Can You Use Student Loans For Rent?

We can hear your bank notification ping; your student loan got credited into your account! You can now pay the tuition fees for your dream university and rent an apartment for your comfortable stay during your journey. Yes, you read it right. You can use student loans to pay rent for your apartment. You will find all the information about using student loans for rent in this blog. 

Understanding Student Loans and Accommodation Costs

Many people take out student loans to help cover the costs of post-secondary education, including housing expenses. When you get a student loan, the primary function of it is to pay your tuition fees. As mentioned, depending on the loan, your student loan might go directly to your school or be directly credited to your account, after which you can use the student loans to pay rent. 

Wondering if you can use federal student loans for rent? Yes, you can, but first, you must fill out a free application form with personal details. Where to do this, you ask? Go to your school's financial aid office, and they will give you the form. Along with your student loan, if you have been granted a scholarship, managing your student finances and loan management becomes easier.

Landlords always want security deposits and monthly rent paid on time. College financial aid departments typically do not distribute the remaining student loan money until the start of the academic year. You should ensure you have enough money to pay these expenses if you plan to live off-campus.

You can choose either a federal student loan or apply for a loan through private lenders that offer student loans for living expenses, too. This will help you use student loans to pay rent.

Can You Use Student Loans for Rent?

Yes, you can use your student loan to rent an apartment. Your student loan provided by your student loan provider doesn't just pay for your school expenses and allowance; it also pays for your living expenses, such as your apartment. This means you can use your student loans to pay rent.

Depending on your student loan, the money will be sent to you directly or to the school, which will then be given to you with the tuition already deducted. The money from the student loan would then be used at your discretion, such as paying for miscellaneous or your apartment. Deciding where to live for the rest of your school years is a good move since it allows you to evaluate how much money can be used for paying the rent with student loans.

Before signing the papers or the loan, ensure that your education loan covers aspects other than your tuition fee, such as paying the rent with student loans, utilities, etc.

Dorms vs Off-Campus Housing Costs

Sharing isn't always caring. If you don't like sharing your personal space with anybody, living off-campus by renting an apartment will be a better option. Living in on-campus dorms can become expensive and tend to burn larger holes in your pockets. (Ripped jeans are trendy, but ripped pockets are not). 

Living off-campus will also help you with your interpersonal growth, where you will learn to live independently and create a better environment for yourself. It can help you escape your comfort zone, as university residency dorms create a protective bubble. 

Studying and living in the same place can become monotonous and mundane. You also become the king of your life by renting an apartment off-campus. You can also choose to have a roommate or not. And, since you can use student loans for rent, living off-campus becomes easy with student loans for off campus housing!.

Student Loan Disbursements

Student loan disbursement is the process of distributing funds from a student loan to the borrower, typically a student or their educational institution, to cover the cost of education-related expenses. These expenses include tuition fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other educational costs. Once your student loan gets approved, your institution will deduct tuition or related fees and then send any leftover loan money directly to your bank account. You can then use student loans for rent from this money. 

How to Use Student Loans to Pay Rent for an Apartment?

Phew! Now we know that using student loans for rent is possible, let us see how we can use our education loan to rent an apartment.

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Steps to Use Student Loans for Rent

1. Apply for a student loan

For using student loans to pay rent, the first thing to do is to apply for college loans. If you want to be a federal-backed student, you must fill up a free application for student aid form with personal details such as your family's monthly income and your desired school's details. Where to do this, you ask? Go to your school's financial aid office, and they will give you the form for a college loan.‍

2. Review the Loan

After receiving the loan award letter, carefully read everything. Choose the loans that will cover your living and educational expenses. Make sure the loan fully covers your apartment rent and related expenses. You can also check out student services websites like amber+ that provide student loans providers.

3. Hunting Apartments

Now that you are apartment hunting, you can ask your friends and family if they know of any apartment that might suit you. You can read about them in classified ads in your local newspaper or drive around to see if there are any excellent apartments.

4. Fill out the Rental Application

Afterwards, you can complete your rental application at the leasing office. You will then fill out the necessary details that they need. Also, inform them you will use your education loan to pay for the apartment. This is important because if you didn't provide them with this information, you might be denied when they find out later.

5. Sign and Deposit

Finally, you can sign the necessary documents and pay for the deposit that the leasing office needs. Always make sure to pay for the monthly rental payments to avoid additional fees. You can put your living expenses in a different bank account to ensure you won't spend it on something else.

