How to Take Out Student Loans Without Your Parents

Getting a student loan without access to your parents’ financial information or credit history may be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

If you’re considered to be an independent student, then you can borrow federal direct loans. If you have good credit, you can also choose from multiple private lenders.

If you’re still technically dependent on your parents but are unable to provide their information when applying for loans, your choices are more limited.

Below, we’ll walk you through how to determine if you’re considered to be independent or dependent, as well as your next steps for getting loans without your parents.

Start with the FAFSA

No matter your situation, begin by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA. This is how you potentially gain access to funding that you don’t have to repay, like grants and work-study opportunities.

Filling out the FAFSA is also how you become eligible for federal student loans.

Take out a federal student loan as an independent student

The answers you provide on the FAFSA determine your dependency status. If you answer “Yes” to at least one of the these dependency questions on the application, you are considered independent.

As an independent student, you don’t need any parent information to apply for federal student loans. You’ll also have higher federal loan limits than dependent students. You can borrow up to $57,500 in total federal student loans as an independent student, rather than $31,000 as a dependent student.

Note that you won’t be considered independent just because your parents won’t help with the process. If you answer “No” to all of the dependency questions on the FAFSA, then you’re considered a dependent student, whether your parents will provide their information or not.

Pursue unsubsidized loans without your parents’ information

If you’re considered dependent and don’t have one or both of your parents’ information, you can still apply for federal student loans. You have two options:

Get a dependency override. If you provide documentation to the U.S. Department of Education to prove you should be considered an independent student, you could get a dependency override.

Approvals are made on a case-by-case basis and will apply only to students with unusual circumstances, such as an abusive family environment or parental abandonment.

Apply for aid without your parents. If you don’t qualify for a dependency override but your parents are unwilling to share their information, answer “Yes” to the following question on the FAFSA: “Do unusual circumstances prevent the student from contacting their parents or would contacting their parents pose a risk to the student?”

You won’t have to answer any further questions about your parents or submit the application with a parental signature. You will need to contact your school of admission to inquire what supporting documents are required to verify your independent status.

Without your parents’ information, your Student Aid Index won’t be calculated, which usually determines your aid. You will be able to take out an unsubsidized federal loan only, if any loan at all.

Your college’s financial aid office will decide whether to lend to you. Contact your school to discuss taking out an unsubsidized loan.

Find another relative or friend to co-sign a private loan

If you need a private student loan to fill a college payment gap, but your parents are unable to co-sign, consider asking a relative or close friend to do so.

Choose a co-signer who can qualify. That means they need a credit score in the upper 600s or higher and a steady income. Make sure your co-signer understands they will be required to pay your student loan debt if you can’t.

Note that private student loans, even with a co-signer, are more expensive than federal student loans because they carry higher interest rates.

» MORE: Private student loans you can get with a co-signer

Find private student loans that don’t require credit or a co-signer

If you have no co-signer and no credit, but still need a private student loan, look into student loans without a co-signer. Typically, these lenders will consider your future income potential instead of your credit history when deciding whether to approve your application.