DACA Student Loan – Can I Get Student Loans as a DACA Recipient?

DACA Student Loan: If you are a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) alum, your student loan options are slightly limited. Yet lenders are still willing to work with you, even though you don’t have a cosigner.

Can I Get Student Loan As A DACA Recipient?

Sure, you can receive student loan from private lenders, your school and probably your state as a DACA recipient. But you’re probably not eligible for federal student support — including federal student loans — because it’s only open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible non-citizens.

5 Private Student Loans Available to DACA Recipients

Can’t qualify for federal aid? You might want to check out the following private student loans.

Stilt

• APRs: 7.99% to 15.99%
• Loan amounts: From 24 months
• Loan amounts: $1,000 to $25,000
• Eligibility requirements: Be employed, have a US bank account, live in a state where Stilt operates, hold one of the following visas: F-1 and OPT, H-1B, H4, O-1, L-1, TN, J-1, DACA or be a US citizen.

Although not legally a provider of student loans, this company provides personal loans for non-citizens residing in the U.S. But in order to qualify, you will need to be working.

There’s also no way to apply with a cosigner, because your relatives won’t be able to help you — unless they take the loan in their name. Such loans come in even smaller amounts than Mpower, so you may not be able to cover all of your degree.

Mpower Financing

• APRs: 8.89% to 14.97%
• Loan amounts: $2,001 to $50,000
• Loan terms: Up to 120 months
• Eligibility requirements: F-1 student visa, attendance at partner university and in last two years of degree program

This lender is one of the few providers of student loans specialized in support for international students and recipients of DACA. It doesn’t need a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident— and you don’t need a job or credit score.

The downside is that you have to be eligible in the last two years of your degree. And its loans come with higher rates and lower limit balances than other providers could consider.

Discover

• APRs: 4.74% to 12.49%
• Loan amounts: From $1,000
• Loan terms: Up to 20 years
• Eligibility requirements: Must be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school with satisfactory academic progress and seeking a degree. Must be a US citizen, permanent resident or international student.

Although you are unable to apply on your own, Discover recognizes DACA applicants on a visa as international students. It ensures that you must register to qualify with a qualified citizen or permanent resident co-signer. Discover provides funding for your entire program as opposed to Mpower.

If you’re a strong student, this lender could be a particularly good choice— it provides a cashback incentive when you keep your GPA above a 3.0. It also has other options for expenses for graduate students and postgraduate students.

Citizens Bank

• APRs: 3.24% to 11.50%
• Loan amounts: $1,000 to $295,000
• Loan terms: Up to 180 months
• Eligibility requirements: Be the age of majority in your state, be enrolled as at least half-time at an eligible school, be a US citizen or resident and have good credit or a cosigner with good credit

Unlike Discover, this bank also requires beneficiaries of DACA to register with a US citizen or permanentresident co-signer as international students. It offers student loans to undergraduate and graduate students— and to fund the entire degree, you only have to apply once.

This also has some of the lowest rates for DACA applicants out there. But its loans come with relatively short terms, so you may want to find more manageable monthly repayments elsewhere.

Sallie Mae

• APRs: 2.75% to 10.22%
• Loan terms: Up to 240 months
• Eligibility requirements:

Sallie Mae offers a wide range of student loans for everyone in their profession, from undergraduates to doctors. Although you may apply for qualifying with a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, it allows the exemption of a cosigner. If your legal status changes, this allows you to move the loan to your name.

The loans often come with more flexible repayment options than other private lenders may consider, such as allowing you to postpone your loans when you go back to school or during an internship.

Read Also:

• Private Student Loans and method of Application
• Prosper Personal Loans 2020 Updates
• Nelnet Student Loan
• Scholarships for Low Income Students 2020
• Getting the Best Student Loans Without a Cosigner

Where else can I find student loans?

There are a couple of other places where you may be able to find student loans besides private lenders.

Your state or local government

Although you may not be able to qualify for federal assistance, you may be eligible for student loans from the Department of Education of your state or city. These often come with more competitive rates and conditions than private lenders, as well as more flexible repayment options. All students usually get the same payment. And you don’t usually have to apply to register with a cosigner.

Your school

Many universities offer students institutional loans that may be accessible to beneficiaries of DACA. They tend to have comparable rates and terms to state options — and typically all students get the same deal. These may come in lower amounts, but they are primarily intended to complement state and federal assistance.

What Are My Other Financial Aid Options?

Before you apply for student loans, you might want to look into free aid available to you first. This includes:

• Scholarships. After the Dream Act was passed, many organizations such as TheDream.US and Golden Door Scholars started offering scholarships specifically designed for DACA students. Your school and state might also offer its own scholarship programs, which are usually based on merit.
• Grants. Private organizations, your school, and your state and local government might also offer need-based funding you can qualify for if you’re a low-income DACA recipient.

Take advantage of online resources like those provided by United We Dream, which has a searchable list of financial aid designed specifically for DACA students on its website.

3 Steps to Find All of the Financial Aid Available To You

Want to limit how much you need to borrow? Follow these steps to ensure you find all of the free aid you’re eligible for:

1. Research scholarships and grants while you’re in high school. Get started early — and enlist the help of your college adviser or guidance counselor to keep you aware of deadlines.
2. Submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile ASAP. Even if you aren’t sure you qualify, submit both of these financial aid applications to maximize your options. You might be surprised to find that you actually are eligible for federal aid.
3. Talk to your school’s financial aid office. Once you have an idea of where you’re going, reach out to the financial aid office to find out what other options you might have missed. Stay in touch to keep on top of new opportunities.

Bottom line

While for most DACA applicants, federal and some private student loan are off the table, there are still several options available. But first, you may want to look at free assistance. You may have more access to scholarships and grants — and you don’t have to pay them back.