COLLEGE COST CONSIDER ALL THE EXPENSES For college-bound students, paying for it can be overwhelming,especially if you’re unable to get support for family due tolimited income and other resources. When you’re thinking aboutthe actual cost of college (not just tuition), it adds up. Consider all the expenses, aside from tuition, fees, and roomand board (living and dining). You also have:

Books and supplies

Travel expenses

Phone

Snacks

Going out with friends

Etc

COST OF COLLEGE ITSELF 4-YEAR INSTITUTIONS

2-YEAR INSTITUTIONS YEAR

2010-2011 $22,074 $8,868 2011-2012 $23,011 $9,347 2012-2013 $23,872 $9,574

2013-2014 $24,706 $9,888

OTHER EXPENSES You’ll notice it’s increasing each year, and that means you’llneed to take that into account as you move through your four-year degree program. There are some things you can do tohelp with the cost of college today.

Consider a two-year or local community college. You may be anxious to head off to college and get out fromyour parents’ home for a while, but if you attend a junior, two-year, or local community college, you can get all of your ‘corerequirement’ classes taken care of, at a fraction of the cost yourchosen college might charge. You’d also be able to live at home while you did this, whichwould likely save a lot of money on living expenses.

APPLY FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID You call fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at https://fafsa.ed.gov/. You’ll need to have thefollowing information:

Student Social Security Number

Your Social Security Number

Student’s driver’s license number (if they have one)

Federal tax returns/information

Information on savings, cash, checking account balances, etc.

If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you’ll need an Alien Registration Number

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS There are thousands upon thousands of scholarshipsavailable across the country. Most are small and localized(meaning you would have to attend a specitic school or live in a specific area to qualify), and the majority are relatively small awards, but they can add up. Quickly. Go online and research scholarships in your field of interest, neighborhood, or college you plan to attend. Never pay for a list of scholarships or to apply to them; all legitimate scholarships are free to apply to. For undocumented immigrants, visit www.thedream.us. This is a $25 million scholarship fund that provides awards up to $25,000 for undocumented immigrants attending college or university in the U.S.

WORK It may be a four-letter word, but it’s not a bad one. Mostof us have to work to pay bills and if you need to take apart-time job (or a couple) to help pay for school, extraexpenses, or supplement your lifestyle while attendingcollege, there are plenty of options out there.