Paying College Costs

It is assumed that students will continue their education beyond high school. Some graduates will attend

community colleges or four-year colleges and universities immediately after high school graduation. Some

graduates will work part-time and take classes over an extended period of years. Ravolett states that:

Some will obtain vocational skills by attending career-specific schools and training programs. No matter

what path is taken, all who seek training after high school face the problem of paying the ever increasing costs of

higher education. Next to your home, this may be the most expensive investment you make.

Financial aid can be the answer. It is best to begin by examining the several types of financial aid available.

There are scholarships, loans, and grants that do not have to be repaid. There are work-study programs and

internships, which allow students to work and earn tuition. Some scholarships are granted by extracurricular

organizations and may require a formal membership or a period of active participation. It is important to start your

research early so that you have enough time to locate and meet application deadlines for a variety of awards

(Kilgore 97).

The U.S. Department of Education offers six main student financial aid programs: Pell Grants, Federal

Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, and

PLUS Loans (Blake 202). Published guidelines showing the requirements needed to qualify for each of these

programs are available. Everyone, no matter what his or her income level, can benefit by completing the

paperwork for governmental financial aid.

There are even financial aid programs earmarked for students with disabilities (Sandoval and Whittier 16). Each

year millions of dollars are available as assistance for disabled students and their families. These programs are

open to disabled applicants from high school through postdoctoral studies. Students with physical disabilities as

well as learning disabilities (such as dyslexia) are eligible.

 Probably the best place to begin the search for information on sources for college financial aids is in the

counseling office of your school. Also, contact the financial aid office at the schools you are interested in

attending as suggested by Derrick (112). The task of locating ways to fund college costs may seem overwhelming.

It is made easier if you start early and are well-organized in your search.

Works Cited

Blake, Lauren . Free Cash for College. Minneapolis: Fact File Press, 2005

Derrick, Edward. “Guidelines for Finding College Cash.” Business Week 14 Sept. 2006: 112-113

Kilgore, Donald M. Loans and Grants for Undergrads: Step by Step New York: Indelible Ink Press, 2004

Ravolett, Boyce D. Secrets to Finding College Financing, 11th ed. Chicago: Student Aid Publishing Division, 2006.

Sandoval, Julie Lynn and Philip Gregory Whittier. Financial Opportunities for Students with Disabilities. Redwood

City: Redwood Publishers, 2005.

Yarelis Santiago 2022

7 de noviembre de 2022