| There are number of effects on the eligibility of | | | | Student loan programs treat married people very |
| student loans depending on student's age and the | | | | differently than the unmarried ones and they need |
| employment status of the spouse. Some of them | | | | extra inquiries. This separate treat is to benefit the |
| are positive and they give greater eligibility for | | | | students. |
| student loans. Some effects are neutral and they | | | | Different options for student loans disbursement |
| don't make much change in student's eligibility for | | | | depending on the students' status are: |
| student loans. But mostly the eligibility decreases for | | | | For Dependent Students: |
| student loans. In some cases, the marriage results in | | | | If the spouse of a student doesn't work at all, then |
| such a high penalty that it can be called a disincentive | | | | no changes will be made in student loans, if parents |
| to marriage. | | | | are low-income otherwise eligibility increases. If the |
| There is an assumption made that all students are | | | | spouse works, then it depends on spousal and |
| married to some other students. Government has | | | | parental income but in most cases, the eligibility |
| setup rule that require the spouses of married | | | | decreases. |
| students to pay close to 90 percent of any income | | | | For Independent Students: |
| over $20,000 in taxes or contributions to their | | | | If the spouse does not work so no changes apply to |
| spouse. If the spouse contributes to this amount, the | | | | the eligibility criteria at all. If the spouse works then |
| student will have to pay a funding shortfall that | | | | eligibility decreases in all cases. |
| government is not responsible for. | | | | So, the solution to all these problems due to marriage |
| According to different surveys in US, average one | | | | is that families should contribute to the costs of a |
| out of ten students is married. Married students are | | | | student's post-secondary education. This principle is |
| usually older than the unmarried students. | | | | widely accepted in US student loans programs. But |
| Approximately, two-third of all married students is | | | | this doesn't mean that spouses should pay thousands |
| older than 25 years of age. | | | | of dollars more than parents at equivalent levels of |
| Married students receive very less attention as a | | | | income, for the very simple reason that no one in |
| student sub-group. If they have children then they | | | | government actually believes that this should be the |
| might be eligible for special grants i.e. for Students | | | | case. |
| with Dependents and for higher student loans as well. | | | | |