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How to Deal if Your Parents Can't Pay
They may support you in every other way, but unfortunately, they can't always afford to pay.
By Kathryn Knight
April 21, 2009
Unfortunately, federal aid isn’t distributed on whether or not your parents want to pay for your education; it all depends on if they can. Parents have many reasons for not contributing to their child’s education: can’t afford it; it’s the child’s responsibility; sticky divorce. But your parents refusal actually hurts you more than they may know.
Regardless of your parents’ reasons, the federal government’s opinion is this: paying for a college education is your parents’ primary responsibility. The government will only finance your education if it’s impossible for your parents to pay up. So what should you do? Fill out the FAFSA. Good news: it’s not too late. Bad news: you’re already enrolled in school and still need to convince your parents to fill out a FAFSA.
Even if you don’t qualify for need-based aid, filling out the FAFSA automatically qualifies you for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Yes, “loan” may be an icky word, but a federal government loan is the best loan opportunity that you will ever come across. The interest rates are low, 6.8% on the unsubsidized Stafford loan, and the payment plans make it easy to pay off your debt.
Also, by filling out the FAFSA, you may qualify for subsidized Stafford and Perkins Loans as well as Pell Grants, which are even better.
Pitch the idea from the angle that they don’t have to help financially but they can do you this huge favor. Additionally, it’s not a bad idea to go to your school’s financial aid office and present them with your situation. Maybe they can pull some strings or talk good old Mom and Dad into helping. Still not budging? Check out these other tips on convincing your parents to help this one last time.
eakspeasy
4 months ago
This is a no-brainer. What about _after_ this?
MichaelC3429
4 months ago
This is my son's acct but this is his mother writing. He got int a state school, problem: no dorm room or meal plans 3 hr commute each way by bus each way. Just got acceptance ltr from a closer state school - 1 hr bus ride each way. I am a single/divorced parent, 2 kids, made under 60K, but he only qualified for the fed loans. ALL OF MY RESOURCES go towards rent, food and bills. I can not help financially. He needs a lap top. Anyone know of any programs/money that can help?
LoveState09
4 months ago
my parents are willing to help out and have applied for the FAFSA, but we didn't qualify. So what can we do now. Last year we qualified, but this year we didnt. I just don't understand all this financial aid stuff.
richar909
4 months ago
im prospecting student looking to go to college just need help on setting things up if any one can help email me at richar909@yahoo.com any tips or advice would be helpful
atlyata
4 months ago
i need to know if anyone has a suggestion. i am 23 and got laid off last month. my parents have not finished their taxes yet so i cannot file for financial aid for the fall semester. i have to pay for my classes on the 20th of july. i cant find a job what can i do.
MaryC56
5 months ago
I just hate thinking about money...all this stuff just pisses me off..i mean i come from a low income family..i work my butt off trying to pay a loan i have for $8,000 froma previous college experience. Now fafsa tells me I cant get the Pell Grant, which that is where all my money was coming from. My parents arent gonna help me. They both didnt go to college. I just dont see why kids should have to be punished for their parents problems. I really dont want to have to get another loan. Paying off loans for the rest of my life just seems like stress and depression.
KimberlyC1602
5 months ago
Ah this sucks. I filled out my FAFSA but i do not live with my parents, so i skipped my parents info. But im still classified as dependent. I have to speak with my Financial aid advisor to see if they can complete my FAFSA. Why doesnt the FAFSA have problems asking if you live at home or not or if your parents pay for your school. Im in summerschool and having trouble paying so i definately need some financial help!
robbiecharles90
5 months ago
Exactly Christopher! My Dad isn't a "credit worthy co-signer" makes too much money lol yeah right, and we have to take out plus loans. Unfortunately we can only take out parent plus loans which sucks because you have to start making payments right away, and the unstable economy doesn't help me to make payments on it, like grrr lol
ChristopherR1371
5 months ago
yeah all i qualify for is loans because my parents "make too much in a year" and i can only get small loans with interest rates that are a bit too high for me since if i do not pay on time enough they will probably start to harass my parents for their money. It also does not help that i cannot get a job that pays well enough for this situation within this unstable economy which is pretty depressing for me now.
AlexP552
5 months ago
Ya i get that you should fill out the FASFA and me and my parents did, but I'm still not having any luck. I got the Stafford Loan but my parents make to much for me to get much more, but they have to pay for my sister to go to school in the fall (she's starting kindergarten at a private school) so they cant afford it. i dont see why the government doesnt ask these kind of questions.
JessicaH839
5 months ago
Thank you for this article! I thougt I was one of the only students whose parents wont/cant pay!
AltheaD12
5 months ago
Basing Financial Aid on income to me doesn't make sense. What about the other factors in life such as bills,shelter,and food. The money people make has to support them and their families it can't all go to education because then how would they eat and keep a roof over their heads. Everyone one who is ambitious and wants an education deserves to go to school. I feel that schools and the government should grant people more money who can't get someone to cosign a loan for them and is not credit worthy themselves. I just think it's unfair to those who really want it and can't get it. Trust me I know how it feels.
LizG6
5 months ago
Unfortunately, this author seems to have taken the viewpoint that every parent has the ability to put their child throught school and it's just a matter of convincing them to do so. This is false. I know from experience that it's not always possible. I am the oldest child in a family of six, and my father makes an average income. It is not viable for my parents to try to even help me get through to my goal of a master's degree. However, it is a matter of pride that I am doing this all myself. It would be great if my parents could hand me some cash, but it's not going to happen. On the other hand, what kind of perception would I have about reality if my parents paid for everything. I plan to live in the real world, so I want to pay for my education realistically too.
LuisaS25
5 months ago
it still isn't fair. I cannot get any support anywhere :((
CherylA127
5 months ago
My husband and I make too much according to the government, When in actuality we are living pay check to pay check. We are both 50 years old and do not have enough money to even think about retiring. My older daughter put herself through school, but my younger daughter thinks it is our responsiblity because of what she reads from government guidelines. My responsibility was to raise her and support her until she became an adult. She is now 21 and still lives at home, but she cannot get a loan on her own, we would have to co-sign which we will not do. I can hardly make ends meet without having to think that I will get stuck with a loan for $100K or more in our old age. They should make it easier for these young adults to get students loans without having to make the parents co-sign. If I had the money I would love to help her, but I don't so what is a parent to do. In my daughter's eyes we are bad parents because we will not co-sign for her, but I give her everything esle since she lives at home: a roof over her head, food, clothing etc....