College is costly in America, and paying fees and tuition is a challenge that many families struggle to overcome. That is what makes a scholarship such an inviting proposition. Indeed, for many students and their parents, the availability of scholarships is a big factor when making school choices. But what do you do when you don’t get a scholarship? Consider these five ways you can still pay for college without it:
Go to the Right College
School fees vary greatly from one college to another. As you evaluate your college options, consider schools that fit your budget over time. You can’t do this without spending some time conducting a little research on the colleges’ school fees structures on your shortlist. You may be surprised to find out that some of them offer free tuition for academically gifted students. In contrast, others receive funding from donors and school alumni to make it possible for them to offer free learning. What’s more, private colleges would typically cost more than their public counterparts would. You can choose a state college where there’s a chance that you may become a beneficiary of in-state tuition by choosing certain areas of study.
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Pursue the American Honors Path
By qualifying to college with honors, you get a chance to be admitted to big-name schools. American Honors helps students with high grades get to the colleges of their dreams at a fraction of what they would pay outside the program. This route can cost you as little as $3000 a semester for both college fees and tuition. Given the implications of going to a big-name school on your employability down the line, you should consider this route even if it is a little more expensive than going to a community college.
Attend Community College
If you did not score high enough for American Honors, you should consider attending community college and perhaps transferring later to a state school. Given that no employer will ever ask where you started college, taking this route is still better than sitting back and watching your higher education dreams fade away. After spending two years in community college, you can switch to a respected public university to complete the other two years. Attending two years in a public university instead of four will reduce the overall cost of schooling to a level you are more likely to be able to afford.
Consider Directional Schools
Directional schools are colleges with a description of their location in their name, e.g., East Los Angeles College. These schools often devote their resources to classroom teaching instead of faculty research. Consequently, they have lower tuition and higher efficiency. Going to such a college will save you a whole lot of money.
Work While Studying
If this is something you can successfully do, you should consider it. Working on the side can greatly reduce the burden of covering certain expenses while in college. Although balancing work and academics is often a challenge, don’t shy away from considering it if it’s the only viable way of attending college. Online courses make this easier than it was in the past. As outlined above, there are ways to pay for college without a scholarship. Instead of giving up on your college dreams, take a closer look at these options and see which one makes the most sense for your particular situation.