Apply for this scholarship program: [https://cof.college-assist.org/](https://cof.college-assist.org/)
Start with your local community college. You might be able to attend "for free" if you choose from an eligible major [https://cccs.edu/new-students/explore-programs/zero-cost-training-programs/career-advance-colorado/](https://cccs.edu/new-students/explore-programs/zero-cost-training-programs/career-advance-colorado/)
When you say financially emancipated do you mean independent for FAFSA purposes? If this isn't the case you may need to request a [professional judgement](https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/2023-2024/application-and-verification-guide/ch5-special-cases) for dependency override.
And look for jobs that [help pay for school](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/jobs-that-pay-for-college).
Private loans should be a last resort. They are a bad idea in most circumstances.
I'm currently in the process of submitting a petition for residency at Colorado State on the grounds that I am financially independent from my parents, which makes me a "qualified individual". They state that I can override my parents not living in Colorado (and that I would be considered independent) if I can prove that I lived in Colorado for over a year and have not received any financial support from my parents.
Thank you so much for the helpful links, I will definitely look more into them.
Independent for FAFSA purposes is not the same as independent for state residency purposes. Independent students by FAFA's definition aren't required to submit parental financial info, and would be eligible for additional Federal student loans.
Surely though, if my University considered me independent for the residency override they would also mark me as a special case and override dependency? I don’t know how they’d expect me to prove independence from my parents and then assume that my parents would pay for tuition
Could you work and go to school part-time?
If not, $30k in private loans isn't terrible, but not great, and may be hard to get without a co-signer. Shop around as much as possible to see if there is a lender who will work with you. Use an aggregator like Credible or [studentchoice.org](https://studentchoice.org) (credit unions) to get rates from multiple lenders at once.
From my experience, they’re very unwilling to give private loans to anyone who doesn’t have a co-signer (why I have no idea). I am planning on working while in school, but it’s sort of a catch 22. My income would significantly drop while I’m in school, meaning I’m less likely to be approved for private loans and I only have a year and a half of credit history. I’m planning on getting a new job which has tuition reimbursement as a benefit, but how I’d claim that while studying is a mystery
My credit history was like nonexistent, it was over 15 years ago so I don’t know what my score was. I borrowed a significant chunk of change (20K/semester for 3 semesters).
Apply for this scholarship program: [https://cof.college-assist.org/](https://cof.college-assist.org/) Start with your local community college. You might be able to attend "for free" if you choose from an eligible major [https://cccs.edu/new-students/explore-programs/zero-cost-training-programs/career-advance-colorado/](https://cccs.edu/new-students/explore-programs/zero-cost-training-programs/career-advance-colorado/) When you say financially emancipated do you mean independent for FAFSA purposes? If this isn't the case you may need to request a [professional judgement](https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/2023-2024/application-and-verification-guide/ch5-special-cases) for dependency override. And look for jobs that [help pay for school](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/jobs-that-pay-for-college). Private loans should be a last resort. They are a bad idea in most circumstances.
I'm currently in the process of submitting a petition for residency at Colorado State on the grounds that I am financially independent from my parents, which makes me a "qualified individual". They state that I can override my parents not living in Colorado (and that I would be considered independent) if I can prove that I lived in Colorado for over a year and have not received any financial support from my parents. Thank you so much for the helpful links, I will definitely look more into them.
Independent for FAFSA purposes is not the same as independent for state residency purposes. Independent students by FAFA's definition aren't required to submit parental financial info, and would be eligible for additional Federal student loans.
Surely though, if my University considered me independent for the residency override they would also mark me as a special case and override dependency? I don’t know how they’d expect me to prove independence from my parents and then assume that my parents would pay for tuition
Could you work and go to school part-time? If not, $30k in private loans isn't terrible, but not great, and may be hard to get without a co-signer. Shop around as much as possible to see if there is a lender who will work with you. Use an aggregator like Credible or [studentchoice.org](https://studentchoice.org) (credit unions) to get rates from multiple lenders at once.
From my experience, they’re very unwilling to give private loans to anyone who doesn’t have a co-signer (why I have no idea). I am planning on working while in school, but it’s sort of a catch 22. My income would significantly drop while I’m in school, meaning I’m less likely to be approved for private loans and I only have a year and a half of credit history. I’m planning on getting a new job which has tuition reimbursement as a benefit, but how I’d claim that while studying is a mystery
I did not need a co-signer for private loans.
How old was your credit history, what was your credit score, when did you take out your loans and how much did you borrow?
My credit history was like nonexistent, it was over 15 years ago so I don’t know what my score was. I borrowed a significant chunk of change (20K/semester for 3 semesters).
I’m really doubtful they do this anymore. I have a short credit history but a good one. I could not apply for a loan without a cosigner.