College Money and Scholarships Tips

Making College Cheaper  Making college education more affordable is a priority for students and families who want quality learning without overwhelming debt. While rising tuition costs can feel discouraging, there are practical steps that individuals, institutions, and communities can take to ease the financial burden. Here are ten ways to help make college education cheaper and more accessible to all. First, students can begin their higher-education journey at a community college before transferring to a four-year institution. Community colleges typically offer significantly lower tuition, and many have articulation agreements that make transferring credits seamless. This route can cut the cost of a bachelor's degree dramatically without sacrificing educational quality. Second, dual-enrollment programs in high school allow students to earn college credits early. When schools and states support these programs, students graduate with fewer credits left to pay for, shortening both t...

If you will be paying for college using financial aid, now is the time to begin. In fact, most college students rely on financial aid. College tuition and expenses are rising, so you need to be able to get the most you can from your financial award package. Virtually every college gives out a financial aid package based on your FAFSA, so it is important to fill that out correctly. Here are some tips for maximizing your financial aid. File your FAFSA early. You can start filling it out online January 1st. Quite a few colleges have deadlines, many as early as February. There is a limited amount of money that colleges have to give out. First come, first served is common. If you have not filed your income tax, or your parents, you can still fill out the FAFSA and use estimates. Bottom line, file your FAFSA early! Even if you don't have a clue as to if or what you will qualify, fill your FAFSA out anyway. There is other money aid from colleges available, as well as federal student l...