6 Tips to Help You Afford College

When faced with tuition, fees, textbooks and living expenses, many students hope that paying the money for college back in the future will be easier than finding it in the present. As a result, many students fall into debt.

Does this have to be the case? Do you have to go into debt to get a college education?

Absolutely not.

With research, resourcefulness, and hard work, you can find ways to help pay for college. By choosing the right school and taking advantage of scholarships, grants, work-study programs, budgeting, and frugal living, you can make a significant difference in the amount of debt you’ll carry when you graduate.

1. Be Open-minded About School Choice

Do you have to attend a four-year brick-and-mortar university? Consider attending two years at a community college or all four years at an online university. Tuition may be lower with both options and you can eliminate on-campus living expenses.

2. Discover Scholarships

It used to be that college scholarships were awarded primarily on academic or athletic merit. Today, there are also scholarships connected to field of study, ethnic or racial designation, disability, religious affiliation, employers or professional organizations, veterans and military service, and more. Sites such as Scholarships.com, The College Board, and FastWeb match you with scholarship opportunities.

3. Learn More About Grants

Scholarships and grants are similar—both are funds for education that apply toward your tuition and don’t have to be repaid—but scholarships tend to be based more on merit, while grants are based more on need. Grants can be offered by employers or private organizations, but most are awarded by colleges, states, and the federal government. So, how do you get started?

• Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website to learn more about the different types of grants and how to apply.
• Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Not sure where to begin? Learn more about the FAFSA process.
• Fill out the College Board’s College Scholarship Profile, if required, for non-government programs.

4. Look Into Work-Study Programs

Many colleges and universities participate in the Federal Work Study Program, in which students earn money by working part-time for the university, a community organization, or a government-funded agency. The employer and the government split the cost of paying the student (who cannot be paid less than federal minimum wage). Students fill out the FAFSA as part of the application process, then work with the university’s financial aid office to find available work-study positions.

5. Learn to Budget

Budgeting is arguably the most important thing you can do to get through college without amassing a ton of debt. Simply put, it’s creating a system where you don’t spend more money than you have.

Sounds easy, right?

The problems happen when you aren’t honest with yourself about your expenses (no one wants to admit that a latte a day adds up to more than $120 a month) or when you have unforeseen expenses due to car trouble or medical care. The truth is, the latter happens to everyone from time to time, so if you can set aside even $25-$50 in a savings account each month, you’ll be better prepared.

Here’s how to set up a budget:

• Determine How Much You Earn Each Month. That includes take-home pay (not gross pay), plus any other regular source of income. Multiply your weekly take-home pay by 52 (weeks), then divide by 12 (months). And this is critical: If you receive large chunks of money once a semester, as with scholarships or grants, you must split that money into monthly allowances (after you’ve paid for tuition and books).
• Calculate How Much You Spend Each Month. Be brutally honest. Keep receipts. Write down expenses. Account for cash you take out of the ATM. This category includes rent, utilities (including cable, Wi-Fi, and cell phones), car insurance, groceries, and gas, but it also needs to include the small things—those lattes, for instance, and snacks and pizza.
• Settle Up With Yourself. This means you need to cut expenses until the total you’re spending is less than the total you earn. It will mean spending less money on entertainment, looking for generic labels at the grocery store, and curbing impulse buys when you’re shopping.
• Split the Money Into Categories. It’s not enough to know that you earn $750 a month and have whittled your expenses down to that amount. You also need to know how much you plan to spend in each category, or you won't know where the money went. Deduct fixed expenses from your monthly income and then divide the remainder into what you will spend on food, social events, gas, and so on. When you go over your spending limit in one category, be aware that means you’re borrowing from another.
• Get Help from Apps. There’s no shortage of budgeting apps that can help in this area. Three good ones are Mint, PocketGuard, and You Need a Budget.

6. Make Frugal Living a Habit

Saying “no” to yourself may not make you feel good, but meeting a goal certainly does. Challenge yourself to find creative ways to save. Some tips:

• Pay Your Bills on Time. Late fees are your enemy.
• Look for Free or Cheap Activities. There are probably events around town or on campus, such as movies in the park, concerts, plays, and minor sporting events that cost nothing or a minimal amount to attend.
• Skip Having a Car If You Can. Cars require insurance, maintenance, gas, parking fees, and occasional repairs (not to mention a monthly car payment). If you can get around without one, do so.
• Learn Your Way Around Online Coupon Sites. The words “promo code” should be your best friend when shopping online.

Are You Heading to College?

Earning a college degree is one of life’s most significant and rewarding experiences. Learn more about earning your degree with Purdue Global. We offer more than 175 programs online and can help you understand your options for paying for school. If you would like details, call 844-787-3834 or fill out our online form to request more information.