Paying for College with Little To No Savings

Paying for College with Little-To-No Savings

BIG Ideas:

  • Not having money saved for college can make your college journey a little more challenging, but you have options to make it possible.
  • Scholarships and grants don’t have to be paid back and can help you lower your tuition bill.
  • Private or federal student loans can also help you afford the cost of college. 

You know you want to go to college. You may even know where you want to go and what you want to study. That’s awesome.

The part you may not have figured out yet is how you’ll pay for it, especially if you don’t have a college fund and savings set aside for college.

Well, the good news is, you can still do it. Your financial journey may be a little more challenging, but you have some options to make college possible. Let’s unpack them:

  • Financial Aid. Federal financial aid, which is based on need, can go a long way in helping you afford the cost of attending college. To apply, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA for short). Completing the FAFSA offers another benefit: many states, colleges, and scholarship organizations use it to award financial aid.
  • Pro Tip: If you get financial aid offers from multiple schools, negotiate with your preferred school to see if you can get more assistance. It’s worth a try!
  • Scholarships. How would you like financial help for college that you don’t have to pay back? That’s what scholarships offer you – FREE MONEY. Scholarships can be awarded based on test scores, your high school grades, athletic skills, or other talents you have. They also can be based on your state of residence, race, ethnicity, or affiliation with a certain religious organization. Learn more about how find scholarship opportunities. Also, check out our $5,000 Murray Watson, Jr. Scholarship and our $1,000 No-Essay Scholarship!
  • Grants. While we’re on the subject of FREE MONEY, you should also consider grants, which are need-based aid that you don’t have to pay back. Grants are offered by the federal government, states, and colleges.
  • Work-Study Programs. Another way to afford college is to work during school. With Work Study, you can work part-time while attending school to earn money for tuition and expenses.
  • Student Loans. With the high cost of college, it can be a challenge to afford college without having student loans. There are two types of student loans: 1) Federal student loans offered by the federal government and 2) Private student loans offered by private institutions like banks, credit unions, state agencies, and non-profits (like our favorite, Brazos!). While it is encouraged to exhaust all forms of federal aid and loans first to take advantage of valuable benefits such as income-driven repayment plans and potential loan forgiveness, private student loans may be an important tool to help you pay for college.
  • Payment Plans. To make school more manageable, some colleges offer payment plans that allow you to pay tuition in installments versus paying the tuition bill in a lump sum.
  • Community Colleges. You may want your college degree to be from the school of your dreams, but with the rising cost of college that may not be possible. What you could do is attend a community college for the first two years, live at home, and then transfer to your dream school.
  • Side Hustle. If you can’t get Work Study, you could get a part-time job or start a business of your own (walking dogs, babysitting) to help you earn money for school.
  • Budgeting. No matter your goal – whether it’s college, a new car, or a home (someday), it’s important to create a monthly budget. Having and sticking to a budget can help ensure you pay your bills, save what you need to save, and sleep better at night.

As you can see, paying for college without savings really is possible. Take some time to explore these options and make a plan that puts you where you want to be – on the path to college and a brighter future.

Brazos is Here to Help Make College Affordable

For more than 40 years, Brazos Higher Education has been helping make education more affordable for students. As a Texas non-profit, we offer great rates and no fees on private student loans to help fill the gap where federal loans leave off. Contact us to learn more.