<p>I'm doing a one-year master's program at Columbia. The total cost of tuition will be around $38,000. My parents are facing financial troubles currently and won't be able to help me out very much. I'm planning to apply for Stafford Federal Loans. However, I realized that I can only get up $20,500 from Stafford. Is this correct? Is there any other possible way for me to get federal loans to cover the other $17,000 of tuition. Or will I have to take out private loans? Thank you.</p>
<p>Our son will be a grad student this fall.
His school told him that he would be offered the maximum stafford, $20,500.</p>
<p>You are also eligible to borrow a Graduate PLUS loan in the amount of COA-Stafford loans ($20,500 - of which up to $8500 can be subsidized, depending on need). The PLUS requires a credit check, but it is a federal loan.</p>