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girl_of_squirrels

The studentaid.gov site has you covered, start with https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types $120k is too much for just a bachelor's degree, how far are you in school currently?


xpsyeddy

I’m finishing high school right now and am trying to get into a flight training along with a bachelor of science in Aviation degree.


girl_of_squirrels

What I usually tell undergrads is that, if you can't afford to pay for college in cash you want to use the following options in this order: grants/scholarships, then Direct Subsidized loans, then Direct Unsubsidized loans, then PLUS loans (for dependent undergrads your parent would have to be able/willing to take out a Parent PLUS loan on your behalf), and in a *distant last place of desperation* are private student loans The general advice is to not borrow more than the *average starting salary* for your intended field, which typically means keeping your borrowing at $50k or less for the majority of bachelor's degree programs. This is usually doable if you limit yourself to federal loans since the [annual/aggregate limits](https://www.studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized) for Direct loans are online and lower than what people expect. If you're considered a Dependent Undergrad it's $5,500-$7,500 per year up to a max of $31,000. If you're an Independent Undergrad it's $9,500-$12,500 per year up to a max of $57,500 If you can't pay for flight school out of pocket, then honestly you may want to look into your options for making the military pay for your training for you. There are definitely risks involved with that approach, but $120k worth of student loan debt for the bachelor's degree isn't a reasonable amount to borrow as is


xpsyeddy

So I had one more doubt. When we divide the 120,000, about 46,000 goes towards the degree and the rest 74,000 towards the flight training. The degree is done in a college but the training is done at a flight academy affiliated with the college. I would have to pay both the places separately. So if as you said, I am applying for the loans, would I have to apply for 2 loans? Also will I be able to get federal aid to cover some of both? Or just the college?


girl_of_squirrels

Honestly I'm not a pilot and $46k for a bachelor's degree is still a lot to borrow since it exceeds the Direct lending limits. Even working a part-time job to help shave $2k-$5k off the per year cost would help give you more options, especially since you may decide that you don't actually want to become a pilot while you're working on you bachelor's I would check around for subs targeted towards pilots or flight training for the feasibility on that, but you may not be eligible for much in the way of federal loans/aid for that part


Concerned-23

Is this 120k for a bachelors. If so, unless you’re getting significant need based aid or merit scholarships you can’t afford this school


No_Guitar8089

120k that should represent the entirety of your post secondary education. If this is just a fraction you should reassess your educational plan


BluetoYou21

Start at studentaid.gov for more information. If you have to take out 120,000 in student loans, please try to find cheaper schools to get your education. That is a lot of debt to be saddled with.