Hi there, did your daughter take out 4 different loans with 4 different companies? If not then she should have to write just one check each month and whether or not they're consolidated shouldn't matter. On that note I don't think this is the best time for you to consolidate, as the previous poster pointed out you can't benefit much from it if your credit score isn't vastly different, also if you wait and your daughter's credit score increases you guys won't need to cosign and you won't have that debt on your score anymore. If all else fails and you feel consolidation right now is imperative remember that,most likely, only one parents name is co-signed so the other parents credit score should not be affected. Also, each company's criteria are different so you can find one that looks at fico only so as long as your fico is high is doesn't matter what your debt-to-income ratio is. As far as your second child goes, once again you can have the other parent co-sign, a family member or you can take out a PLUS loan.