Colleges are getting more and more expensive and you just don’t have the money to attend? Worry no more! In this post, I will share with you 10 ways to pay for college.
So if you haven’t saved up for college, your parents can’t help you out, or you just want other tips than scholarships, you’ve come to the right place!
Let’s get started.
Ways to Pay for College!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase via my link I may get a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend things I use and love, but for any questions, refer to my full disclosure here.
1. Get a Job
The most simple and easy way to pay for college is to make your own money.
By getting a job, you can rely on a monthly and relatively steady income that is one of the best ways to pay for college.
Don’t have job ideas? Here are 15 ways to make money as a student.
2. Scholarships
If you want to apply to scholarships to fund your education, you can use these scholarship sites to find scholarships you’re eligible for.
The majority of them are for US citizens only, but there are some good ones for international students as well.
Here is a scholarship site for international scholarships.
3. Family Support
Another idea to get some more money for college is to ask relatives and family members if they can support you financially.
One of the less awkward ways to do that is to ask for money for Christmas or your birthday instead of gifts.
You can also offer to do some jobs in the house in exchange for some college support.
4. Campus Job
If you want to get a job, ask in the office of student employment first.
Having your job on campus will be much more convenient than off campus, since it is closer and you can save time not having to commute.
Campus jobs don’t always pay that well though, so keep comparing that and choose the best option and return on investment (of time and money spent on getting to the job).
5. Make Money Online
Another great way to pay for college is through online jobs instead of physical jobs.
These, you can do whenever you have time and sometimes even in between class breaks.
My favorite online side hustle is Swagbucks, where you can do surveys when you got 10 minutes to spare between class, or during lunch if your friends are busy.
Another online job I love is this blog! It’s a great source of income (and passive income!) that is fun and a great way to learn and grow in the process.
Wanna start a blog too? Check out my free course here!
If you want to know more about online jobs, read this post with 15 ideas on how to make money from home or this one with 12 websites that pay over $20/hr to students!
6. Go to Community College First
Now this tip isn’t related to getting the money together, but rather how to be smart about your college choice.
By going to a community college (if you are from the US) for your associates degree and transferring to a normal university afterwards, you can save tons of money on tuition!
If the college is close to you, you can take advantage and save on room and board, as well as have more time to have a job and save money for your bachelors degree.
I personally didn’t take that path, but I know from others that companies really only look at where you graduated from and don’t even see/or don’t care where you spent your first 2 years.
This option is one of my favorite ways to pay for college, since it saves you a lot of money!
7. Grants/Loans
My next tip is one of the last to consider, since you want to avoid having to pay back money with interest.
Try to get government grants or some from your college, since those don’t have to be paid back.
You can look on the financial aid page of your college to get more information about this.
If you can’t get need or merit based grants, you can look into student loans, but make sure it’s worth the investment!
8. FAFSA
Another way to get money for your studies is to submit a FAFSA application and get need based aid.
I personally don’t have much experience with FAFSA since I am an international student and only US citizens can use FAFSA.
For more information I would suggest you to look on your college’s website or email your financial advisor.
9. Payment Plan
If you can’t make enough money at once, there are payment plans that make it possible to pay for tuition monthly rather than at once.
I think that’s a great option if you pay your own tuition and have a job you get a consistent income from.
10. Look into College Alternatives!
Last but not least, if you’re not sure about what to do after high school, I wrote a post about 10 alternatives to regular college, that can give you a great experience while probably saving you money as well.
For example, you could take some time off to volunteer, start a business, take individual classes and get certificates, or travel while making money.
Final Thoughts
My favorite, and in my opinion the most cost-effective ways to pay for college are to make money (whether that’s online or on campus), and apply for scholarships and grants.
Asking for support from family members and relatives is also a great way to get some money for college.
Moving into college soon? Check out my ultimate college packing list printable so that you don’t forget anything at home!
Overall, I hope these tips helped you! Make sure to comment below which one you’ll try!
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Until soon,
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