How You Can Pay For College
YES! YES! YES! I got accepted! I got into the college of my choice. I’m so excited to start freshman year.
The next day, *receives my admission package in the mail*
Fall Term Tuition Balance: $11,876.00
Winter Term Tuition Balance: $10,534.00
How will I ever pay for this? What am I going to do?
Oh man, maybe I am not so excited after all. I don’t think my college savings can even pay for this? What am I going to do?
Has this scenario ever happened to you? Sounds familiar?
Colleges aren’t getting any cheaper, in fact, they are becoming more and more expensive. College students often worry about how they will pay for their tuition expenses. At times, worrying about our fees distracts us from the reason why we wanted to go to college in the first place. To earn our degree. It also increases stress and anxiety which affects how we perform academically.
Worry no more! I don’t want the financial strains of college to burden you, so in this article, I will share with you some ways that you can ACTUALLY pay for college.
Here are some loan-free ways in which you can pay for college:
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1. Apply For Scholarships.
Scholarships, awards, and bursaries are non-repayable. You do not need to pay them back, unlike a student loan. Some students tend to be afraid about applying for scholarships because they think that they need straight A’s, a high GPA, or a killer essay.
Well, no. There are so many organizations and institutions that offer scholarships based on your financial need, your location, your intended program, your culture, or the college you are attending.
Don’t be scared. Do your research and apply. It never hurts to try.
Here are a few scholarships site that you can check out:
Scholarships.com
The College Board
Niche
Scholarships Canada
Fastweb
... among many others.
Upcoming News: I will be doing a more detailed blog post on scholarships as a means of paying for college. I will give you more information on different potential scholarships that you can apply for.
I share regular scholarships alerts and updates on my Instagram page. So go ahead and follow me there so that you can be the first to know about potential scholarship opportunities.
2. Apply For Part-Time Jobs.
Having a part-time job, whether on or off-campus is one of the simplest ways to earn money to pay for college. I know that working isn’t the most fun thing, but getting a job is the first thing that you need to consider.
You can work part-time while doing your studies. You can work in the summer and winter breaks and save all you earn to pay for your expenses during the school year.
Searching for jobs can be frustrating so here are some sites that I would recommend you check out:
Linked In:
Google Jobs:
Indeed:
Your College’s Career Site:
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Most colleges have a site where their students have full access to job openings found on or off-campus. Find out if your college has it, and if they do, make full use of it.
3. Asking Family For Support.
Another way to pay for college is to ask your family and relatives for support. They are likely looking out for your best interest. If this is your case, try asking them.
You can offer to do a service or a job around the house and they would pay you in return.
4. Discuss A Payment Plan With Your College.
Most colleges offer a payment plan, where you agree to pay your tuition in small amounts every month until the full cost is fully paid off.
Take a trip to the financial aid department of your college, and express your concerns to them, and have an agreement set up where you would be able to pay small amounts on your tuition at a set time.
This method is less stressing, because you are better able to manage your finances, and paying off your tuition seems less tedious. It works well for families who can't afford the entire tuition cost at one time or may want to hold on to their interest-earning savings a little longer.
These payment plans help students to budget their purchases better.
5. Consider Attending Online School or Taking Online Courses.
Tuition fees for online schools are significantly lower than fees for in-person classes. One benefit of attending an online school is that you can study at a time that ‘fits’ your schedule. This makes it much easier to work while you study.
You can also consider taking online or web course alternatives rather than actual in-person courses. This way you will have more time to work because you have less-in person classes and a lower tuition cost.
Maybe this is something you would consider?
Let me know.
6. Employer Reimbursement.
There are many companies that offer a package where they will help you pay for most of your education costs in the form of a tuition reimbursement. Employers pay back employees who have spent their own money for business-related expenses.
So the next time you apply for a job, try finding out if they offer this amazing package.
7. Choose A College That Fits Within Your Budget.
Yes, Ivy leagues, like Harvard, Yale, or UCLA sound amazing and yes, they would look really good on your resume.
BUT, I encourage you to be wise in your choice. Please do not think that your degree has to come from one of these Ivy Leagues for you to have many doors of opportunities.
An extremely expensive school does not determine your success, repeat it with me, "an extremely expensive school does not determine your success."
Only you do.
What you should do is your research. Find colleges that fit within your budget. Take time in doing this, you want to ensure that the college has the program you intend to pursue, options for financial assistance, and a great academic history.
College is tough and paying for college is even tougher. I hope this list helps you to figure out ways in which you can finance your education.
I will be uploading more articles about how college students are able to finance their education.
Stay tuned for the release of these articles and remember to follow me on Instagram for regular scholarship alerts and updates.
I love talking with other fellow college students, do you have any suggestions that would help others?
Our Content Is Always Being Updated With More Ways To Pay For College