1
Apply for student aid. You can qualify for financial aid regardless of your credit score, and you can still get student loans from the federal government. Most federal financial aid is based on need alone; your credit is not taken into consideration. However, a bad credit history due to bankruptcy, default, foreclosure, etc., may affect you, especially on Parent and Graduate PLUS loans, but it doesn't automatically disqualify you. If you have bad credit, you should make the most of your federal financial aid opportunities before you move on to private funding, which can be much more difficult to secure.
Ad
Learn the basic eligibility requirements. To get federal financial aid, you need to be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a U.S. permanent resident.
Your school of choice must be an accredited one, and you must be attending at least half time.
- There are exceptions to the citizenship requirements, so check with the financial aid offices at any schools you are considering. Documented refugees and victims of human trafficking, for example, may qualify for financial aid.
- In certain cases, students under the age of 24 can qualify as independent. Talk to your financial aid office if you are an orphan, a former foster child, a ward of the court, homeless, a veteran, in graduate school or professional school, or married or have children.
