How to get free money to go to college
No doubt about it, obtaining a higher education is expensive. The average cost per year of a public college is around $6,000 a year. Multiply that by the four years (at least!) it takes to get an undergraduate degree, and you're looking at paying at least $24,000 for a college education, and that's just in tuition alone. Housing costs, books, and living expenses make college an expensive investment. In addition, students who go to a private school or an out-of state school can even pay up to $40,000 a year for college.
With the average student graduating with around $20,000 in student loans, many students would rather not be saddled down with that debt. However, there is free money available for college students, and you only need to know where to look to get it.
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Scholarships
A scholarship offers money for college based on a number of things, whether it be academics, athletics, ethnicity, or a number of other factors. Contrary to what some may think, you don't need to have a perfect GPA or be a star athlete to get a scholarship. There are many available in varying amounts. While full-ride scholarships are difficult to get unless you are a star student or athlete, there are hundreds of scholarships in lower amounts. You can win scholarship money through writing essays, participating in events, and a number of other ways.
In order to find a scholarship, start looking about a year before you plan on starting college and apply to as many as you can. The application process can be lengthy. There are several ways you can go about finding scholarships:
School. The best resource for scholarship applications are your own high school. Check with the different departments; if you excel in a particular subject, ask your teachers about any scholarships they might be aware of. It's also a good idea to check with your guidance counselor.
Internet. The internet is chock-full on information on scholarships. However, don't get drawn into scams that charge you for lists of scholarships; this information is usually easily accessible.
Public library. Public libraries are a great resource for finding scholarships and contain many books full of information such as how to find a scholarship, which ones are available, and increasing your chances of getting one.
Grants
Grants are another option for receiving free money for college. These can be difficult to obtain, however, since they are mostly based on need and a first-come, first-serve basis.
There are several different types of grants:
Federal Pell Grants. These grants are based on need and have certain family income requirements, depending on your college's federally approved guidelines. Colleges only get a certain amount of Pell money each year from the government, so applying early can increase your chances (the earliest one can apply is January 1).
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants. These grants are similar to Pell Grants and range from $100 to $4,000. Unlike Pell Grants, which are first-come first-serve, these grants are reserved specifically for students who need it most.
State grants. Most states have some kind of grant program. To find these grants and how to apply, check your state's student aid or education web sites.
Institutional grants. Institutional grants come from the colleges themselves, and are often used to attract desirable students to their school.
There is free money to be had for college, and by looking in the right places, you're sure to find some.
