How will you pay for college?
If you haven't made a plan to pay for college this fall don't fret! Start by making a plan.
From getting started with your FAFSA to exploring non-traditional funding sources our flowchart walks you through various funding options to make a plan.
How to pay for college
A step-by-step guide
Step one: Apply for financial aid
Fill out a FAFSA to find out whether you’re eligible for federal:
- Grants
- Student loans
- Work study
Have you filed your FAFSA yet?
No
That’s an easy fix! Just visit fafsa.ed.gov
Yes! Move on to step two
Step two: Apply for scholarships
Are you an honor-roll student?
Yes: Merit-based scholarships let you rest on your laurels
Do you play sports?
Yes: Athletic scholarships help student athletes pay for college
Have you chosen a major yet?
Yes: There may be scholarships just for your major
No?
There’s a lot of free money out there. Dig some up at https://www.unigo.com/scholarships
Step three: Calculate the cost of school
Add up all the costs of going to college, including:
- Tuition
- Fees
- Books
- Housing
- Food
- Travel expenses
Got everything covered?
Yes: High-five! You’ll be a college grad in no time.
No: No worries! There are other funding options to help cover the difference. You or your parents can:
- Take out a private student loan.
- Take out a home equity line of credit.
- Borrow against a retirement account.
- Make withdrawals from a 401k or Roth IRA.
