How Do I Get Paid To Go To College?
This is a common concern for anyone thinking about going to college: But how am I going to pay for it? The good news is that there are many resources available for any person looking to go to any college, usually in the form of loans, grants, scholarships or fellowships.
Consider a Community College or Certificate
For many, attending a community college before transferring to a 4-year college can save tens of thousands of dollars on overall education costs like tuition, housing and travel.
Two-year Associates Degree or Certificate programs can get you prepared for college or university life, amplify your skills as a student, and even get you prepared to enter the job force at a higher rate of pay while you are in school.
Community college may also be a slightly easier cultural transition, especially if you’re used to smaller learning communities or more local/rural schools.
Community colleges can still be big and busy, as well, but you may still find them a nice stepping stone between high school and a 4-year college or university for some of these reasons.
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID
Loans
Funding provided by the government, the school you’re attending or a private lending company.
The funding amount is typically calculated by need and must be paid back with interest.
You will have to start repaying loans shortly after you graduate from your program. Sometimes, you may have to pay back the loans while you are in school.
Grants
Monetary awards that do not need to be paid back.
Funding is provided by public or private institutions and are typically need-based.
Depending on the type of grant, they may need to be spent in specific ways, such as for tuition, books, computer equipment, etc.
Scholarships
Monetary awards that do not need to be paid back.
Funding can be provided by public or private institutions and is typically merit-based, instead of need-based. If you perform well academically, civically, in sports or in another arena, you may be eligible for one or more scholarships.
They may be awarded as a one-time gift or a multi-year award that requires a certain level of performance, such as grade point average (GPA), in order to keep the scholarship year after year.
Scholarships can also be awarded based on your cultural identity, community membership, or be specific to other interests or talents you have.
Fellowships
Merit-based and do not need to be paid back, but typically apply to graduate school or postgraduate training.
These monetary awards are meant to offset the price of tuition while supporting a specific and specialized area of study you intend to pursue while in graduate school.
WAYS TO FIND AND APPLY FOR AID
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid helps you apply for both federally funded grants and loans with just one application. Keep in mind:
Aid is calculated by your need. It’s not a one-size fits all package.
You will apply each year you’re in school.
Apply at the earliest possible date; don’t wait until the final deadline. The earlier you apply, the more funds you’ll have access to.
Any grants you receive through FAFSA do not need to be paid back.
Loans you receive through FAFSA need to be paid back and will accrue interest.
You may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) if you perform public or military service.
Mark Your Calendar for annual FAFSA Deadlines
WATCH
How To Fill Out The FAFSA
How to Fill Out the FAFSA, https://bit.ly/youtubefafsa
Scholarships & Grants
Start looking for scholarships at the financial aid department of the school where you’ve been accepted. Scholarships are often awarded by the school itself, by prominent alumni, community organizations, or other private donors.
Avoid Scams
But remember: never pay a fee or give your social security number when applying for a scholarship. If a scholarship asks for one or both of those things, it could be a scam. Avoid scholarship scams.
Application Tutorials And Tips
Everything You Need To Know About Scholarships: https://bit.ly/scholarbasics
The Ultimate Guide To Earning A Scholarship: https://bit.ly/ultimatescholar
General scholarship and grant information, videos and articles: https://bit.ly/grantsandscholars
Increasing your odds of winning a scholarship: https://bit.ly/scholarodds
Scholarship List
Hundreds of scholarships are available across a wide range of searchable categories https://bit.ly/ndnscholarships
Local businesses, organizations and faith communities often help support higher education. For example, MHA Nation: https://bit.ly/mhanation
Check out local employment training options as well: https://bit.ly/vocationtraining
Women’s Opportunity Scholarship Fund, North Dakota: https://bit.ly/womensopp
American Indian College Fund: https://bit.ly/aicollegefund
American Indian Services Scholarships: https://bit.ly/aisscholarships
Strategies for finding and winning scholarships from Catching The Dream Process (formerly Native American Scholarship Fund): https://bit.ly/findandwin
Catching the Dream application (read tutorial before attempting to apply): https://bit.ly/catchingthedream
Daughters of the American Revolution scholarship for American Indians: https://bit.ly/darscholarship
The Gates’ Scholarship (high school seniors): https://bit.ly/gatesscholarfund
Dakota Indian Foundation: https://bit.ly/dakotaindianfund
Intertribal Timber Council scholarships, fellowships and internships, for students focused on majors related to natural resources: https://bit.ly/intertribaltimber
North Dakota Association of the Blind scholarships: https://bit.ly/ndabscholar
Making a budget and sticking to it: https://bit.ly/studentbudgetguide
Peterson’s database of scholarships: https://bit.ly/petersondatabase
FYI, this website is a business for various test prep courses and college preparation services. While they have a good library of funding to search, they are a business trying to get you to sign up for their programs. So, use the library, but don’t feel pressure to pay for anything.
ASK FOR MORE
It’s also important to know that any financial aid package you receive is negotiable. You can, and should, ask for more financial aid if you need it.
How to ask for more financial aid from your school
WATCH
How to Appeal for More Financial Aid, https://bit.ly/financialaidask
For more detailed guidance on appealing for more financial aid, check out this article: https://bit.ly/financialappeal
NEXT STEPS AND REMINDERS
Applications can be overwhelming. Many students give up because they don’t know how to gather the documents, get frustrated with the technical process, or feel overwhelmed by multiple tasks. Please know you can ask for, and receive, help. Here are our top tips:
Private loans and taking on credit card debt for education should be your last options. Avoid them, if at all possible.
Never pay to apply for a scholarship. Avoid “lottery” or “sweepstake” style invitations to pay for school.
Ask your local church, community organization and non-profits if they offer scholarships or grants for students.
Reach out directly to your college of choice and ask them about the scholarships they offer and the average per student annual awards that are given out.
Apply for a specialized scholarship based on your grades, sports, extra curricular activities, your major of choice, and your own creativity and talents.
Explore your personal passions and spend time volunteering, or making art, or learning a craft that interests you. Keep a portfolio of your experiences with photos and journal entries to use as documentation or as essay inspiration when applying for non-traditional scholarships.
Ask a respected community member to be your mentor, and meet with them regularly to get advice and to keep them up-to-date on your accomplishments.
Ask for letters of recommendation from teachers, community members, coworkers and managers at work. Make photocopies and keep them in a file to use for scholarship applications and job opportunities.
Mark important deadline dates in your digital or paper calendar on a rolling basis, meaning you’ll get the same reminders to apply or reapply every year until you graduate.
Apply early. You don’t want to rush the process but the earlier you apply, the more likely you are to receive the maximum awards.
How Do I Get Paid To Go To College? by Iman Moore and Dyana Valentine is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0