5 Creative Ways to Pay for College
By now you have probably scoured the internet for scholarships and sent in your CSS Profile and FAFSA in order to apply for financial aid. Still searching for ways to pay for college? Roll up your sleeves, get ambitious, and keep an open mind as you consider these 5 creative ways to pay for college. College is expensive. If you want to graduate without the burdens of being deep in debt, consider some of these options.
Photo by jtyerse
- Tuition-free schools. What’s even better than finding a way to pay for college? Finding a college you don’t have to pay for at all. Keep in mind that many of these schools require students to work part-time. Do you think working 15 hours a week in exchange for a college education sounds fair? Check out some of these schools: College of the Ozarks, The Cooper Union, Webb Institute, Berea College and Alice Lloyd College. Check out this article for more information.
- Transfer from a community college. Spend your first year or two of college at a community college or less pricey public university to knock out a few credits before transferring to your dream school. Fulfilling general education requirements at a community college can save you thousands of dollars. Earn high grades and you can transfer to an elite university where you’ll earn a degree from a top school without the price tag. Just make sure the school you hope to transfer to will accept credits from another university.
- Create a website. Do you have web design and writing skills? Start a blog or website and sell ads in order to make money for college. Alex Tew started the website Million Dollar Homepage in order to earn tuition money. Derek Bender started the site Help Me Pay My Loans.
- Start earning money online. There are few online platforms, websites, and resources that can help you make money in your spare time whilst at college. For example, freelancing, online tutoring, and even investing into platforms like insidebitcoins.com bitcoin app. While there are a number of way to make money, just be careful as some platforms could be scams.
- Load up on Advanced Placement courses. Earning high scores on AP tests is likely to give you college credit worth thousands of dollars. Many students can earn an entire year worth of credit through these tests and begin college as sophomores. Taking AP classes and studying for the tests can save you a fourth of college tuition.
- Volunteer. If you have student debt after graduating from college, consider volunteering in exchange for debt forgiveness. Four full years of service with the Peace Corps will cancel 70% of Perkins loans. AmeriCorps offers $4,725 for higher-education or to pay off student loans. You can also consider military service or teaching in rural schools. See this article for more information about these kinds of programs.
Have any other creative ways to pay for college? Leave a comment with your ideas.
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January 30th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
It’s also not as hard to hold down a job when going to college as many might think. It might not be the most creative idea, but it’s certainly a good one. You can arrange your schedule to have all your classes on 2 or 3 days a week and work the other days. I guess it depends on your priorities — if you’re viewing college as “your time” — your last chance at some sort of freedom, then you won’t want to do this, but from a practical standpoint, you’ll bring in money AND have more experience to show when you’re looking for a job then those who just took the four years to study and play. If you’re smart you’ll even try to look for employment in your chosen field. Remember, it isn’t impossible to arrange your schedule that way — just think about people who work full-time, 40 hours a week, AND take college courses, AND some are raising a family as well. You’re young, you can do it!
October 1st, 2010 at 7:30 pm
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November 13th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
well of course community colleges are part of a good educational system too “”*