<p>Two situations here:</p>
<ol>
<li>School did not include Federal Student Loan in the package because they "don't recommend it".</li>
<li>Another school did not offer the Federal Student Loan in the package.</li>
</ol>
<p>Can we still take Federal Loans if we qualify by Fafsa?</p>
<p>Loan offers are up to the school. You will have to ask them if it’s possible to add it to your package.</p>
<p>So even if we qualify for a loan based on fafsa, we may not be able to take it. I don’t understand why a school would care.</p>
<p>The school may not routinely offer the loans as part of an FA package, but they might add them if you request it. You would have to ask them about that. The only way to get them is through the school, so if they won’t add them you cannot get them.</p>
<p>Ok, I will look into it. Thanks.</p>
<p>Kennedy, there are a number of reasons why a school may not put the loan in the financial aid package. If the school has met aid in other ways, then there is no need to do so. Your student can take out the Stafford loans on his own and if he has any FAFSA defined federal need, some of that can be subsidized. Otherwise, it would all be unsubsidized and got towards the EFC.</p>
<p>Be aware that if the financial aid package and outside scholarships exceed the COA of the school, then the student may not be permitted to take out the Staffords. You cannot borrow more than the official COA minus the grants, loans and workstudy awards given. I have seen this come in play a few times with commuting students who want to live on their own and want to borrow to make that possible.</p>