How to pay for college without a parent PLUS loan?

Asked by: Ryley Oberbrunner  |  Last update: August 18, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (69 votes)

8 Tips for paying for college on your own
  1. Plan ahead. ...
  2. Consider all your post-secondary education options. ...
  3. Use your personal savings and income for college. ...
  4. Apply for scholarships. ...
  5. Apply for financial aid. ...
  6. Compare and evaluate your financial aid offers. ...
  7. After savings and free money, consider student loans.

How can a student get financial aid without parents?

Independent Status: If a student can demonstrate that they are independent (through factors like being married, having dependents, being a veteran, or being homeless), they can apply for financial aid without parental information. Independent students may have access to different types of aid.

How do independent students pay for college?

Typically, independent students tend to receive more funding from the FAFSA than dependent students. This is primarily because the SAI for independent students is often lower, as it does not take into account their parents' income and assets.

Are students obligated to pay parent PLUS loans?

No, a Direct PLUS Loan made to a parent cannot be transferred to the child. You, the parent borrower, are legally responsible for repaying the loan.

What happens if my parents don't qualify for parent PLUS loan?

If your parent is rejected for Parent PLUS loans, then you are eligible to take out federal undergraduate loans as if you were a non-dependent student. IIRC this means you can take out $9500 your freshman year. Ultimately you're capped at $57500. Your school's financial aid officer should be able to help you with that.

How Do I Pay for School Without Student Loans?

33 related questions found

Are parent PLUS loans forgiven after 10 years?

Parent PLUS loans can potentially be forgiven after 10 years under specific conditions, such as through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program after consolidation into a direct consolidation loan. Parent borrowers must enroll in the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan to qualify for PSLF.

How to pay for college if denied financial aid?

7 Options if You Didn't Receive Enough Financial Aid
  1. Apply for scholarships.
  2. Request an aid adjustment.
  3. Explore additional needs-based programs.
  4. Find part-time work.
  5. Ask about tuition payment plans.
  6. Request additional federal student loans.
  7. Research private or alternative loans.

What is the loophole for parent plus borrowers?

How to Use the Double Consolidation Loophole: The key to using the double consolidation loophole is to consolidate each of your Parent PLUS Loans twice. In this scenario, a borrower can have as few as two Parent PLUS Loans.

Is there a way to get out of a parent PLUS loan?

Your parent PLUS loan may be discharged if you (not the child) become totally and permanently disabled, die, or (in some cases) file for bankruptcy. Your parent PLUS loan also may be discharged if the student for whom you borrowed dies.

What are the disadvantages of parent PLUS loans?

What Are Some Reasons to Avoid PLUS Loans? First, PLUS loans have no automatic grace period. Then there's the fact they aren't eligible for most IDR plans. Then, borrowing too much is easy to do, and finally, they're nearly impossible to get out of, even in bankruptcy.

How can I pay for college without my parents helping?

The Federal Student Aid program should be the first option when considering how to pay for college while missing parental support. Federal student loans are more advantageous for students because they come with lower interest rates and flexible repayment terms, including options for student loan forgiveness programs.

How do broke people pay for college?

Grants, work-study funds, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable. Financial aid can come from federal, state, school, and private sources to help you pay for college or career school. Learn more about the different types of financial aid.

How to not use parents' income on FAFSA?

To be considered independent on the FAFSA without meeting the age requirement, an associate or bachelor's degree student must be at least one of the following: married; a U.S. veteran; in active duty military service other than training purposes; an emancipated minor; a recently homeless youth or self-supporting and at ...

What is the income limit for FAFSA independent students?

Despite common misconceptions, there are no income limits for eligibility through Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). From 2017-2018 to 2021-2022, the number of applicants for federal student aid in the United States decreased from 18.97 million to 17.53 million.

What happens if parents refuse to fill out FAFSA?

Important: If you submit your FAFSA form without parent information, you will not receive a Student Aid Index (SAI). Some state- or school-based aid programs look at the SAI in order to determine your eligibility for their funds; because you won't have an SAI, you won't be considered for those financial aid programs.

How to get a dependency override for FAFSA?

Your requests for dependency change must be submitted with the Dependency Override Form and include adequate supporting documentation. Any award adjustment made by the Financial Aid office will depend on your eligibility and the availability of funds.

What if I can't afford to pay my parent PLUS loan?

You can get out of Parent PLUS Loans through forgiveness programs like PSLF or, in rare cases, by discharging the loan in bankruptcy. Otherwise, refinancing or consolidating may help lower your payments, but won't remove your obligation to repay.

Is there any forgiveness for parent PLUS loans?

Parent PLUS loans can be forgiven under the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Parents can become eligible for these forgiveness programs only if they consolidate their PLUS loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan.

How to pay off parent PLUS loans quickly?

How to Pay Off Parent PLUS Loans Faster: 7 Ways
  1. Make Payments While the Student Is In School. ...
  2. Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) ...
  3. Transfer Loans to Student. ...
  4. Make Extra Payments. ...
  5. Take Advantage of Employer Repayment Assistance Programs. ...
  6. Sign Up for Automatic Payments. ...
  7. Refinance Your Parent PLUS Loans.

How to avoid parent PLUS loan?

Take These Steps to Avoid Taking Out Parent Plus Loans
  1. Max out on your child's federal student loan limits. ...
  2. Take extra care in filling out your child's FAFSA. ...
  3. Consider a private student loan or private parent loan. ...
  4. Get moving on a 529 college savings plan as soon as possible.

What is the $100,000 loophole for family loans?

The $100,000 Loophole.

With a larger below-market loan, the $100,000 loophole can save you from unwanted tax results. To qualify for this loophole, all outstanding loans between you and the borrower must aggregate to $100,000 or less.

Can I get my name off a parent PLUS loan?

If approved, the student can pay off the Parent PLUS loan with their new loan and begin making payments on the new loan. Transferring a Parent PLUS loan to a student involves refinancing through a private lender. The student must apply for a new loan to pay off the Parent PLUS loan.

How to pay for college if your parents won't help?

8 Tips for paying for college on your own
  1. Plan ahead. ...
  2. Consider all your post-secondary education options. ...
  3. Use your personal savings and income for college. ...
  4. Apply for scholarships. ...
  5. Apply for financial aid. ...
  6. Compare and evaluate your financial aid offers. ...
  7. After savings and free money, consider student loans.

How successful are financial aid appeals?

Appeals aren't always successful —- my success rate for my clients is a little more than 50 percent. But by using these tips, you can increase your chances of success right from the start.

What disqualifies you from FAFSA?

For example, if your citizenship status changed because your visa expired or it was revoked, then you would be ineligible. Other reasons for financial aid disqualification include: Not maintaining satisfactory progress at your college or degree program. Not filling out the FAFSA each year you are enrolled in school.