Can Online Education Really Be Affordable?

College tuition can be quite pricey. If you are struggling to pay your bills, you might think that you could never afford it. However, going to college might be more affordable than you think. The following sources of funding may be available to you, even if you are having difficulty paying your current bills.

Financial Aid

One of the most common ways to help pay for college is to apply for financial aid. The government has grants and loans that are available to almost anyone that demonstrates financial need. Once you know that you would like to attend college, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can find the form at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The government will come up with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on factors like your income, savings, age and dependents. If you are considered a dependent, the income of your parents will also be a factor in determining the EFC. The EFC is the amount of money that you will be expected to come up with to pay for tuition and living expenses for the following school year. Based on your EFC, your school will come up with a financial aid package for you.

Scholarships

Every year, many students receive scholarships to go to the school that they want to attend. Although many of these scholarships are given to seniors graduating from high school, there are plenty of scholarships that are offered to people for a variety of reasons. Scholarships are given to people of various ethnic groups, who have certain hobbies, and even to people who are working full time and are returning to school. Some, but not all, scholarships are given to students who demonstrate a financial need. You can find some of the more highly publicized scholarships on the College Board's web site at www.collegeboard.com. To find more localized scholarships, you may want to visit the financial aid office at a nearby community college.

Your Employer

You might be able to get tuition assistance simply by asking your employer for it. Employers benefit when their employees go to college, and many have educational assistance programs set up. If your company has a program to help with college education, talk to your human resources office for assistance. If you work for a company that does not have a program set up to help with college expenses, it doesn't hurt to ask. You may be pleasantly surprised.