How My Friends Pay for College
It feels like everywhere you turn, life is becoming more and more expensive. There’s the cost of food, gas, rent, bills… it never seems to end. When applying to college, you look for the one with the best reputation or the one that supports your major. You look for the school that will ultimately become your niche. But what kind of price tag should you expect?
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As an out-of-state student at the University of Rhode Island, these four years come at a hefty price. The annual full-time student cost is $22,552 versus the in-state student tuition which is $7,454. Though the out-of-state cost is more than double that of the in-state cost, these two numbers aren’t just petty cash. I took some time to talk with a few friends about their struggles with paying for college costs. More than half the people I spoke with relied on loans, grants, or scholarships.
Interview #1 - My roommate: My roommate relies on an academic scholarship she receives from URI. Since she had exceptional grades all throughout high school, she was offered a scholarship of $2,000 to go to URI. My roommate was lucky enough to be considered for this opportunity but many schools will offer the option of applying for an academic-based scholarship.
Interview #2- In-state classmate: A classmate of mine who lives in Rhode Island and pays the lesser of the two fees still struggles with tuition. After applying for financial aid by using the FAFSA form, he qualified to receive money for his tuition. Not only is he reliant on financial aid, but also works part-time at a local restuarant to help pay for rent.
Interview #3- Out-of-state student: Another friend of mine who does not live in Rhode Island has difficulty with the burden of her tuition fees. URI offers a work-study program that allows her to work as a tutor and the money she earns will go directly towards paying her college costs. Work-study programs are highly beneficial for both parties. The jobs that are offered in a work-study program positively affect the college community and the earnings will support the student’s costs.
Interview #4- Myself: I am extremely fortunate to have my parents support me throughout my college career. They pay for my tuition, the costs of books and my rent. I do, however, have a job on campus that helps pay for food, school supplies, and other extra needs. I have three older siblings that all went to large, well-established universities but my parents say that they are by far, struggling with my tuition costs the most.
When choosing a college or university, establish a plan to tackle tuition. Check out the website of your future school and see if they offer any scholarships to apply for. Once you get there, attend a job fair and find out where you can work on or off campus.
And, of course — apply for financial aid as soon as possible. Check out Translating the Language of Financial Aid to further assist you and clear up that cost-saving chaos. Happy Money Saving!
