Will High Tuition Limit College to the Financially Elite?
Ideas and Tips to Find Ways to Fund College Education
During this time of recession in America, colleges are receiving fewer large donations and hence tuitions may rise at unusually high rates in the near future. Many families may be faced with skyrocketing college costs at the same time they may be losing jobs and their investments are declining in value.
The good news is that there have always been ways to obtain a college education without spending a lot of money. Families need to be creative and aggressive to find ways to finance education. A strong education is always a good investment.
Ways to Obtain Education without Spending a lot of Money
Free Grants for Tuition
Harvard, Princeton, and many other colleges offer full tuition grants to students who are eligible for financial aid. Be sure to call colleges you are interested in and ask if they offer this sort of grant. Some colleges are able to offer this type of grant due to large donations from alumni.
If you are successful alumni of a college perhaps you might want to help struggling families and make a donation to the college to provide educational grants.
Move to Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan has a program called The Kalamazoo Promise that provides full college tuition to students who have lived in the town in the K-12 years. Even students who move to the district later during their education get partial tuition coverage. For more information go to: www.KalamazooPromise.com.
More towns should start programs like this. Contributions for the program come from businesses and private individuals. If you have some time available call your local Board of Education and offer to volunteer to do fundraising for scholarship money.
Obtain a Job at a College
Some colleges give tuition reimbursement to students. Thus if you work on a college campus you may be able to take classes for free. This is a very valuable job perk.
Start at a CountyCollege
Save huge money by attending a county college for the first two years of college. If your grades are very high there you may also be able to obtain scholarships to cover tuition for a four-year college to finish your degree.
I started my education at a county college and I found the education there just as strong as that I received at the college where I later obtained a B.A. degree.
Work During College
Many students have a real job during the day and attend college at night. This is a very demanding way to earn a degree. However, in difficult financial times students have always done this.
Go to College Abroad
Some colleges abroad offer reasonable tuitions. This may be an option worth looking into.
Go to a State College
State colleges traditionally offer the most reasonable tuition costs. Check out your local state colleges and enjoy getting a great education at a reasonable price.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/education/03college.html?hp
Published by Julia Bodeeb
Winner, Pulitzer Center Global Issues contest (Washington, DC), semi-finalist: The Nation's poetry contest. Published in newspapers, magazines and many online websites. Sold jokes to a major comic. Over a... View profile
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19 Comments
Post a CommentMy sister-in-law lives, pretty much, in Kalamazoo. I didn't know about the Kalamazoo Promise. Pretty neat.
Also, "county colleges," or what we call "community colleges" around here, are a great idea. It's a great way to get your gen ed classes out of the way, and pay way less than you would at a big 4-year university. When I went to community college, all my expenses were paid--books and all-- and I still got money back.
Great article, thanks. I'm starting to feel the effects of student loans now...
Move to Kalamazoo? Uh uh. Lake effect snows...
One more thing came to mind, reread to make sure it wasn't listed in the article, a transfer scholarship from a community college to a four-year institution many be available as well. You can check with the admins office to see if there are any available.
Great advice. :)
Another way to save money is to apply for state and federal funding. FAFSA. Not only will you receive scholarships if you are in need but you will also become eligible for loans that have the interest paid for by the state/government//school.
I applied for FAFSA every single year. With academic scholarships and FAFSA combined, I owe a total of $11,000 for 4 years at a school whose yearly tuition is $30,000.
Excellent article. Costs are certainly rising. The Kalamazoo Promise is something I hadnt' heard of, but it would be wonderful if more places would adopt this idea. Many students are already coming to India for affordable medical studies.
Great article! I'm working two jobs just get through college, ugh. But hopefully it'll be worth it later. :)
I've found stripping at night also is viable source of income for students..... well..... only if you're hot.... haha.... nice job Julia... care to donate to my college fund with your upfront payment?
It's pretty much always been that way anyway unless the student could get a student loan.
super article Julia, well done!