College tuition is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the Wall Street Journal, after an 8% to 10% tuition increase earlier this year, California is adding another 12% tuition hike this month. In addition to nation-wide increases to the cost of education, many states are also slimming down their standard financial aid packages. If you really want a great education today your going have to stop playing car games and computer games because you need to get out there and get to work. With the increasing necessity of higher education learning to secure future job prospects, what are some other ideas to make a college education more affordable?
1. Financial Aid
While the recent diminishing number of grants offered by states might be discouraging, do not make the mistake of discounting it as a source of funding. It is very important for any prospective college student to fill out the FAFSA, and the convenience of completing it online keeps it as painless as possible. Completing a FAFSA yearly will automatically qualify you for grants and scholarships that you might not know are available. Furthermore, if a student decides not to complete a FAFSA, depending on the particular requirements of the institution, it could mean disqualification for several other types of aid.
After filling out the FAFSA, look for websites (like FastWeb) that list available grants and scholarships. Most importantly, make sure your financial aid office has all of the forms and paperwork they require. There is nothing fun about waiting on funding because of missing paperwork requirements After reading the rest of the information in this article, if you are still coming up short, consider a federal loan. A Federal Stafford loan, also called a Federal Direct Loan, is available either subsidized or unsubsidized. A subsidized loan award amount, based on individual financial need, is determined by your financial aid office after review of your FAFSA.
2. Community College
Complete the first two years of your college education at a community college. Verify that the credits will transfer, and complete as much general education classes as possible. A community college costs a fraction of the price, and is a good option for completing summer classes. Not only does it cut the cost of tuition considerably, but it also helps accomplish a four-year degree in less than four years.
3. Work-Study Programs
Consider applying for work-study jobs around campus. Since this income is from a campus work-study program, it is exempt from the calculation of financial aid need in the following year. For the students that do not meet the eligibility requirements of work-study, they can still seek employment on campus. The biggest convenience for being employed on campus, whether it is a work-study position or a not, is that the hours are more attuned around the university’s class schedule.
4. AmeriCorps, military, National Guard
While many people decide to join the military or National Guard for reasons outside funding their college education, the military will pay for most, if not all, of your tuition. A third option is AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is volunteer-based, and has different programs with full-time and part-time volunteer options. Currently, full-time volunteers can receive a maximum award of $5,350. AmeriCorps offers the great opportunity to get involved in the community. The contribution of skills, knowledge and time can be very fulfilling.
5. Budgeting
Lastly, realize that you will not be able to maintain the current lifestyle you are in at the moment. This means regular trips to the grocery, and treating restaurants and spending like a Luxury. After a few weeks of a routine, you will see the campus vending machines very differently! Little purchases add up quickly. Unless you learn to establish a budget with a plan and accountability, spending money that you do not have will become routine.