Understanding Cost of Attendance

So, what is the cost of attendance (COA)? It is a university's total estimated expenses for a year, including tuition, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and other expenses. The cost of attendance is used to determine whether a student is eligible for financial aid. The cost of attendance varies for each educational institution, but many schools calculate it in a similar manner. 

The COA enables you to estimate your expenses while attending college, encompassing both your tuition fees and living costs. It's important to understand that your chosen university's cost of attendance represents the maximum amount you can borrow through federal student loans, accounting for any scholarships or other forms of financial aid you might receive. Institutions might consider the following factors when determining a student's cost of attendance:

1. Whether the student is a resident or non-resident of the state
2. Whether the student plans to reside on-campus or off-campus
3. If the student resides in-state, whether they intend to live at home

Tips and Tricks for Using Student Loans for Rent

Sorry to bring you back to reality, but a student loan is not free money. You do have to pay back the loan with interest. So it would help if you manage your student finances wisely. Here are some tips from someone who is not that scared of numbers. (oops! Who are we kidding?) But these tips might also help you in the long run.

1. Again, make sure that using student loans to pay rent is possible and covers other expenses and living expenditures.

2. Spend your loan money wisely. You need to budget your monthly finances smartly and efficiently.

3. We know we don't feel like working when the bank account is heavy. But getting a part-time job will be helpful in the long run if you don't want to feel FOMO with your friends during the semester's end.

4. You can put your loan in a different student bank account to avoid spending it for miscellaneous expenditures. For this you will need a bank account, here is a guide on how to open a bank account effortlessly.

5. Take time to understand the lease time for your apartment.

Considerations & Mistakes to Avoid When Using Student Loans for Rent 

By now, you know you can use student loans for rent, along with your tuition fees. When using student loans to pay rent, you must keep a few considerations in mind and avoid some mistakes. These considerations and mistakes include:

1. Avoid Skipping the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to access federal student loans. The FAFSA is a critical step in the financial aid application process within the United States. By filling out the form, students can determine their eligibility for various federal and state financial aid programs, grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities. They also establish their eligibility for federal student loans. When you fill out the FAFSA application, students also get the option to specify their housing plans, whether they intend to live off-campus or on-campus.

2. Consider Living with a Budget

When looking for off-campus accommodation, try a budget-friendly housing option. Your goal must be to cut down expenses wherever possible. Excessive spending or relying on student loans to sustain a high-cost lifestyle can result in a considerable debt load. For instance, if you choose a luxury apartment, you can feel the financial brunt throughout your university years.

3. Avoid borrowing too much or too little

While a student may qualify for a specific loan amount, borrowing the entire sum is not always advisable. Students must create a comprehensive personal budget that includes all off-campus expenses to avoid overlooking costs. When living off-campus, students need to cover costs such as cable and internet, utilities, and furniture, either from their loans or personal funds. Students also need to take care of security deposit, renter's deposit, and home maintenance supplies. Therefore, students must ensure not to borrow too much or too little student loans for rent.

4. Avoid relying solely on loans

You might be able to fund your living costs with student loans fully, but it is advised not to take that step. Paying for living expenses upfront, whenever possible, can ultimately be more cost-effective in the long run. It can also help you prevent from grappling with overwhelming student loan debt post-graduation. You can explore options such as getting a part-time job or using savings to balance your academic commitments. 

5. Consider returning extra funds

Try not to use the full amount of your student loan refund if you don't need it. Returning the surplus funds will help you minimize your debt and reduce the interest costs associated with your student loans. 

6. Avoid going for expensive off-campus accommodation

Going for a less expensive and cost-effective student accommodation is advised if you are looking for off-campus housing. This will help you cut down on housing expenses and take student loans for rent. 

7. Avoid using unnecessary living expenses

When living on student loans, avoid unnecessary expenses such as choosing expensive housing or buying expensive stuff. Make a cost-effective monthly budget and manage your expenses accordingly. 

You can also check out our blog for tips for hassle-free student loan repayment.

Alternatives for using student loans to pay rent

There could be many reasons why using student loans for rent is impossible. For instance, your loan might not cover it, or you haven't opted for a student loan. Don't worry; we have alternatives for using student loans to pay rent. 

1. Work-study programs

2. Part-time jobs

3. Savings

4. Grants

5. Scholarships

6. Income Share agreements

7. Employer sponsorships

Voila! The only thing left is to shift into your apartment and make it a home away from home. Using student loans to pay rent can be a great way to help ease the financial burden of starting a new life away from home. We hope this blog helps you with all the necessary information.