Can a student get a loan if parents don't qualify for a parent plus loan?

My daughter attends a California State University,I didn't qualify for a parent plus loan. She was given a higher student loan limit for each semester. She initially was awarded 2950 per semester and after my decline she was then awarded a blend between sub. and unsub. loans of 4750 per semester. She was looked at more as a independent student vs a dependent student.