Private College Student Loan

Are private student loans possible if you're enrolled in a 2 year program at a community college?

I am attending Bunker Hill Community College in the fall and since there is no housing provided by the college I am getting an apartment. I know that private student loans may be used for expenses such as rent and transportation but have not been able to find any information regarding the eligibility of a Community College student. I will not be able to do this without a loan, I have no other funding options. ADVISE ME! thanks, eezy

Public Comments

1. Have you filled out the FAFSA and submitted it yet? The FAFSA is what the gov't and BHCC will use to calculate your financial aid needs. Your financial aid will include the cost of housing, if you want it to. You may be able to qualify for some low-cost, low-interest government subsidized student loans. These loans are better than private loans, because: 1) much lower interest 2) you don't pay them back until *after* you graduate. Google the FAFSA right now, and get that process started. If, after you file the FAFSA and receive your aid letter from BHCC, you see that you still have unmet need, first go speak with financial aid at BHCC. You may have options other than private loans, or if you *must* use a private loan, they may be able to recommend one that is relatively good. If you *have* already filled out the FAFSA, go speak to someone in financial aid at BHCC. Explain that you need to have your aid adjusted to cover living expenses, and they'll help you get all that settled. Don't jump right to a private loan without going through these other steps first. Private loans should be your last resort. Good luck!
2. Yes -- and to qualify for getting student loans to cover your expenses, you should talk to your financial aid office within the university and tell them that you need to live in an apartment off-campus which will "adjust your COST OF ATTENDANCE". That's a KEY word to use with your financial aid office...Your cost of attendance will determine your eligibility for student loans. If the Financial Aid office doesn't know that you'll need to live in an apartment, they might not factor that in to your financial aid package, so you might have to fill out a certain form for them to re-evaluate the aid they provide you. Call them as soon as you can about the situation... Where have you been searching for your info "regarding the eligibility of a Community College student"? From the school's website or from outside sources? Have you checked SallieMae.com? Also, here's an article on how to "squeeze" cash out of your school and be sure that when you perform an outside search for scholarships, you consider all kinds of factors that make you unique to a university: For example, are you an athlete? Are you a member of a church? Are you disabled? Are you a veteran? Are you a Minnesota resident? Are you studying "Health Science"? Are you in the work-force already where you might be able to contact your employer or your union for tuition reimbursement/tuition assistance? It's all possible! Just make sure you use that keyphrase: I need to adjust my "cost of attendance".