The good news is that most students receive some financial help paying for college, bringing the cost down from the school’s “sticker price.”At the average private college, for example, the sticker price for tuition, room and board was $45,370 last year. But the average student actually paid $26,080, according to The College Board. At public colleges, the sticker price was $20,090, but the average in-state student paid $14,210.
Even without a scholarship, there are plenty of other forms of aid that can help you tackle the cost. The financial aid system can be confusing, so don’t feel bad if you’re a little unclear about how it all works.
There are scholarships and grants (which you don’t have to pay back), and loans (which you do). Some of what you receive is based on income and some can be based on academic merit.
Here are seven other ways to help pay for college:Colleges, states, and the federal government give out grants, which don’t need to be repaid. Most are awarded based on your financial need, and determined by the income you reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
