According to investopedia , it is estimated that America as a whole owes 1.58 trillion dollars in student loans, or $38,792 per person. Paying back college loans over a lifetime is not something anyone would want to do. College is expensive, but why? Is it even worth that much money? Is there anything we can do to make it cheaper when applying for colleges? We all think about those questions, stressing ourselves to make sure everything we need is there. However, don't worry too much. I'm going to tell you how to make tuition affordable, so you won't end up paying back student loans for the rest of your life.
Prior to discussing the financial aspect, I know you are probably wondering why you should attend college. Several of the students I interviewed gave me the same answer. College is not for everyone and it is not mandatory, but if you want a stable career by the time you are 23, you should definitely consider it. There is nothing wrong with going straight into the workforce after high school because you'll make almost as much money as people your age when they graduate college.
For those who want to go to college but price is an issue, I recommend that they first apply for financial aid. That should be their first step after applying. Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, loans, or paid employment offered to students to cover college expenses, such as tuition and fees.
According to Molly Cassidy, student body president, "No matter whether you can afford college or not, everyone could use a little help paying for college."
The average person only receives about $6,000 from financial aid, which is a good deal, but applying for scholarships will add a lot more on to that. There are so many types of scholarship opportunities available to you. Some of the most common scholarships people receive are academic and sports scholarships. If you are a performer, you can receive a music scholarship along with a performance scholarship. Those are just the most commonly known ones, but did you know you could get a scholarship for being left-handed, involved in extracurricular activities, or submitting to essay competitions? Take the time to research different scholarships, see which ones you qualify for, and apply for as many as you can.
In addition to all the different scholarships, did you know that some jobs around us will help you pay for tuition? Those who have worked at Walmart for at least three months and continue to work there will be reimbursed for college tuition if they attend one of the schools they list. Walmart isn't the only store that does this; Starbucks, Publix, McDonald's and Lowe's do this, too. There aren't as many advertisements for this as there should be, and maybe if there were, more people would work at some of the places because that would be a great help to some of us.
Even though there are other programs that offer assistance, these are the ones that deserve attention because they allow you to work to save for college and get your tuition paid.
Finally, there are student loans. In my opinion, student loans are a good option if you cannot afford to pay and you know that once you graduate from college you will be able to repay the student loans by working in your field. It is also important to work through college if you plan to pay off student loans in the future.
Be smart when it comes to loans, and don't get yourself into a bind you can't get out of. Otherwise, college is an excellent choice for everyone. It is an unforgettable experience, but just remember to keep it affordable for you.