-sign for you.

Whether you get a grant, subsidized student loan, or an unsubsidized student loan, if you have money left over after all of your classes and books are paid for, you can use the remainder for living expenses. You can use it to pay the school for meals and a dorm for the year or to help pay for your own apartment and groceries. This may come in handy if you are not able to work enough hours while taking a heavy load of classes. 

If you cannot get any funding after review of your FAFSA, or you are not offered enough, you can always try to get student loan funding through a private lender. This may be harder to accomplish and you may need to line up a co-signer -- such as your parents, spouse, or an older sibling -- who has a good credit record. These student loans should also be deferred until you leave school and include a 6 month grace period.