College is a huge investment, but getting a college education can lead to more job opportunities and higher pay, and can open doors to things you might have never imagined.
One of the main reasons students decide against going to college is the cost. Tuition, housing and books alone rack up quite a bill, but before you cross higher education off your to-do list, take a look at some of the popular ways our users are searching to pay for college.
Whether the expense of college is far in your future, or coming around the bend, there are financial options for everyone. As you can see from the list below, there are financial options for everyone. The most commonly searched way to secure funds for college is by submitting a FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid). This must be filled out to receive any type of Federal Student Loan, such as the Federal Stafford Loan, the Federal PLUS Loan and the Federal Perkins Loan. If you end up needing more money than your federal loans provide, you can then turn to private student loans. You can get these loans from your school or from private financial institutions such as Sallie Mae or MyRichUncle.
In addition to loans and grants, there are other things students can do to raise money for college (or save on expenses). Students can take CLEP exams to get credit for classes without taking the courses, saving money and time. There are also opportunities like joining an ROTC program, taking part in a work-study program or participating in Learn & Serve America.
Do you know of any other options that did not show up on our list? If so, tell us about them. For more information on paying for college, go to AOL Money and Finance. Also search for paying for college on AOL Search.
Top Searched Ways to Survive College Expenses on AOL Search:
1. FAFSA
2. Scholarships
3. Private Student Loans
4. Pell Grant
5. Federal Student Loans
6. ROTC
7. 529 Plans
8. CLEP Exams
9. Federal College Work-Study Programs
10. Learn & Serve America
More Sponsored Links For: minority scholarships, personal student loan, military loans
COMMENTS
I work my own business at home...thru July you can join for a 20.00 registration fee only... www.SavanaSmiles.SimpleAsABC.com ...why work 30 yrs and retire with peanuts..work 5 yrs and make lifetime residuals plus daily pay ..300,000 a year?..yup.... SavanaSmiles@gmail.com
By Scarlet on Jul 3rd 2008 at 10:38PM
someone posted about http://www.cityskoop.com which lists which stores, restaurants etc are having sales and specials. saw Circuit City and Best Buy on there...definitely a good way to safe for college
By Blake on Jul 4th 2008 at 1:32PM
I am an accountant by day and a shopaholic by night! I definitely like to scope at bargains (I love ebay!)
I found a site that you can save money at over 1000 top online websites. You receive back 5-55% on my purchases at over 1100 stores online
including Bare Necessities, Sephora, Apple, The Gap, Target (great for soo much), Macy's and Best Buy I also wait for sales so I get my cash back and
the lowest price. You can get your own mall and then when you refer people to it, you get money back from their purchases as well. So you save money when you shop, and can make money when others shop. I am clearly not retiring just yet, but it does help.
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/79028
By Pat on Jul 5th 2008 at 7:25PM
If you start a few years before, use the prepaid tuition plans many states have. In Illinois, you can pay in monthly installments of 5 or 10 years or lump sums if you want, transfer between kids, get money out if scholarship or not used, get increased money out for private schools, etc. Very, very flexible. Saves 20 to 80% of cost, depending how early you start paying. That's because tuition goes up as much as 16% a year in our state.
By petiteblog on Jul 20th 2008 at 2:20PM
If you already know the school you are attending, be sure to check the website- there are tons of scholarships- many privately funded- you can apply for, and many are never even utilized. Some requirements could be as simple as being a female architectural major, or be a resident of a particular state. Check with the admissions office if there isnt a listing online, they should have a booklet. Also, check with your Dept. Major- many times they offer scholarships for those majoring in the field. Finally, if you are taking music,art or athletic classes, there are also partial scholarships available-just ask! When I attended, my scholarship money came from several sources, and it never hurts to inquire.
