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Get Creative with Your Options

Here are some options that may help in paying your way through college:

The Military

Educational benefits and scholarships are available to those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. In some programs, enlistees receive an education first, and serve an equivalent amount of military time after graduation. Other programs allow you to accumulate money for an education while completing an initial enlistment period. Some scholarships pay full tuition and all instructional fees, and may include a living allowance. Loan repayment is also available to Army service personnel. For more information, contact your local Armed Forces recruiting office.

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is a service program administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service and allows people of all ages and backgrounds to earn help paying for education in exchange for a year of service.

Working Your Way Through College

It may not be possible to earn all your own college costs, but a part-time or summer job can help reduce the amount you'll need to borrow. School employment offices can help you find a job on or off campus.

On some campuses, work-study or student assistant programs help students find career-related jobs.

Jobs funded through need-based work-study programs can also have additional financial aid advantages.

Finishing College Sooner - AP Exams/Concurrent Enrollment

High school students can take the College Board's Advanced Placement examinations and/or concurrent enrollment courses and earn college credit. See Other Ways to Minimize College Costs.