Can a non-traditional student who has a family get student loans to pay for college and living expenses at the same time and will federal loans cover the amount of living expenses?

There is no question that students should seek scholarships, grants and Federal aid first. To do so, visit fafsa.ed.gov to fill out a Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal loans are awarded on what your school percieves will be your total expense based on your answers to questions in the FAFSA application and what their tuition and fees are. Once awarded a Federal loan and you decide to use it, the school will apply the sum towards your tuition costs and fees and then cut you a check for whatever is left over. The money that is left over (could be minimal since school's estimates of cost prior to awarding the loan amount try to be as accurate as possible) could be used for your books and living expenses. However, if you are attending an eligible school at least half time or on a continuing education basis, Private student loans are the more versatile college loans for covering all college-related expenses (including living expenses, books, tuition, computer/internet, commuting expenses, and any other expenses associated with college). Private student loans also tend to have higher borrowing limits than Federal student loans and once approved for a loan, funds can be received in as little as a few days. Private student loans are offered through banks and private lenders such as OneSimpleLoan (www.onesimpleloan.com). It's important to note that private student loans are based on credit, so if you plan to apply for one but do not have a good or strong credit history then you may want to consider applying with a co-signer. Most private loans also feature a grace period while a student is in school and for a specified period of time after graduation. However, you should also know that, in most cases, interest accrues on private loans until they are paid off. Most private loan lenders offer no pre-payment penalties, which can help, as well as a small interest rate discount for automatic direct-debit of loan payments. All in all, if you need the extra funds to cover your college as well as your living expenses, private student loans may be the way to go. Good luck!