Things You'll Need:
- Proof of income
- School information
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Step 1
Gather your proof of income information. You will need to show any income that you may be making. This includes any unemployment income, child support and/or alimony. You can use your last pay stub, but your most recent income tax forms would be better. This information will help the loaner best determine your need.
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Step 2
Fill out a free application for federal student aid, or FAFSA. This is the first application you should fill out. It allows you to apply for federal loan money along with grants. You don't need a co-signer to apply for federal loan money. This is a great place to start looking for a student loan that doesn't require a co-signer.
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Step 3
Contact your bank. Many banks have student loan programs that don't require a co-signer. For example, Wachovia has a loan program for students.
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Step 4
Contact the school you plan on attending. If you've already applied to a school and are just in the process of acquiring funding, you should be able to visit the financial aid office of the school and request information on student loans. The financial aid office is there to help students get the necessary finances they will need to attend, and many of those loans don't require a co-signer.
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Step 5
Read the fine print. Now that you have all of this information on student loans, read over everything really carefully. Federal loans and bank loans tend to be up front about their terms, but some smaller or private lenders may require a co-signer and that language could be buried in the fine print. However, read over everything so you are aware of the requirements for the loan you may be getting.
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Step 6
Fill out a loan application. Now that you've done your research, you should be much more comfortable and knowledgeable. This is the time to get the loan application process started.
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Step 7
Follow up on your loan application. Most student loan applications allow you to check on your loan status online. When you applied, you should have created a PIN that you can use to log in and check the status of your loan. You should be approved for a loan and you might even have some grant money from the government.
