fballguy28

what is the maximum i can borrow from the government for my first year ? what is the average Pell grant amount ? Also, can i get a private student loan without a cosigner and no credit history it would probably be for about 5,000 USD

swimcatsmom

There is no "average" Pell grant. The maximum Pell grant is $5550 for people with a 0 EFC. The minimum Pell grant is $0 for people with an EFC of somewhere around 4620 ish and up. Many people get $0 pell grant.

You can borrow up to $5500 in direct federal student loans as a freshman.

No, it is unlikely you will be able to get a private loan of any amount without a cosigner. As a student with little to no income or credit history, lenders want to make sure they someone with an income/assets/credit history on the hook for the debt.

cptofthehouse

The average is PELL grant is probably close to a big fat zero since so many people do not qualify at all. You have to have a very low family and personal income, and few assets to quailify. Run a sample EFC to see where you stand. As Swimcatsmom says, the maximum PELL is $5550, and I've been shocked at how some very low income kids have not gotten that max, Every little bit reduces it. It doesn't really matter what the average is, anyways, it's based on hard numbers and you qualify or you don't and how much is by formula.

You can borrow up to $5500 Through the Stafford program. If a parent applies for a PLUS loan and is turned down, you can get an additional $4K. You most likely will need a cosigner for an outside loan.

I am really just echoing everything Swimcatsmom has said.

fballguy28

thanks i had no idea about the extra 4k my parents had their credit ruined when my sister whent missing and they cosigned her student loans

annasdad

Plus, possibly, a Perkins loan, though these tend to be rather small, and who gets them is at the discretion of colleges (within federal guidelines).

cptofthehouse

Your parents have to pay your sister's loan that they cosigned just as if it were totally theirs. It will not go away. It will ruin their credit until paid and cannot even be discharged through bankruptcy.

mom2collegekids

Do you know what your FAFSA EFC?

What schools are you applying to?

How much can your family contribute?


As an aside...what do you mean by, "when my sister went missing"? Was your sister kidnapped??

mom2collegekids

i dream of attending west virginia university i have a 18 on the ACT and the req for a OOS is a 21 but i have a 2.8 gpa and the req is a 2.5 my question is does my gpa make up for the ACT difference ?


I don't think OOS schools are going to work out for you. WVU isn't going to give you the aid that you need.

What state are you in?

fballguy28

Actually WVU offers instate to kids of my major from ohio so that is nice, i am applying to kent state, WVU and BGSU, i am from Ohio but yeah my sister whent missing we really have no idea what happened except for a few theories

mom2collegekids

^^^

Your parents need to appeal to the lender to see if they can get that loan canceled. I'm so sorry to hear about your missing sister.



What is your intended major?

What is the COA for WVU? Even with instate rates because of major, you may not get the same aid that a REAL instate student would get because you wouldn't qualify for any WV state aid that is awarded to residents.

What is your FAFSA EFC?

fballguy28

thank you i just hope everything works out, and my intended major in agribusiness and rural development or agricultural economics and my EFC is pretty low it is pretty much 0 which helps alot, the cost of attendance counting room and board is about $ 14,100 which makes it affordable for me

mom2collegekids

You'll get...

$5550 (if your EFC is 0)
$5500 Direct loan
$4000 more in loans if your parents are denied a Plus loan

You'll still have to pay a few thousand yourself. You might get some work-study, but who knows. Be sure to work over the summer and set that money aside for college.