If you’re an undergraduate student, there are several ways to get student loans. You can apply for federal loans and grants at the same time, or you can do so separately. If you have Parent PLUS loans to repay, they may be eligible for forgiveness after 20 years of payments if your child is still attending school at least half-time.
Step 1. Prepare for the FAFSA
The first step to getting student loans is preparing for the FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form that you fill out every year in order to apply for financial aid from the government, including Pell Grants and Stafford Loans.
The FAFSA will help determine your eligibility for federal grants and loans, so it’s important that you complete this form as soon as possible after January 1st of each year (or right after high school graduation). You have until October 1st of each year to file your application with the US Department of Education; otherwise, schools can’t enroll you without it!
Once you’ve completed this form properly and submitted it electronically through their website or mail-in paper application (if applicable), prepare yourself mentally by taking some time away from schoolwork so that when January rolls around again next year there won’t be any surprises left behind when filling out another blank page online before submitting everything offsite–especially if things don’t go according plan during finals week due date deadlines.”
Step 2. Complete the FAFSA
- If you’re a first-year student, the FAFSA is free and available at fafsa.gov. You can also get help from a financial aid office in person or over the phone.
- The FAFSA is an online form that lets you apply for federal student loans, grants and other aid programs. It’s only available during open enrollment periods (October 1 through December 31). Once your application is submitted, it’s reviewed by the U.S Department of Education—and if you qualify for any additional financial assistance beyond what was applied for on the previous year’s application, then additional funds will be sent directly to your school account within 10 days after they’ve been processed through their system (this usually takes 2-3 weeks).
Step 3. Accept Your Awards
Once you’ve applied and been awarded the loans, accept your awards online. You can also accept them by phone at 1-800-4HEALTH (1-800-432-5423) or by mail at the following address:
- Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Subsidized Student Loans
P.O. Box 8509
Baltimore, MD 21285
Step 4. Review Your Student Aid Report (SAR)
After you have submitted your FAFSA, the school will review it and send you a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR is used to determine how much financial aid you’re eligible for. If there are any errors in your FAFSA or if you need to make corrections, contact Financial Aid at [school name].
If you have questions about your award letter from a school, contact that school directly.
Step 5. Submit any Requested Documentation.
- Submit any requested documentation.
- Make sure to submit requested documents in a timely manner. If you do not submit your required documents, it may be difficult to qualify for student loans.
- You can expect that you will need to provide information about yourself, such as:
- Your social security number (if applicable)
- Your date of birth and/or place of birth
- Your gender identity or expression (if applicable)
You still need to check with your school to make sure you’re on track to get all the grants you’re eligible for.
If you’re like most people, you might have assumed that student loans were out of reach for your family. After all, only those who are already wealthy can afford to take on debt at such high interest rates and with no way of paying them back except by working their fingers off for the rest of their lives.
But that’s not true! Student loans aren’t just for rich kids—they’re available to anyone who wants them. You just need to know how they work and what kind of resources are available in your area.
So let’s start with the obvious: How do I get a student loan?
Conclusion
Your student aid award letter will tell you how much money is available, but there are other federal student financial aid programs you can apply for as well. If you don’t qualify for federal grants and scholarships, then apply for loans.
