Parent loans are not generally a good idea, except in rare circumstances where they have large assets that they do not want to liquidate now but can liquidate later to easily pay off the loans. In most circumstances, taking a parent loan means that the parents do not have the money, and are endangering their retirement savings (or their ability to fund your younger siblings’ college costs, if you have younger siblings). If they spend more than they have on your education, they may have to depend on your financially to support them later, which may be more difficult to sustain when you have your own financial obligations during your working life.