<p>Student loans are limited to the schools COA less any other aid/scholarships. Scholarships will generally reduce your need, reducing the need based aid you are eligible for.</p>
<p>I had a hard time getting the total COA from my son’s CC (which does offer dorms). They only published tuition/fees/room& board estimates and no COA amounts for travel/misc etc. I wanted it as we had a little money in a 529 account for him and I was trying to figure out how much we could take out to help him with his bills. The lady I was talking to was trying to be helpful but did not know what I was talking about. I eventually sent an email and it got to the head of the financial aid department (which is only about 3 people there ) and got the # I needed. It might be worth you talking to someone higher up. However it sounds as if the COA you have been given already includes costs outside of tuition/fees so you might not get a different answer.</p>
<p>Your being the head of household will not make any difference as far as the aid they are allowed to award you. Your being independent makes you eligible for slightly higher loan limits (though still not in excess of COA less other aid). It will already have been reflected in your EFC which, along with their COA, is what the school uses to calculate your need. Other than that it is not relevant to the financial aid process. An 18 year old single student with a 0 EFC or a 30 year old parent with a 0 EFC have the same calculated ‘need’ as far as the financial aid process.</p>