College education is expensive, but that doesn't mean it's unreachable. There are a lot of ways to fund your higher education so that you can get a degree and work your way to a great career. While some of the college-funding options such as loans and income-share agreements require repayments, there are some options that don't need repaying such as grants and scholarships. These are called the "holy grail" of financial aid simply because they bring with them no debt troubles and don't need to be repaid, reports AZ Central.
Looking for free money for college, so that you can focus on studying and acquiring that degree with no fear of student debt? Here are some things you can do, according to experts (as compiled by AZ Central).
Work on the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is basically the first thing you'd want to work on if you want financial aid, including federal Pell grants. All you need are some documents, and a willingness to work it out.
Take Emma Fernandez, a student at the Arizona State University, for example. She was a senior high school student when she learned about FAFSA, and when she tried to fill in the FAFSA form she needed to fill in her parents' tax information.
She asked her parents about it, filled it in, and then later discovered that she was eligible for a scholarship and two grants worth $10,000 in tuition this year. She took it.
Check for Institutional Scholarships
Universities award millions worth of dollars in "institutional scholarships" each year. ASU, for example, awarded $337 million in these types of scholarships in fiscal 2016. These scholarships can be based on family income or can also be based on academic or other achievements. Students can possibly be eligible for a combination of both.
Check college websites for scholarships.
Also Remember to Check for National Scholarships
National scholarships also exist, and in order to take advantage of them you'll need to search for them Use resources such as fastweb.com and collegegreenlight.com, the latter of which is geared more toward first-generation college students and low-income families.
If ever you fail in any of these, keep trying. Don't forget to apply before deadlines close, and if ever you fail to acquire a scholarship this year, you can still try next year.
