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Smart Borrowing for Parents
How to help your kids pay for college




There are 4 ways to help your child get the funds needed to pay for college.


1) Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a standard form used by virtually all two and four-year colleges, universities and career schools for the awarding of federal student aid and most state and college aid. This avoids having to fill out lots of forms for each school.


Now you or your kids may think that filling out the FAFSA is worse than getting a root canal or filling out an annual income tax form. However, if filling out the form could reap money for your child to go to college, why not do it? You've got nothing to lose!


FAFSA Web Site and Online Form

Complete information about FAFSA, with option to apply online

Apply for your FAFSA PIN Number

Comprehensive resource on how to apply for your FAFSA PIN

Apply for a Federal Parent PLUS Loan

For parents, PLUS Loans may be a good option to help fund your child's education.


2) Know Your Credit Score

What's all the fuss about credit scores? Here you can find out what they are and why they are so important for helping your child borrow money wisely for school:


What's Your Credit Score? Click the button to find out!

Click here to find out your credit score!


3) Become a Co-Signer on Your Child's Private Education Loan

Once you and your child have maxed out scholarships and Federal loans, you may need private education loans to pay for additional school-related expenses. (At this stage of your life, you may want to save money for your retirement, or avoid tapping the equity in your home.) Because your child is young, he or she may not have the employment experience and/or credit history to have earned a high enough credit score to qualify for a private loan on his or her own. That's where you can help your child responsibly borrow money for school.


Click Here to Discover the Benefits of being a Co-Signer!

 

4) Apply for Private Loans

If scholarships and Federal student loans still aren't enough to cover tuition, fees, food, housing, commuting, books and all those other annoying expenses that are part of the cost of going to college, then a private student loan through OneSimpleLoan can be your best solution!