There are plenty of ways to pay less for your college degree, and you should definitely try not to let the price tag get in the way. In order to keep costs low, families have a variety of options that they can choose from- but some might work better than others depending on their situation. More than anything else though, make sure you’re choosing an affordable school so that there won’t be any financial stress later down the road!
Apply for Financial Aid Early!
If you’re a high schooler looking to apply for financial aid, then this article is perfect for you. You should know that the FAFSA will open up on October 1st of 2020 and close at midnight EST June 30th 2021.
Filing your FAFSA as soon as you can is good for many reasons. If you wait until the last minute, it’s possible that someone else may have already received aid on a first-come, first-served basis and yours will be left out in the cold. In addition to state or college specific financial assistance being awarded based on timing of filing (first come–first served) there is also typically less funding available from either public agencies or private institutions if they are offered at all after their deadlines pass due to increasing popularity among applicants!
Be on the Lookout for Grants and Scholarships!
Don’t let the thought of taking out student loans scare you! There are plenty of scholarships and grants to be had. To get started, try searching for a scholarship that matches your career field or find one on a site specifically designed for matching these types of opportunities with learners like yourself.
Save more by going to Community College FIRST!
College is a big investment, and so many students are looking for ways to make it more affordable. If going straight into college just isn’t an option right now because of the cost or other obligations, consider taking your core education classes at a two-year school then transferring them over to finish up your degree program in four years time!
You will not only be saving money by attending community colleges first but you may also have the chance to work while enrolled there or live with family members which could save on room and board rates as well. This does mean that this plan might take longer than others; however if affordability is what’s most important for you (even if it means being out of pocket), then working towards completing degrees from less expensive universities is the way to go!
Attend a Public, In-State College or University
You should research all your options and pricing before you commit to any four-year school. In addition, it might be wise to choose an in-state public college or university if the difference in price is too great for comfort because they are often cheaper than private schools outside of state lines.
Save even more!
College is an investment in your future and to make sure that you get the most of it, there are some easy ways to save on expenses. For example, instead of buying new textbooks every semester for something like $200+, buy used ones online or from a store near school at about half-price if not cheaper! If commute time will cut into valuable study hours (and who doesn’t want more studying?) consider living with parents/siblings closer by – they might even have space available after all those siblings leave home for college themselves one day soon enough! And don’t forget this important tip: becoming an RA can help reduce room & board costs while finishing up their degree.
Borrow Wisely
It’s not a bad idea to borrow money for your tuition. In fact, according the same survey 42% of students plan on taking out student loans in order to pay their college expenses. And it’ll certainly be worth it! After all, you could end up seeing much higher lifetime earnings and quality-of-life opportunities as well as general “better” life chances if you take this route with borrowing instead of paying for school outright yourself.”
Research!
In order to be successful in life, it is important for you not just to get a degree but also pay less on the path of your education. This will help ensure that no matter what the future holds or where opportunities take us we are fully prepared and able. The tips above can make this possible without sacrificing quality with scholarships, financial aid programs and other ways so read up before making any decisions!