How will you pay for college?

The cost of college continues to climb and you should have a plan of how your are going to pay for it. We can help. Meet with a COMPASS Guide coach, for free, at one of the libraries listed here and you will learn about financial aid, how it works and when to apply. You will meet one-on-one with a coach to get your questions answered, to find scholarships and to figure out how to pay for college.

Here are some things to think about:

• Do you qualify for free lunch at your school? If so, you might also qualify for the Pell Grant, which is free money from the government to help you pay for college.



• Have you done volunteer work? Many scholarships require "community service" work and you have a better chance of winning scholarships if you can show that you have contributed to society. NOTE: You don't have to be a 4.0 student to apply for scholarships!



• Do you understand how student loans work? Many families can't afford to pay full tuition but might not qualify for government grant programs. Understanding how to wisely use student loans is important.



• Do you have a job? Let’s face it, with rising tuition costs, most students work part-time while they go to college to cover the bills, pay for tuition and buy books. If you don't have a job now, keep in mind that it is very common for college students to work.



• Are you waiting to become a U.S. citizen? If you are ready for college, but are not a U.S. citizen, you can still apply and be accepted to college but you won't qualify for federal government grants. You may be charged out-of-state tuition. This sounds difficult but you might want to start part-time or start at a 2-year college, which usually charges the same tuition for in- or out- of state students. There are people trying to pass a law where immigrants could be charged the same tuition as state residents. This effort is called the "Dream Act" .