• Co-op Education: More than 1,000 schools around the United States offer co-op education courses, in which classroom study alternates with career-related work. The draw back is it can add an extra year or more to your college time. The up side is, it can pay up to $7,000 annually.
• Alternative Classroom Learning: Most major colleges and universities offer some form of distance learning now. This includes instruction by mail, Internet, fax or tele-courses. Tuition tends to be lower for these courses. You can work around your own schedule, making it easier to work part or full time. You save the cost of moving to college. Exams are proctored at local schools or colleges.
• Attend a Community College: Did you know that about half the students now entering college attended a Community or Junior college before moving onto a traditional four-year institution? Tuition at a junior/community college is generally cheaper. It is becoming a lot more popular to get the first two years of your undergraduate degree this way, then transfer. Be sure to research the transferability of credits before you enroll.
• Go to college while in high school. Many high schools now offer advanced placement course to allow students to enter college with several hours of credit already under their belts. While there is sometimes a charge for these classes, it is generally much cheaper than the tuition for an equivalent number of hours at a university.
• Equivalency tests: Nearly 1,000 colleges and universities offer ACT/PEP tests. They cost from $50 to $150 and are worth from three to eight credit hours. Check with the registrar of your school to see if they are available. Most schools limit the number of credits you can earn this way, check how many credits you can “test out”.
• Go Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force or Coast Guard: There are several options to help with your college cost. If you enlist in ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) in your junior and senior years you’ll receive $100 a month. Or you can enlist in the reserves. One weekend a month and two weeks in the summer for training is all it takes to get a steady paycheck and help with tuition costs. Or you can enlist in the service full time and become eligible for the Montgomery GI bill to help with college costs after you leave the military. Check with your local recruiter for details.
• Traditional Financial Aid: There are two general categories of financial aid: outright grants and low-cost loans. These come from federal and state government, private corporations, and fraternal and religious groups. This is a big subject. Most public libraries have books and other current publications on the subject. Your high school guidance counselor is usually a good source of information about available scholarships. The Financial Aid office of your college should have all the information you need on how to apply for government grants and loans.
• Free College: There are two tuition free colleges in the United States. College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, MO 65726, 417-334-6411. Berea College, College Post Office 2344, Berea KY 40404, 606-986-9341. Both are highly rated academically. As you might suspect, there are fairly restrictive entrance requirements. It might be worth an inquiry, however.

Accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services.
A member of National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).
A HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency.

© Lutheran Social Services.
All Rights Reserved.