How To Pay For College?
How Much Will It Set Me Back?
Magazines and television news stations love to report about the rising costs of an education at a private university as if the annual increase in college tuition rates still comes as a surprise to anyone. The total average costs (including all expenses) for a student attending a private university was $35,374. For a student at an in-state public university, that figure was $17,336, and for a student living at home and attending a community college, it was just $4552. The real average annual payout by college students was a few thousand dollars less once grants were taken into account. But the best way to anticipate how much you'll have to pay is to get the estimated costs directly from the colleges that interest you.
Beyond the Piggybank
Most college admissions offices will also be able to point you towards information about how to pay for your education using a variety of loans, part-time or summer jobs, and grants. High school guidance counselors can also be great sources of information about how students from your school have found scholarships or other means to pay for their college educations. Federal and state governments give out a variety of grants and loans to students who need financial assistance or who qualify for merit scholarships. The process of obtaining financial aid usually begins with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
The following schools can provide you with more information about attending college:
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