Student Loans for Single Mothers

Single mothers have the same student loan options as other types of borrowers, including federal and private options. 

However, there may be differences in whether you qualify for certain options—like subsidized loans—based on your income. Or, there may be grant and scholarship opportunities available. Read below to find out the various student loans for single mothers.

Lender	Best for	Our rating
Dept. of Education	Federal student loans	Not rated
College Ave	Private student loans	5/5
Sallie Mae	Cosigners	4.8/5
Earnest	Large loans	4.7/5
ELFI	Student loan advisors	4.5/5

Federal student loans for single mothers 

To be eligible for federal student loans, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a Social Security number. You must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and send it in by the school’s deadline. 

Single mothers most likely count as independent students since one qualifying criterion is whether you have children who receive financial support. You can check your dependency status on the federal student aid website.

Federal student loan options available for independent students include:

• Undergraduate students: Direct Loans 
• Graduate students: Direct Loans and PLUS loans

Direct Loans for undergraduate students can be subsidized or unsubsidized, but there is a smaller limit on the amount of student loan funds that may be subsidized each year. The difference between subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans is that subsidized loans don’t accrue interest while you are attending school. Unsubsidized loans do accrue interest during school.

Here’s how much an independent student can borrow in federal loans, and how much of that can be subsidized:

Year in school	Total annual borrowing limit	Total that can be subsidized
First-year undergraduate	$9,500	$3,500
Second-year undergraduate	$10,500	$4,500
Third-year undergraduate and beyond	$12,500	$5,500
Graduate or professional student	$20,500	None
Total borrowing limit	$57,500 for undergraduate students and $138,500 for graduate students	$23,000 for undergraduate students and $65,500 for graduate students (this includes all loans received for undergraduate study)

Private student loans for single mothers

Single mothers who have maxed out their federal student loans and need more money can turn to private student loans. We think these four companies offer single mothers the best private student loans.

College Ave

Sallie Mae

Earnest

ELFI

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Best private student loans

How private student loan terms compare to federal loans

Private student loans don’t have the same benefits as federal student loans, like income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and student loan forgiveness. Depending on factors like your credit score, you may qualify for lower interest rates than those offered by federal loans. 

Though it may not always be the case, private student loans typically don’t have forbearance programs. Although job-specific loan repayment programs may apply to federal and private loans, they tend to only apply to healthcare and legal professionals. 

Ask the expert

Erin Kinkade

CFP®

I suggest borrowers first estimate the amount they will need to borrow each year (consult a student loan advisor if needed), then explore scholarships and grants that could be available, including the work-study options. You may also have access to a 529 education savings plan—either of your own or unused/unneeded fund for a child that you can transfer to the parent in need of college funding. And of course, apply for federal loans before private loans. 

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Adult student loans

What can a single mother use student loans for?

You can use student loans for qualified educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks, technology, and supplies. Single mothers may also be able to use their student loans to cover childcare expenses.

When you take out loans, you can stipulate whether you want the maximum amount, enough to cover tuition or enough to cover tuition and books. If you borrow the maximum amount, you can use any remaining funds after paying tuition to cover room and board and other essential expenses.

Can single mothers get student loan forgiveness? 

Yes. One of the most common options is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. To qualify for PSLF, you must make 120 payments while working full-time for an approved government or nonprofit organization. You must also be on an IDR plan the entire time. 

Single mothers eligible for PSLF should complete the annual employment certification form, which requires information about their employment and student loan status. Completing this form annually will ensure that your payments are counted correctly for PSLF.

Jobs that may qualify for PSLF include:

• Teachers
• Social workers
• Healthcare professionals, including nurses and doctors 
• Government employees
• Non-profit employees
• Military service members

You can opt for income-driven repayment loan forgiveness if your employer doesn’t meet the PSLF requirements. You must be on an IDR plan for 20 or 25 years, depending on the plan and type of loans you have. After the term is over, your remaining loan balance will be forgiven. 

Another program to consider is the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program. It offers up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness for teachers who work in a low-income school for five consecutive years.  

Alternatives to student loans

Aside from loans, you may be able to find financial aid where you won’t need to pay it back. 

Scholarships and grants

If you’re a single mother, you may qualify for other types of financial aid, such as scholarships and grants. Unlike student loans, you don’t need to repay scholarships and grants, which makes them a better option for students.

Ask your university’s financial aid department about your options, or look to other sources like professional associations. Or, you can look at any industry-specific organizations to see if there are any options for financial aid relating to your major or interests.

Don’t be afraid to mention that you’re a single mother as there may be special resources for parents attending college.

Need-based aid

Need-based aid may be available at the federal and state levels. For example, you may qualify for grants such as the Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). The Pell Grant can pay up to $7,395 per year, and the FSEOG award can pay up to $4,000 annually.

Some single mothers may also qualify for work-study, a type of financial aid in which students are given a job on campus or with an affiliated organization. Work-study jobs usually average between 10 and 15 hours a week and pay at least minimum wage.

Ask the expert

Erin Kinkade

CFP®

Other avenues to check out could be talking with parents or other family members who have the means and want to help financially by supporting the borrower through college. If the funds are paid directly to the financial institution from the family member (and not paid directly to the student), this should not constitute a gift (potentially triggering gift tax if over the annual gift tax exclusion amount for an individual). Lastly, if you have a Roth IRA, qualified education expenses could be withdrawn from the account (even prior to age 59½). Qualified expenses include tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, room and board, and special needs services. The amount you can withdraw cannot exceed the amount of your qualifying expenses. It is recommended to consult with a financial professional when looking to use Roth IRA funds, specifically before age 59½.

How we chose the best student loans for single mothers

LendEDU evaluates student loan lenders to help readers find the best student loans. Our latest analysis reviewed 725 data points from 25 lenders and financial institutions, with 29 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.

These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.

Recap of the best student loans for single mothers

Lender	Best for	Our rating
Dept. of Education	Federal student loans	Not rated
College Ave	Private student loans	5/5
Sallie Mae	Cosigners	4.8/5
Earnest	Large loans	4.7/5
ELFI	Student loan advisors	4.5/5