What are the best loan options to bridge the gap in tuition
The loan(s) you can comfortably pay back.
What is your income and financial situation, and how much do you need to borrow? Do you own your own home? Have you maxed out the federal subsidized loans?
I would think that the best loan would be the one that you don’t get because your student has picked a very good affordable school. I do understand that not everyone has that luxury.
Barely make it paycheck to paycheck but we do own our own home. Going to a state university - but still not cheap
Here is a good online calculator that helps you figure out what your payments will be. Some loans require you to make payments while you are still in school. Pay close attention not only to the payments it calculates, but the paragraph after the payment grid that will tell you the annual income needed to pay them back without being at risk of default.
How much in loans do you need?
The unemployment rate right now is really low - this is a particularly good year to use a gap year to save up. Beyond reducing loans needed for freshman year, the summer between sophomore and junior year the student would have a better chance at landing a well paid co-op with a successful year of employment already under their belt. There are a lot of resorts (even year round ones) that have dorms for workers. The social skills they get their first year of college (getting along with others, managing time and responsibilities) are all being developed and with no risk to gpa and no outlay for tuition. If you aren’t financially ready, don’t put yourself or your student in a hole. A working gap year lets them grow and gives them not only a good financial foundation, but also helps develop skills they need to be successful at school, too.
not sure yet but, I’m positive she will not qualify for much financial aid.
What year in high school is your daughter?
Is she a current senior waiting for financial aid awards?
Did you do net price calculators on the college websites? What did they say for your net costs?
Do her colleges meet full need?
Are they $25,000 a year or $75,000 a year?
Did you do a FAFSA. What was your FAFSA EFC and how does that compare to your cost of attendance.
No way to give you decent loan information without some facts. For example…if your kiddo only needs $5500 total in loans, those would be covered for freshman year by her Direct Loans.
OTOH, if she needs $50,000 in loans, there are lots of other questions to be answered…like your ability to be a cosigner for all four years. Oh…and the repayment that would be necessary when she graduates.
@Jaxjordan Start at a CC. It will be cheaper. Have her work summers and save to pay for the last two years at a state school.
Do you think she won’t qualify for need based aid…or do you think she won’t qualify for merit aid?
What year is the student?
What are your child’s stats? How much will the family pay each year? What do you need the net costs to be? What is the major and career goal? What is your home state?
she will be starting her freshman year in the fall, fafsa estimates 1200 work study 5000.oo loans that she will qualify for leaving her a difference of 10,000
I don’t think she will qualify for need based financial aid - hopefully she will get some merit based assistance but that has yet to be seen.
Does she have any college acceptances yet?
She can get $5500 in Direct Loans.
What are her stats?
@Jaxjordan When did she get accepted? Seems late for merit money.
If you’re barely make it paycheck to paycheck without cosigning private loans I wouldn’t take on additional debt. If she doesn’t get enough merit, can she start at a cc and transfer for her last two years?
The work study money has to be earned with a work study job during the semester, it is not available up front.
What are there stats?
What’s your income?
What colleges has she been admitted to?
What’s your budget?
If you live paycheck to paycheck then she should be eligible for financial aid.
Call all colleges to say you’ve not received your fa award letter. Or, if you have and no merit scholarship was announced, gen it’s likely there’s isn’t any forthcoming.
It’s April 11. If she has acceptances, and completed the financial aid applications on time…she should have her financial aid award as well.
Has the student checked her student portal? Very often financial aid awards are posted there. Or posted ther first.
If she had already been accepted to the state university, she can contact their financial aid office.
The other issue is…she needs to check her student portal and spam folders and emails to see if she has been selected for verification. If so…she won’t get an award until the verification info is received.
On another thread, you mentioned she wasn’t living at home anymore and asked if parent info was needed. Yes…it is…unless she is over 24, or married, or supporting a minor child. Did she include your parent information? If NOT this most definitely needs to be looked at.