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Curbing College Costs with Financial Aid

  March 3, 2017  |    #Eliminate Debt

Curbing college costs

There is no way around it – kids are expensive. From their early days (even before birth) children place demands on household cash flow, generating expenses for medical oversight, daycare, and standard costs of living. But the financial burden of a growing family rises above and beyond the day to day spending obligations, carrying on for decades as children grow to adulthood (finally). Unfortunately for parents looking forward to financial relief, a major monetary hurdle looms near the finish line, prompting extraordinary spending before children become independent. For ways of curbing college costs, visit The Scholarship System to learn about how you or your child could go to college for free.

College costs are a substantial obstacle to overcome, often calling upon families to tap multiple funding sources to pay for school. In some corners, the debate rages on, questioning whether investing in a college education is the best path to personal prosperity. But earning power is closely linked to knowledge and understanding, so whether it is a conventional four-year program or another form of higher education, learning beyond high school makes financial sense. If your educational ambition overshadows your college fund, consider the following ways to bridge the affordability gap, curbing college costs, and gaining the knowledge and credentials you need.

Financial Resources for Curbing College Costs

The cost of higher education quickly grows beyond reserves for many college-bound families, calling for additional financial resources. Thankfully, a vast pool of financial aid serves families in need, providing funding for college-age students from all walks of life.

Scholarships

High achievers enjoy privileged access to college funding curbing college costs, earned by standing out among the competition. Star athletes, for example, earn “full-ride” tuition packages, valued at the cost of earning a degree from sponsoring institutions. But scholarship money isn’t just for sports stand-outs. On the contrary, you can earn college cash by excelling academically, participating in your community, and making a mark in an academic subject.

Scholarships are funded independently, so each organization establishes eligibility requirements for its awards. For the best results covering college costs, use your individual traits to qualify for financial aid. Do you belong to a minority group? If so, your heritage may open doors to scholarship money reserved for select applicants. Are you entering a tech-forward STEM field? Your abilities in science and mathematics may be rewarded with special scholarships aimed at the best and brightest future engineers, programmers, and research professionals. Are you active outside of school? Civic groups and community organizations commonly fund scholarships for high-achievers, often blending academic eligibility with extra-curricular participation.

Each scholarship has its own requirements, so applications are made individually with sponsoring organizations. And since scholarships are merit-based, recognizing personal performance and potential, the awards do not require repayment. Scholarships originate from:

  • Individual learning institutions
  • Corporate sponsors
  • Advocacy groups
  • Civic organizations
  • Clubs
  • Private benefactors
  • Foundations
  • Education trusts
  • Others…

Grants

Like scholarships, grants are considered “gift aid” for curbing college costs, which does not call for repayment. Some restrictions apply, requiring applicants to remain enrolled and make progress toward an academic credential. Grants are “need-based”, however, so eligibility is not tied to exceptional performance or abilities like scholarships are. Instead, grants typically target college students with demonstrable financial need, covering tuition and other costs of higher education.

Government-backed grants continue to make college affordable for countless applicants, furnishing aid on a sliding scale, according to need. In the US, landing federally-backed college grants starts with a standard application outlining your income and expected college expenses. Completing the application not only assesses an individual’s need for grant money, but the process also evaluates eligibility for low-interest loans for school.

Student Loans

Higher education is an investment, paying dividends in the form of increased lifelong earnings. In other words, your degree or credential has an economic value you can turn into cash. But getting there is not without a price. While investing in your education makes sense, in the long run, finding the funds to pay up-front can be a challenge. Fortunately, longstanding programs furnish low-interest loans for curbing college costs for college and vocational schooling.

Private sector loans are available for curbing college costs for school, ranging from personal installment loans to co-signing options designed for young adults funding education. Supplemental bank loans are more costly than government-sponsored financial aid, however, so they are typically used alongside low-interest public student aid, as part of a comprehensive college funding package. Not only are interest rates more attractive when borrowing from federally-backed programs, but flexible repayment terms cater to students getting established following graduation.

The cost of higher education goes well beyond standard tuition rates. Housing, transportation, and other costs of living add to the extraordinary demands facing cash-strapped college families, often calling for outside funding.  With the help of scholarships, grants, and student loans, it is possible to shape your future earning power with an investment in your education – using financial aid to curb college costs. Don’t forget to go here to learn about ways all your college costs can be free.

This is a sponsored post. The Debt Free Guys™ received compensation for this post. Though this is a sponsored post, the Debt Free Guys™ believe the information in this sponsored post to be accurate and useful.

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