subject: College Financial Aid - Three Best Kinds To Get [print this page] So you went back to school and have realized that the price of attending college has gone dramatically up. You are on a limited budget and cannot figure out a way to pay for your classes and tuition. Here are a few suggestions regarding the three best kinds of financial aid to get when going back to college.
Most people do not realize that the cost of merely taking one class at a state-level College can be several hundred or thousand dollars. The cost per unit can sometimes exceed $500 per unit for a class that you need in order to graduate. To compensate for these ridiculous prices, there are three solutions for the average person.
Get a Grant
your first choice is always the free way. You want to find a source of income that can be given to you without a need to promise to repay it back. Depending upon your current resources, you could qualify for tens of thousands of dollars to pay for your tuition, the cost of books, and all other associated payments in regard to achieving your college degree.
Get a Scholarship
Scholarships are little more tricky to qualify for. Although there are thousands of them available, you need to be able to fill out individual forms and applications for each one. This can be very time-consuming. Some people use services that will take their basic information and fill out and submit the forms for them. Depending upon your eligibility level, this could be your most cost-effective option.
Get a Student Loan
This is going to be your last option, however most people make it their first. This is because it is the easiest way to gain access to the funds that you need as quickly as possible. Unless your credit is so bad that you could not qualify to purchase a bag of sugar at the store, you will more than likely qualify for all of the money that you need and more for school.
The one that you pick is up to you. Depending upon the time of year and how soon you were able to fill out your FAFSA, you may not need to apply for anything other than a state grant to pay for school. Sometimes there is enough money left over to help you pay for personal bills as well.
People that decide to go back to college must also recognize that there is a lot of time involved. You are not simply enroll and then your classes and papers are done for you. You must make sure that you not only have enough money, but you have the time to complete your degree without too much stress on yourself or your family.
By choosing the right form of college financial aid, you are setting your course for the next few years while you get your degree and determining how much you will have to pay back in the years to come.
