What Do I Do if I Earn Too Much to Qualify for Student Loans?

By: Court Tuttle

All too frequently, parents or students believe that they have no choice but to pay every cent of tuition and fees, room and board, books, and all other college-related expenses, without financial assistance from any source, if they have the money.

They have been told (erroneously), heard, or thought that they could not qualify for any aid because they make too much money. There are various aid opportunities available to students regardless of their income.

If you are not eligible for any need-based aid, there are other types available. There are thousands of scholarships from private organizations and through schools that are given based on factors such as what high school you graduated from.

Also, whether you are left handed, your major or program of study, your ethnic background, gender, and of course your scores on college entrance exams and high school or previous college GPA.

You can apply for scholarships through your school and also for private scholarships as well. Some scholarships require you to write an essay, some just want an application. You can search for these on-line, at the library, or through your financial aid adviser.

In addition to thousands of college funding consultants around the country who can guide you through the maze of financial aid options, there are also other ways to identify college bargains.
The site contains more than 4,000 unique and unknown college bargains, including often overlooked tuition breaks for academic merit, sibling discounts, first generation college student, and minority student scholarships.

Another way to fund your education is through student loans. Students of any economic background can take out unsubsidized loans. And parents can take a loan out to pay for their child's education in their own name, which is called a PLUS loan.

These loans are available to everyone and are based on creditworthiness. This is an excellent loan to consider. The interest rate in effect is 8.5 percent, which is much better than any private bank loan. It has a great repayment plan and is tax deductible.

Even if you think you make too much money, it is worth it to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to see if you are eligible for non-need based aid. From here, additional information can be given to you to help you in your search.

The key for high-income families or students is identifying possible funding sources and solutions for higher education. Staying focused, persistent and educated about emerging opportunities can do this.

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