For most undergraduates, paying for college starts with a Federal Direct Loan. These loans are issued in the student’s name, do not require a cosigner, and are available to nearly all eligible undergraduates regardless of credit history. But loan limits, institutional eligibility rules, and financial aid caps can leave some students short of what they need.

After that, students can turn to Parent PLUS loans or private loans.

When parents cannot qualify for a Parent PLUS loan because of adverse credit history, and when private lenders either deny the application or require a cosigner the family cannot provide, the financing gap can be hard to close.

While there are private lenders offering no-cosigner student loans, approval rates are low, and the terms are often less favorable than federal loans.

In such cases, families may need to weigh more significant changes to their college plans, including transferring to a lower-cost school, starting at a community college, or deferring enrollment until more affordable options are available.

Federal Direct Loan: Reliable But Limited

The Federal Direct Loan program is designed to make at least some borrowing possible for nearly every undergraduate attending an eligible institution. Loan amounts are capped annually: for example, dependent first-year students can borrow up to $5,500, with limits increasing in later years. Aggregate borrowing caps also apply.

The biggest challenge is that these loans rarely cover the full cost of attendance, particularly at private or out-of-state public universities. Students at ineligible institutions, such as certain for-profit schools or programs without accreditation, cannot access federal loans at all. That restriction can leave families with fewer borrowing avenues from the outset.

Federal Direct Loans also require the student to be enrolled at least half-time, which can be a barrier for those taking fewer classes due to work or family obligations.

What If Parent PLUS or Private Loans Are Denied?

Parent PLUS loans allow parents of dependent undergraduates to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, minus other aid, but approval requires a credit check. Adverse credit history — such as bankruptcy or foreclosure in the last 5 years, or delinquencies on current debt — can result in denial. While parents can sometimes appeal or add an endorser, these steps are not always possible.

Private student loans work similarly: they require either strong credit or a qualified cosigner. Without one, approval is unlikely. 

While no-cosigner loans do exist, such as those offered by certain niche lenders or nonprofit organizations, they typically have certain requirements that can be tough to achieve. Even then, approval rates remain low, and interest rates may be higher than for creditworthy borrowers with a cosigner.

Exploring Alternatives

When traditional borrowing options are exhausted, families may need to rethink the college plan. This could mean choosing a lower-cost school that allows the student to stay within federal loan limits, starting at a community college (which can be free in many states) and transferring later, or living at home to reduce expenses.

Some students take time off to work and save before enrolling or re-enrolling, reducing the need for loans. Others seek out employer tuition assistance programs, which can help fund part of their education without borrowing.

Scholarships and grants should also be revisited, even if deadlines for the upcoming academic year have passed. Local community foundations, professional associations, and state agencies sometimes offer funding opportunities outside the federal aid cycle. 

While these sources may not replace a large loan, they can help fill smaller gaps and make an affordable school more feasible.

What Families Can Do

The inability to secure enough student loans can be a shock to families who assumed financing would be available. But taking on unaffordable debt, especially from high-interest private loans without strong repayment protections, can create long-term financial strain.

When faced with limited borrowing options, the decision often comes down to whether to reduce costs or delay attendance. For many, that means selecting a college where federal loans and existing resources are enough to cover tuition and living expenses without taking on risky private debt.