Student Loan for Single Mothers: An Investment to Brighten Future
With the cost of education on the higher side, pursuing higher studies seem to be a gloom and doom for everyone especially for the single mothers. You should breathe a sigh of relief that you are not the only one who is facing financial crisis while pursuing higher studies. There are hundreds of thousands of jobless mothers who have a dream to go back to the college and earn a degree for themselves. However only a fraction of them are able to metamorphose their dream into reality while the rest of them are left to fend for themselves. But now not anymore because the solution to this financial crunch is Student Loan for Single Mothers. This is a financial aid program basically designed for those women who have divorced from their spouse and have children and wish to complete higher education in United States.
Student Loans for Single Mothers is basically divided into 2 broad parts. The first one is the Federal Loans and the other one is Private Loans. Taking about Federal Loans for Single Mothers, one should know that the rate of interest is marginally low with easy repayment procedures. However one should know that the loan is available on First Come First Serve basis. Some of the popular loans under this category are mentioned under the following headings:
- Stafford Loans: This loan is available in both unsubsidized as well as subsidized forms and for an academic year, one can avail amount up to $5500. One can get this financial aid through different loan programs like William D. Ford Direct Loan or Federal Family Education Loan.
- Perkins Loans: Under this student loans for single mothers, you can avail financial aid up to $5350 for a given academic year and from 2011 the loan amount has been increased up to $5500 with a fixed interest rate. The money is able to finance for the undergraduate courses only.
- PLUS Loans: This loan is only designed for those mothers who wish to purse their Post Graduate degree in USA. Good credit history is important in order to avail this financial aid program. The loan offers fixed interest rate and the repayment should commence from the date last reimbursement of the loan is offered to you.
In order to avail the aforementioned federal student loan for single mothers, it is imperative that one must have filled the FAFSA form and their age is more than 18 years. In addition to this, the college should be approved by the Department of Education. One can apply for this loan either through the online procedure or through manual paperwork.
For those single mothers who are unable to qualify under the federal loan program need not lose hope. You can pursue your higher studies as there are private lending agencies like Sallie Mae, Wells Fargo, Citibank etc available that can finance for the total cost of attendance minus the financial aid received by you. The rate of interest is certainly high as compared to the federal ones but one needs to compromise with it. The aid would be provided on the fact that you have good credit history and you are a single mother. In the event your credit scores are not convincing, you need to apply for the loan with the help of a credit worthy cosigner.
Student Loan for Single Mothers is undoubtedly a very good financial aid program that can help the helpless women who are devoid of financial help to complete their higher studies without the least bit of financial hassles. All the necessary college expenses would be met under this aid which in turn can lead to a better life not only for her but for the children who are dependent on her.