By Tracerouge on Jul 20th 2008 at 2:45PM
How to survive the expenses of college: study abroad in the European Union, esp. France. Read AOL article on the 10 countries, where Americans are still "liked." That's a real sad commentary on the United States, if there ever was one. Laugh! If one studies the American educational system, especially since the 70's generation, one will discern a deliberate attempt to deprive one's citizenry of the right to a top education, starting at the secondary school level. The 70's generation was the first to arrive on American college campuses with the inability to read and write. How pathetic is that? When a biology professor must first tutor his or her students how to read, how pathetic is that?
By Charles Stern on Jul 20th 2008 at 3:34PM
Elise,
You missed a major source of college funding - the Federal PLUS loan for parents of undergraduate students.
This loan can be up to the full annual cost of sending a student to college. Repayment starts immediately, but can be stretched over 10 years.
A thing that most parents do not recognize is that, when a student goes away to college, family costs for food, car, restaurants, clothes, etc go down ... if a proper college budget is established for the student. Parents can take the approximately $100 - $200 a month savings and use it to pay the PLUS loan.
The best way to use the PLUS loan is as the "last resource". When you have obtained all of the scholarships, grants, Stafford loans, and work study as well as what can come out of student and parents savings, pay the balance with the PLUS loan.
After your student graduates, your family costs for that student will go down even further, making it even easier to pay off the PLUS loan.
By Dale Marshall on Jul 20th 2008 at 7:26PM
Don't forget athletics. Yes, D-1 scholarships are difficult to get, but there are many, many D-2 and NAIA schools that offer scholarship money for athletics. I know girls who have been cut from their high school teams, and have still played sports at smaller colleges. Even D-3 school coaches will try to help with financial aid packages.
By gtkd628 on Jul 20th 2008 at 4:28PM
Heh, all I did was fill out the FAFSA and a CSS Profile and Wake Forest University gave me $48,000 in scholarships and grants. Really, you just have to work your ass off in school, take AP classes, and be involved in extracurricular. Don't forget to take college visits and make that university feel like they're you no.1 choice.
By RunicBalvarine on Jul 20th 2008 at 4:46PM
How many 529 plan accounts have parents in a panic now? First they crush you with fees, and now on top that poor market performance (-20%).
By John on Jul 20th 2008 at 6:06PM
To finance college every person should have to serve in the military for two years.
By Mike on Jul 20th 2008 at 6:34PM
Like to shop online? The price of gas has made it very difficult for anyone to go to the local malls these days but here's a way you can save money at hundreds of online websites of stores that you would normally shop at. There is opportunity to earn cash while doing so.......you will receive back 1-30% on your purchases at stores like Target, Macy's, Drugstore.com, Shutterfly for those precious pictures and so many more. You can shop at my website, or if you choose, join to start your own career. Have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first, but I'm a shopper, I've compared the prices and the sites offer discounts, free shipping and of course, you earn money and points back... points turn into cash for you if you become a member... it's a win/win situation. Refer people, they join, and you EARN from THEIR SHOPPING as well. All the things that you buy for your home on a weekly basis like toothpaste, shampoo, household cleaners, can be purchased through your own website, again saving on the gas we so desperately hate to purchase. www.shoptoearn.net/judivreeland.
By judi on Jul 20th 2008 at 7:00PM
i am still waiting on 24Hour Middleman/Vantage Point Media Group on Rennaisance Dr in Las Vegas to refund me my $188.00 they took to start a new home buisness and they cannot be found.
By Rose on Jul 20th 2008 at 7:53PM
I am an upcoming high school senior who will be applying for college here in a few months. I would really be interested if anyone had any scholarship sites, listings, or opportunities that they knew about. Financial aid won't give me a lot of money because of my parents' income, but they're stuck with so many bills and are paying off so many loans right now that they can't really afford to help me out or take on anymore loans. I have a really good GPA and have already taken 3 AP classes and am taking 2 more, but it doesn't seem to be enough anymore to get people through college.
By Ashley on Jul 25th 2008 at 3:29PM